Abu Dhabi Gold Cup review: Strauss hits the button and goes “whoosh” to glory

Personally, I felt my preview was a bit drier than normal, but that’s what happens when you have so many European challengers to cover – all horses and no colour, which is not my preferred style.

With the review I have that touch more freedom, and after catching a bit of falconry on the television (I kid you not), it was heads down as our little gang headed off to the track and yes, I get just as excited now as I ever have – today is work day and I really could not wait to have a look around.

For those unfamiliar with Abu Dhabi (like me), it is growing rapidly but (so far), is not as crowded as Dubai perhaps, and an Emirate going places with plenty of investment in leisure facilities, and racing given a high priority.

As many of you will know, throwing money at a race does not suddenly make it a Group One, but what it can do is attract better class runners, and we are talking Group Three and Group Two grade today in a Listed race.

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”Oldie worldie”

It will take time, and they will need to keep or better this level over the next few years, but have no doubts, the Abu Dhabi Turf Club are in this for the long term, have a vision, and as long as the team remain in place, it WILL reach fruition, it’s a matter of when, not if.

On to the racecourse and at first glance, it is far more ”oldie worldie” than I expected.

In a relatively new city with enough high-rise hotels and the likelihood of more to come, this was far more Newmarket July course than the Rowley mile – and I loved it!

Small with a maximum crowd of about 10,000 (don’t quote me on that one, second-hand information), smart white grandstands, and plenty of extra space out on the grass, the sun was shining and the first thing that struck me was an early lack of “ex-pats”.

Two hours before racing and the locals were already setting up camp and marking their territory down on the grass, feverishly filling out their free to enter forms, something akin to a Jackpot slip at home, hunting down the winners and the chance of some cash – though the “tourists” did arrive once the Champagne bar opened.  

The experience

It felt like my first experience at a racecourse (Lingfield when I was a boy where my Dad asked me to pick a horse (colours and name, obviously), put some money on it – then when it won he kept all the winnings and the stake!), and a meeting I have been looking forward to, and it hasn’t let me down.

As is my habit, off I went on a jaunt round the food stalls (purely for research purposes, you understand), and although not extensive, my expectations needed to be tempered by the size of the course (and the crowd).

Unsurprisingly, cheap was not the first word that sprang to mind, but don’t forget – we are in the UAE, where costs are higher than at home – and so are the wages (in general).

Burgers, loaded chips (which is now a thing apparently), churros, pancakes, sandwiches, wraps and pizza (obviously) all came out about the £8 or £9 mark – cheaper than at home by some margin – while the Champagne bar was backed up by stalls selling cans of “pop” (showing my age there).

Add ice creams (its warm, but I am not expecting any sympathy), and the hottest day of the trip – and here I am in a collar and tie.

Betting

After that, I awaited the first Arab race where I had no idea of the form or the expected winner – until I nearly fell over in shock when I heard the Tannoy announce “Al Laith has been backed from Evens to 10/11”, the first time I have EVER heard anything to do with the betting mentioned on a racetrack in the Middle East.

That was not a one off, odds were quoted throughout the day, favourites were mentioned, and (even more amazingly), there is a (legal) online bookmaker signing customers up on track.

Play971 are, by all accounts, the sole licenced bookmaker in the UAE and apart from Dubai, if you live in any of the other Emirates, you can sign up for an account and have a bet.

I am not here to promote them, but suffice to say they cover pretty much every sport any other bookmaker does (football, tennis, golf, etc.) and were even betting on away meetings (Lingfield was on the screen when I looked) as well as having an online casino – the world is literally changing before our eyes.

The first race

As for the race, I settled for Al Fatih as a blind pick (who I felt was named after me), but he ran like me as well, finishing nearer last than first – thank goodness I am not a resident and couldn’t have a bet.

I am not covering all the Purebred Arabian races in detail (maybe in the future when I know what I am are talking about), but by the time the horses headed down for the first thoroughbred contest (Race Five) I had taken note that Pat Dobbs, Tadgh O’Shea, Bernard Pinheiro, and Sam Hitchcott had one win each, but I was beginning to worry about the draw – was I sold a pup that low is a necessity with the first four winners coming out of the eight stall over seven furlongs, 13 over a mile, and the 10 stall and eight stall over 11 furlongs (two races) – too late now to change my preview but my head was spinning.

Aablan ran for the Crisfords under Ross Coakley as a sole European representative (though to be fair he is almost certainly trained in Dubai), in the 11 furlong handicap that kicked off the thoroughbred races, and wouldn’t you know it, after visiting the yard on Thursday (where he wasn’t discussed), he won at odds of 10/1 – from the nine stall.

The Abu Dhabi Championship

Next up, we had the Abu Dhabi Championship over a mile and a half, the first of the two races I attempted to cover, and where I had gone for West Wind Blows, not knowing at the time that I was hoping for a Crisford double.

French Duke headed the market (and I never thought I would be writing that), but the race went to Charlie Appleby’s Royal Power (some training performance after exactly a year off the track).

To be fair, he beat West Wind Blows comfortably enough, but who knows what might have been had my selection settled earlier rather than deciding to pull Mickael Barzalona’s arms out for the first half of the race?   

The big one

On to the big one to round things off, and with $1,000,000 up for grabs, you could feel the tension in the crowd with history about to be made.

I had nailed my colours to the mast of Jonquil and I don’t change horses unlike some, although he looked too edgy in the parade ring with my hopes disappearing before my eyes.

The stalls opened and I felt too many were rushed up too quickly so they could track across, leaving little left for the finish, but the market knew the winner in advance as Japanese raider Strauss was backed from 8/1 to 100/30.

He has had his issues, so I could not have him with other people’s money, but Joao Moreira rode a patient race before bursting clear for a comfortable success with his rider saying afterwards that “…when I pulled him out he went whoosh”.

If they can work on his mental issues, (and it appears they might have found the key) then he could well go on from here, and if that is the case, I will be looking to get back my losses in future races on the son of Maurice, who picked today to win for only the fourth time in his career at the age of five.

Conclusion

So, in conclusion, what did I make of Abu Dhabi on my first visit?

I think they are a country going places, and I am confident their racing will move from strength to strength.

The people are remarkably helpful and friendly, the tourist areas seem more relaxed than you might expect, the sun keeps shining, and their prices are modest for the UAE – I hope to be back and if you are ever in the area, I suggest you give the races a visit – you won’t be disappointed.

Sean Trivass was a guest of the Abu Dhabi Turf Club and would like to thank them and everyone else involved for making my stay a very pleasant and productive one.

READ MORE: Abu Dhabi Gold Cup preview: It’s a hell of a race to second guess!