Tonight's feature race in the capital, the Emirates Classic Prestige for Purebred Arabian fillies, is likely to be a battle between AF Mabrookah and Remal.
Gillian Duffield's AF Mabrookah was a smart winner on her career debut in December over course and distance. The four-year-old filly returns tonight and is expected to garner a lot of support.
Mabrookah's main challenge is expected to come from Julio Peromingo's Remal, a four-year-old Tidjani filly, had finished fourth to Mabrookah in her debut, but registered an impressive win here last week.
David Bouland saw Remal home in a sizzling finish following which much will be expected from the Peromingo runner.
However, though Remal's win came over 6.5 furlongs, her manner of victory puts the Tidjani daughter as one of the co-favourites along with AF Mabrookah.
It will be a difficult task for any one of the remaining five fillies to upset the dual favourites, one of whom will take the Emirates Classic.
Earlier in the second race of the night, trainer Mazin Al Kurdi's Al Djerby (Ted Durcan up) should not have many problems in winning the Limited Conditions race over a mile.
The four-year-old Kerbella son has an impressive record of one win and three second-place finishes behind Kerbel Lotois in his last three starts.
Abu Dhabi Duty Free is sponsoring tonight's card.
The Abu Dhabi Duty Free Challenge Cup 2005 will be held under the patronage of Dr Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saif Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Etihad Airways.
ADDF will also run an extension of their world-famous raffles programme, with a Peugeot 206cc convertible on offer for one lucky race-goer.
Shaikh Ahmad stated that the sponsorship of traditional horse racing was an important aid to tourism and enjoyed the support of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
He expressed his thanks to Shaikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, and to Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for giving ADDF the opportunity to sponsor such a prestigious event.
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