Former Great Northern hero to make jumping return

[Wandering Eyes]

Abu Dhabi (NZ) (Haradasun) will make his much-anticipated return to jumping when he contests the Fairview Motors Waikato Hurdle (3200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The nine-year-old gelding placed in the race two years ago before falling in his debut steeplechase at his next start and was off the racing scene before making his return on the flat last month.

The son of Haradasun has a solid record over hurdles, winning two and placing in three of his seven starts, including victory in the 2022 edition of the Great Northern Hurdle (4200m).

While he has been unplaced in his two flat races at Ellerslie on his return, trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy are looking forward to his jumping return and believe he will take a lot of benefit from his weekend run.

“He has had a couple of years off, so it will be good to see him back into it,” Shaun Clotworthy said.

“He had a broken bone in his hock, so we gave him a year off and we weren’t quite happy with it, so we gave him the next season off as well.

“He has been back in work since November, so he has been chugging a long and has got a few miles under his belt.

“As an older horse, he has needed the runs. He will strip fitter with a couple of hurdle runs and then he should be starting to get near his peak.”

Abu Dhabi will carry 66.5kg on Saturday, with stable apprentice Hamish McNeill to ride.

“He goes alright at Te Rapa, it is a good track for him, and it’s a good place to start off,” Clotworthy said.

“Hamish McNeill, who works for me, rode him on Wednesday morning and thought he felt well, and he has come through his race well.”Abu Dhabi will carry 66.5kg on Saturday, with stable apprentice Hamish McNeill to ride.

“He goes alright at Te Rapa, it is a good track for him, and it’s a good place to start off,” Clotworthy said.

“Hamish McNeill, who works for me, rode him on Wednesday morning and thought he felt well, and he has come through his race well.”

Clotworthy will also line up St Vincent (NZ) (Redwood) in the Andrew (Ledge) Leadbetter Memorial (1400m) and Jack Crabb (NZ) (Redwood) in the Bupa Foxbridge Retirement Village 1300.

“St Vincent has had a couple of misses where he got caught off at Tauranga. He is fresh-up but did show some ability last preparation,” he said.

“Jack Crabb had a freshen-up after being slightly disappointing at Ellerslie. We thought he was well-ridden and presented at the right time, but just didn’t quite finish the race off like we wanted to. We gave him a freshen-up and back to 1300m and a little bit wetter track may suit him as well.”

A day later at Matamata, the stable will be represented by three runners, including Ghibbo (NZ) (Ghibellines) and Mr Acabello (NZ) (Belardo) in the Carrfields Livestock 1600, and Roc Up Ralph (NZ) ( Roc de Cambes) in the PGG Wrightson Matamata 1600.

“Ghibbo was strong last time,” Clotworthy said. “I thought that was a good first-up run and he has taken some benefit from that run, so he should improve in the maiden mile. “Roc Up Ralph has had a couple of trials and is looking at a jumping debut coming up soon, and a wet track is up his alley.”

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