| High 5… AF Farms patron Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda wins a fifth UAE Owners Championship… Congratulations to the master UAE breeder and owner and the team!!! |
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1st April 2022 Winner No.41 for AF Farms as AF Mukhrej proves his class at Al Ain yet again in the 2000m handicap. Homebred by Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, the 6yo full son of AF Al Buraq stretched his win streak at the venue to three. It was also his sixth win in 10 starts this term. As the curtains fell on the season, AF Farms patron Khalid won a fifth UAE Owners Championship, while Tadhg O’Shea was crowned UAE Champion Jockey for the 10th time. An awesome year for the black and silver silks of AF Farms… Congratulations to all involved!!! |
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| HIGH FIVE… AF Farms’ owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda took a mighty leap towards securing a FOURTH-STRAIGHT Champion Owners’ title over the weekend with Ernst Oertel and Tadhg O’Shea delivering FIVE winners over the weekend |
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Abu Dhabi January 24th 2022 Third straight win, including a second consecutive win over course and distance for AF Mukhrej as he nails the Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners 2200m handicap under Tadhg O’Shea, only just holding on to win by a nose for Ernst Oertel and Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda
1-3 for defending UAE Champion Owner and trainer Ernst Oertel as AF Rasam scores in the Jebel Faya (Div.2) 1000m maiden under Tadgh O’Shea. AF Qassed with Leandro Chimenes followed home in third place
Al Ain January 22nd 2022 Defending UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea winning the 1800m handicap with AF Al Baher, who is trained by Ernst Oertel for defending UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda
Jebal Ali 15th January 2022 Celebration time at Jebel Ali for AF Farms as AF Soqrat smashes the record for the 1200m distance for Purebred Arabians. What a brilliant ride by defending UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea for defending UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and trainer Ernst Oertel.
Jebal Ali January 15th 2022 Superb 1-3 for Ernst Oertel in the 1200 m handicap at Jebel Ali with Tadhg O’Shea guiding AF Soqrat to a comfortable one length win and Ray Dawson bringing AF Meeqat home in third..
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Abu Dhabi 10th January 2021 – 2 Winners For Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda AF Musannef winning the 1400m handicap in the hands of Tadhg O’Shea, the pair going from gate to post unchallenged for defending UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and trainer Ernst Oertel.
AF Ghayyar and Tadhg O’Shea deliver 2022’s first success for AF Farms and defending UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and trainer Ernst Oertel |
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UAE Champion Owner Al Nabooda steals the show with super Sharjah treble. AF Farms signed off with a treble at Sharjah on Saturday with Ernst Oertel delivering three wins for defending UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda.
AF Nashrah The scoring began with O’Shea guiding AF Nashrah to a three fourths of a length success in the aforementioned 1700m Fillies and Mares handicap that got the card underway. Following her home was teammate AF Mahaleel, the ride of apprentice Leandro Chimenes.
AF Mezmar The pick of the wins might have been that gained by O’Shea on the back of AF Mukhrej in the 2000m maiden. AF Mukhrej did well to hold sway at the top for most of it with Shamikh unwilling to let him have it easy. But Oertel’s charge showed his deep reserves and though he led briefly turning for home, Shamikh was able to seize the initiative close to home. But O’Shea and his partner weren’t done yet and with a final push and with AF Mukhrej emptying out his tank the pair regained the lead to win by a head and complete what was a superb treble for AF Farms, UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and trainer Ernst Oertel
AF Mukhrej |
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Sharjah Preview 27/11/2021 Dozen to compete for glory at Sharjah this Saturday A dozen will compete at Sharjah on Saturday afternoon, with a quartet taking on a competitive field for the pick of the five Purebred Arabian contests, the 2000m handicap for 4yo and older UAE Bred horses with a rating until 50. The four-pronged attack that will carry the famous silks of defending UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda includes AF Soqrat (Tadhg O’Shea), AF Mezmar (Malin Holmberg), AF Abahe (Antonio Fresu) and AF Mahaleel (Leandro Chimenes). AF Soqrat won his first start of the season at Abu Dhabi with a gritty performance and is proven on dirt as well having clinched a 1400m maiden comfortably at the steep uphill climb at Jebel Ali. AF Mezmar’s opening run at Sharjah in a 1700m handicap yielded a third place finish, but this remains a venue that has suited him in the past as all of his three career wins were gained here, including one over course and distance (C&D).
AF Mezmar
AF Abahe also has a C&D win to fall back on and makes his seasonal bow, while AF Mahaleel arrives at a racecourse for the first time this term, but is a Sharjah winner as well having won a 1700m maiden in December 2019. AF Yakhtem (O’shea) steps into the ring for the card-opening 1200m maiden (3yo+ colts and geldings bred in the UAE). The AF Al Buraq colt will be looking to make it third time lucky, having edged closer in two previous tries at Al Ain and then Abu Dhabi. Ernst saddles two in the 1200m maiden for 3yo UAE bred fillies and mares that follows with AF Amaly(Chimenes) and AF Ledagha(O’Shea) getting their first taste of competitive action. A pair are then sent out in the 1000m handicap sprint that follows with the victory-shy AF Abayeh being led by Marcelino Rodrigues and O’Shea getting the leg up on 8yo Mahabb entire AF Meeqat, who has a 1200m win here to show among his three career triumphs. Three go in the card-closing 1700m handicap (4yo+ 0-35) with Fresu and O’Shea riding the joint top-rated AF Istintaq and AF Sayf respectively and Holmberg climbing aboard AF Mo’Assess. |
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November 20th Al Ain Report AF Hazem delivers a dominating win at Al Ain AF Farms’ winning run continued at Al Ain Friday night with AF Hazemdelivering success for UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda and trainer Ernst Oertel in the hands of apprentice rider Marcelino Rodrigues.
Competing in the 1400m maiden, titled ‘Remah’, the 4yo Murhib colt picked up a first career success on the fourth time of asking with a gate to post victory that saw him break well and kick clear with 400m left to run. AF Hazem won with a length and a quarter to spare from Ares De Gion posting a time of 1:37.45. Another top performer for AF Farms on the night was 2021 PA Prestige Al Ain Derby winnerAF Mahzamy (Tadhg O’Shea), who was headed close to home by Dream De Montjoi in the Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners 2000m handicap.
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Al Ain Preview
Last year’s Al Ain Derby winner AF Mahzamy and AF Eshaar will carry the silks of UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda in the Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners race at Al Ain this evening.
 AF Mahzamy
AF Mahzamy won a 2200m affair on his seasonal bow at Abu Dhabi on November 7, which was the 4yo AF Al Buraq colt’s second win in four career starts. Trained by Ernst Oertel he goes in the command of it Tadhg O’Shea, with AF Eshaar being ridden by Malin Holmberg.
Plenty more AF Farms runners will bid for glory during the course of the evening… Good luck to all involved!!!
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November 14th Abu Dhabi Arabian feature success for AF Farms with Alajaj Defending UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda enjoyed success in the Purebred Arabian feature at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club with AF Alajajonce again proving class on his favourite surface for both trainer Ernst Oertel and UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea.
AF Alajaj wins the Liwa Oasis at Abu Dhabi The Four-year-old AF Albahar colt had won twice in three previous starts at Abu Dhabi and O’Shea and his partner looked comfortable cruising at the back of the field of 13 in the early stages. They progressed consistently thereafter to contest the lead turning for home and after O’Shea gave the orders AF Alajaj bolted clear to win by a length and a quarter from Ashton Tourettes, who had beaten him at Sharjah a fortnight ago. Finishing third for Oertel and Khalid was AF Majalis, the ride of Ray Dawson. The other notable performer on the night for AF Farms was AF Arrab, who was driven by Adrie de Vries to a narrow runners-up placing in the Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners race. |
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Nov 14 Abu Dhabi Preview Gutsy AF Alajaj and AF Majalis ready for tough Liwa Oasis assignment AF Farms will dispatch an 11-strong contingent to Abu Dhabi for Sunday’s card, with AF Alajaj and AF Majalis taking on a tough field that lines up for the Liwa Oasis 1400m handicap. Rated 67 and 65 respectively the pair find themselves somewhere in the middle as far as ratings go but they definitely won’t be short of heart in the hands of UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea and Ray Dawson.  AF ALAJAJ (FR) ridden by Tadhg O’Shea AF Alajaj has won three of his five starts at Abu Dhabi, including twice over course and distance, while AF Majalis posted three back-to-back wins in the hands of O’shea last season. They are both expected to go well, with AF Alajaj expected to progress from his third in a 1700m handicap on what was his seasonal bow at Sharjah on October 30. AF Majalis on the other hand will mark his seasonal debut in the race.  AF MAJALIS (FR) ridden by Tadhg O’Shea Um Al Asayel(O’Shea) goes in the 1600m Conditions contest. Winless after four starts, the Mahabb filly takes on her very first turf assignment after making slow progress on dirt in her four career starts at Al Ain and should come forward from her fifth in a 1400m affair on her first start this term. Ernst Oertel saddles four in the Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners 1600m handicap, with AF Motaghatres among the favourites to land the top prize. An easy winner on his first start at Sharjah over 1700m, the 7yo AF Al Buraq entire will be expected to follow up at a venue he clearly loves and scored the remaining four of his five career wins. He will be joined by 2017 HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Apprentice Jockey Championship winner AF Yatroq(Malin Holmberg), AF Arrab(Adrie de Vries) and AF Musannef(Richard Mullen) in the race, with the latter two having Abu Dhabi successes to show on their resume. The evening starts with the 1200m maiden where O’shea gets aboard debutante AF Dara, a horse named after the rider’s son by AF Farms owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, with Mullen getting the leg up on AF Yakhtem. Oertel saddles two in the Rub Al Khali, a 1400m Handicap, with AF Mohanak(O’Shea) and three-time Abu Dhabi winner AF Hakeem(Holmberg) looking to land the spoils for the black and silver silks of AF Farms, who struck in the first of the Purebred Arabian Series races at Jebel Ali on Friday with AF Maqam. |
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Nov 10 Al Ain Preview Eight go for glory at Al Ain tonight, with AF Meeqat eyeing more track and trip success. AF Farms will dispatch an octet to contest six of the seven races on Thursday night’s Al Ain card with AF Musharek the lone representative for UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al nabooda in the Wathba Stallions Cup Private Owners 1600m maiden dedicated to 3-year-old UAE bred horses.
Week 2 AF Farms took it’s tally for the 2021/22 Emirates Racing season to four with patron Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda’s bid for a fourth-straight and fifth overall UAE Champion Owner title on track from the very outset. Trainer Ernst Oertel sent out two winners on the six-race Abu Dhabi card Sunday evening, adding to the double earned on the Sharjah card on October 30.
Abu Dhabi Results AF Soqratand AF Mahzamywere the winners on Sunday at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, the former winning the Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners 1600m handicap under Malin Holmberg, who enjoyed what was only her second win on UAE shores. Holmberg delivered a peach of a ride on the back of AF Soqrat getting the 5yo son of AF Alsalaam to the front at the half-way stage. Holmberg and her partner were headed at the 300m mark, but showed great resolve and fought back courageously to win by a short head from Fertile Du Croate. AF Mahzamy, with UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea in the hot seat, clinched gate to post victory in the Al Falayah Fort 2200m handicap, going forward after a confident break and kicking clear with 300m left to run, thereafter holding on comfortably to beat Jawal Al Reef by a length. The best performance among the rest on the card was delivered by AF Mathakeel, again ridden by O’Shea, who placed a battling third in the Ghayl Fort 1400m maiden, just three fourths of a length behind the winner. |
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| 3rd November 2021 |
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Nov 7 Abu Dhabi Preview AF Armada set for capital conquest AF Al Bairaq is our representative in Sunday’s feature event, the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown Prep over 2200m at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club. The 7yo son of AF Al Buraq has shown an affinity for the turf surface in the UAE capital having won twice and been placed six times in 12 starts there. AF Al Bairaq contested last year’s showpiece Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown and returns 11 months later in the hope of leaving his mark on this Rated Conditions affair.
AF Al Bairaq The 2018 Emirates Colts Classic champion’s only two career wins were achieved here over a 1600m trip and he will look to book a ticket, guided by UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea, and join teammate AF Alwajel, who has been invited to run in the showpiece on December 4. First out in the card opening 1200m maiden are AF Ferstuq(O’Shea) and AF Yakhtem(Malin Holmberg), with the Wathba Stallions Cup Pvt Owners race, a 1600m handicap (4yo+, 0-50) featuring a quintet that includes past Abu Dhabi winners AF Dars (Sebastien Martino), AF Arrab(Bernardo Pinheiro) and AF Ashras (Richard Mullen), Jebel Ali 1400m victor AF Soqrat (Holmberg) and AF Asham (O’Shea). O’Shea rides 2021 Al Ain Derby winner and subsequent UAE Arabian Derby sixth AF Mahzamy in the 2200m handicap (4yo+; 45-85) and gets on the back of AF Mathakeel in the 1400m maiden thereafter with Adrie de Vries getting the leg up on AF Musharek. Both set to taste competitive action for the first time. |
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Nov 5 Al Ain Preview AF Farms will look to add to the double earned at Sharjah on the opening day of the season when Al Ain Racecourse opens its doors to the 2021/22 UAE Racing Season with its inaugural offering. The colours of UAE Champion Owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda are well represented during the course of the evening with runners bidding for glory in five of the six Purebred Arabian races on the card. All are trained by Ernst Oertel with a posse of riders getting the leg up aside from UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea. AF Istintaq is the first to go for the black and silver silks and runs in the card opening 1400m maiden contest for 4yos. O’Shea rides the 4yo AF Al Buraq colt, who was a close second in a 1600m maiden event here last November – his best ever performance in three career starts. AF Afham (O’Shea) and AF Qadeh(Antonio Fresu) make their racecourse debuts in the 1400m maiden that follows, while AF Al Baher (O’Shea) goes for glory in the 1800m handicap (4yo+, 0-70).
AF Al Baher An 8yo AF Al Buraq entire, AF Al Baher has three wins at this venue, including two over course and distance. A third was gained over a 2000m trip, with two further back to back wins at the gruelling uphill finish at Jebel Ali Racecourse in February and March last year proving he has the stamina to crack this. Oertel saddles three in the 1600m maiden that follows with AF Muataq(O’Shea) the top pick in the trio having placed twice last February at Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi. AF Shara(Fresu) is unplaced after three starts, while AF Radhgham(Malin Holmberg) makes his first career start. The last of the runners in action go in the 1600m maiden for UAE Bred horses. AF Al Ahkaf (O’Shea) has placed twice over track and trip, with the unknown quantity of AF Al Berwaz (Fresu) equally exciting on the basis of his breeding. Oertel sends out RB Kinetic in the feature race of the evening, a Conditions sprint over 1000m. Owned by Byerley Racing, RB Kinetic seemed unsettled last season after arriving from the United States where she won twice at Grade 3 level, but having further acclimatised with a drop in class to go, things might be better for the 5yo mare, who carries the highest rating of 115 in the field of 12. |
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| 1st November 2021 |
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Sharjah Report AF Nashrah, AF Motaghatres enable an opening day double for AF Farms
AF Farms enjoyed a successful afternoon at Sharjah last Saturday (Oct 30) with runners representing the black and silver silks bringing home a double on the six race card. That enabled AF Farms’ patron and UAE Owners Champion Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda to begin his title defence in style. Khalid’s bid for what will be a fourth-straight and fifth overall honour took off nicely with trainer Ernst Oertel’s trainees delivering a pair of handicaps. AF Farms could have had three on the card, but AF Mukhrej was denied on the line in the 2000m maiden. Nevertheless, the wins of AF Nashrah under UAE Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea in the 1700m handicap for UAE Bred horses and that of the Antonio Fresu driven AF Motaghatres in another 1700m handicap for 4yos and older runners made the trip to the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club (SERC) worthwhile.
AF Nashrah, a 5yo AF Maqam Alezz mare, had last won a 1400m maiden at Al Ain last October and making what was only her second career start at Sharjah, she performed admirably in the hands of O’Shea. She remained well-poised to win all along and after her rider asked her to stretch out in the straight she obliged, kicking clear to win by three lengths. AF Motaghatres, a 7yo AF Al Buraq entire, also proved trainer Oertel has his yard shipshape when producing a progressive run from midfield to go well clear in the closing stages under Fresu, who brought him home a length clear.
Furthermore, AF Alajaj, with O’Shea up, finished a battling third in the feature event of the afternoon, the PA Prestige Handicap HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Cup Presented by The Longines Master Collection. |
Khalid was thrilled to have caught the action in person and said: “We won the races easily. Sometimes the fillies need time. When they grow older they become stronger and much more mature and the distance and the ground suited her today and she ran well and won easily.”