Comanche Brave tuning up nicely for Abu Dhabi tilt

Donnacha O’Brien will saddle his first runner in Abu Dhabi when Comanche Brave contests the inaugural running of the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup over a mile on Saturday.

Comanche Brave will be partnered by Ryan Moore in the $1 million race, with O’Brien delighted at the way the Wootton Bassett colt has settled into his surroundings at neighbouring Meydan.

After watching last season’s Jersey Stakes third canter on the training track on Wednesday morning, O’Brien said: “He’s a very solid horse who ran well behind Henry Matisse on his first run as a three-year-old, was placed at Royal Ascot and finished fifth in the Irish Guineas.

“He ended the season by finishing third in a Group Two at Leopardstown in September and since arriving here has taken everything in his stride.

“He’s the first horse I’ve brought out here but I’ve been before with a lot of Dad’s (Aidan O’Brien) horses.

“I’m doing a few things a little bit different but he’s not a horse that’s needs a massive amount of work. He’s just cantered on the training track here and has been swimming in the evenings.”

The field for Saturday’s highlight, which is set to start at 4pm UK time, will also include the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Quddwah.

Ed Crisford is supervising the preparation of the Sheikh Ahmed-owned runner and observed: “We’ve been very happy with him since his win in the Zabeel Mile at Meydan in January and he’s been training super well going into this Abu Dhabi race.

“It will be a high quality field, but I think he deserves to be in the race, and he will go to post with every chance.”

The Andrew Balding-trained Jonquil adds gloss to the line-up whilst Japan will have its first runner in Abu Dhabi in the form of five-year-old Strauss, who is set to be ridden by Joao Moreira.