Exeter 15th May 2005
By Paul Simmons



THE VERTUOUS CRUSADER
In the Clarendon Stud Handicap Stakes
Photo Jim & Chris Bielby
Racing Advertiser Ltd.

Track: Good

The Edward Symmons & Partners Maiden Stakes – 6 Furlongs:

1. Za’eemah Mr. S Holdsworth
2. Sing Me A Song Mr. A Newey
3. Shelila Mr. P Collington

Distances: neck, neck 10 ran.
Winner owned and bred by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Trained by Mr. W Smith.

Bill Smith started the season off in fine style with a win in the maiden over six furlongs with Sheikh Mohammed’s impressive debutant Za’eemah (Passem Lotois x PS Crystal Sage) who just got up in the shadow of the post. Sing Me A Song (Tidjani x Sinka) also making her racecourse debut for trainer Sam Davison travelled well throughout and led from two furlongs out and looked to have the race at her mercy, but she pricked her ears yards from the line and her head popped up gifting the race to Za’eemah. The impeccably bred Shelila (Bengali D’Albret x Arytmia) looked tapped for toe in the early stages but ran on strongly in the final furlong and will be interesting when upped in trip.

The Dragnet Ltd Handicap Stakes – (0-65) 2 Miles:

1. French Lieutenant Mr. D Turner
2. Pronika P Deymonaz
3. Notid F J Offord

Distances: short head, ½ 7 ran.
Winner owned, bred and trained by Carol Legg.

French Lieutenant (Dedja Des Forges x Sihrea Crystal) is a talented horse on his day and clearly relished the stamina sapping two miles at Exeter and battled on gamely to win by a short head. Pronika (Nikel x Protalina) returning from a 21 month break (having had a foal last year) was always handy and led from 3 furlongs out, once headed she fought back and just failed to win. Notid (Tidjani x Sherrie Noreen) who helped force the pace for the majority of the race stayed on strongly to hold onto third.

The Clarendon Stud Handicap Stakes – (0-80) 1 Mile:

1. The Vertuous Crusader Mr. D Turner
2. Roches Du Cayrou Mr. R Cummings
3. Operatic Mr S Harrison

Distances: 3, 2 ½ 7 ran.
Winner owned by Mr. J Cook. Trained by Mr. A J Brunton. Bred by Mrs L Humphrey.

The mile handicap was run at a crawl in the preliminaries before they rounded the corner and sprinted home over the last three furlongs which played into the hands of smart sprint handicapper The Vertuous Crusader (Vert Olive x Crusaders Spirit (Sky Crusader)) who won in the end easily with three lengths to spare. Roches Du Cayrou (Newday x Kahinaoura) was always playing for second and was clear of the field at the line, whilst Operatic (Vert Olive x Operetta (Silver Scenario)) came with a wet sail in the final furlong to claim third.

The Jebel Ali Racing Club Banded Stakes (Series Qualifier) (Bands B & C) – 6 Furlongs:

1. Sabez F J Offord
2. Tamarisk Mrs. G Plumbley
3. CS Lafaz Mr. T Collier

Distances: ½, ½ 6 ran.
Winner owned by The BXPS Racing Partnership. Trained Mr. D J Paton. Bred by Mrs. J Andrews.

The Jebel Ali Racing Club banded stakes over six furlong proved to be a close finish with less than a length separating the first three home. Sabez (Mahbuba x Zalmera) was a class horse on his day in his youth but has looked increasingly moody since, but today was a going day and he fought gamely for this win. Tamarisk (Dujani x GAS Pepelka (Pepel)) was prominent throughout and rallied in the final two furlongs but went down by half length, she looks capable of landing a handicap over a mile. CS Lafaz (Sambist x Kilcummer Lalla) helped force the pace and had every chance in the final furlong but couldn’t pass the first two.

The Cole Hay Handicap Stakes – 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:

1. Fripon Al Maury Mr S Walker
2. Mack The Knife Mr. P J Murphy
3. Kalif D’Or Mr. P Collington

Distances: 3, 1 ½ 6 ran.
Winner owned by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Trained by Mr. W Smith. Bred by Mlle R Koch.

The fifth race saw a massive gamble on the locally trained Mack The Knife who was backed down from 8/1 to 2/1. In the end it was the favourite Fripon Al Maury (Djouras Tu x Fayoum) who obliged to give Bill Smith and Sheikh Mohammed a double, he led from three furlongs out to win comfortably by three lengths. Mack The Knife (Makzan x GAS Pepelka (Pepel)) ran encouragingly in second and ran on purposefully in the final two furlongs and seems very much on the upgrade. Kalif D’Or (Dormane x Malika Fontenay) ran on well for third but still seems unreliable even now he’s been gelded.

The Ajay Construction Maiden Stakes – 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:

1. CS Khamsin Mr. D Turner
2. Miss Moncrieff Mr. S Harrison
3. Ejtithaab Mr S Holdsworth

Distances: 1 ½, 4 11 ran.
Winner owned and bred by Mr. M Brunton. Trained by Mr. A J Brunton.

The Ajay Construction maiden stakes looked to be an ideal opportunity for Miss Moncrieff to open her account for in form trainer Georgina Ward. However, the race was won comfortably in the end by the beautifully bred CS Khamsin (Khairouan x Samara Bint Samurai (Golden Samurai)) who gave trainer Tony Brunton the second leg of his double, who despite running a little green pricked his ears in the final two furlongs and showed a useful turn of foot to cruise home comfortably two lengths clear. CS Khamsin is from an excellent racing family as his half sister are Jumah, CS Sambisoora, CS Shamal and Sabarrah, although he is the first of his dams runners to win a maiden. Miss Moncrieff (Makzan x Zeinah (Samsheik)) ran another fine race in defeat continuing her reputation as the “eternal bridesmaid”, she travelled well throughout but seemed to struggle in the final two furlongs and perhaps found the stiff track and the one-mile-two-furlongs a bit too far. Ejtithaab (Chndaka x Altyv)) ran well in third and is going the right way and will be an interesting proposition when contesting related events.

Who’s Hot: *Jockey David Turner who scored a treble with French Lieutenant, The Vertuous Crusader and CS Khamsin.
*Trainers Bill Smith and Tony Brunton who both scored doubles.