Exeter
21st May
By Paul Simmons
Track: Soft, Good to soft
The
Shaw & Fox
Hay Suppliers Maiden Stakes over 6 Furlongs:
1. Penny Black Mr. S Harrison
2. Final Fling Mr. J Akehurst
3. Waadi Mr. P Collington
Distances: neck, 1 7 ran Time: 01:33:40
Winner owned by AJAY Construction Racing Club. Trained by Mrs.
J Hutchings. Bred by Mrs. M Manfredi.
Penny Black (Chndaka x Pevunja) had some smart placed efforts
last season and she made short work of this field to lose her
maiden tag in some style for the AJAY Construction Racing Club,
she was always handy and clearly appreciated the cut in the ground
which rode officially as good to soft; she showed a useful turn
of foot to scoot home half a length clear under a purposeful
ride from Steve Harrison who was on the first leg of a double.
Final Fling (Djamel x FH Honey Mellon) was half a length back
in second and ran an eye catching race chasing the winner all
the way to line to suggest his turn is not far away. Waadi (Makzan
x Nega) the heavily backed favourite disappointed somewhat but
travelled well and was only a length back in third and will be
sharper next time out.
The Web-Simple Stakes over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
1. Deolali Mr. S Harrison
2. Fripon Al Maury Mr. S Walker
3. Aljard Mr. P Collington
Distances: ¾,
dist 5 ran Time: 02:37:30
Winner owned
by Only Fools & Horses Partnership. Trained
by Miss. S Davison. Bred by Mrs. E Harrington.
Sam Davison
started the season as she means to go on with stable star Deolali
(Khairouan
x Operetta (Silver Scenario)) showing
the field a clean pair of heels and galloping them into submission
to win under fine ride from Steve Harrison, his next race might
see him step up to Group 3 level at Lingfield in June and on
this basis he looks to be improving. Fripon Al Maury (Djouras
Tu x Fayoum) is tough and consistent and although he travelled
well he was always chasing the winner and was another 2 ½ back
in second. Aljard (Vert Olive x Ester du Paon) was smart as a
juvenile winning a Group 2 race but he’s lost all form
since and looks distinctly temperamental and is clearly nowhere
near as genuine as his top class half brother Group 1 Dubai Stakes
winner Jiyush, he finished a distance back in third.
The
easibed Open Race (TB, Anglo’s & PBA’s)
over 6 Furlongs:
1. Robury Mr. P Collington
2. Hardtoback Mr. R G Woollard
3/D Blendon Belle Miss K Cross
Distances: 3 3 ran Time: 01:26:10
Winner owned and trained by Mr. J H Wilson. Bred by Mrs. S C
Welch.
The historical first running of an open handicap featuring thoroughbreds
and part bred arabs. Unfortunately the field cut up to only 3
runners due unforeseen circumstances but the race had a good
finish with newcomer Robury (TB by Robellino x Youdontsay) laying
down the gauntlet for the season by outsprinting smart part bred
handicapper Hardtoback (Anglo by Norton Challenger x Harem VII)
in some style. Robury is owned and trained by John Wilson who
is one of the leading Anglo/PBA trainers of recent years and
he looks to have a smart recruit here. Hardtoback has plenty
of heart and stayed on for second, whilst Blendon Belle (TB by
Laguna Beach x Palace Green) would have been third but the weight
cloth slipped off in the straight and she was unfortunately disqualified.
The Jebel Ali Racing Club Handicap Stakes (Series Qualifier)
0-75 1 Mile:
1. Benha Mr. J Akehurst
2. WA Savannah Sunrise Mr. R G Woollard
3. Pavot Al Kyle Mr. S Walker
Distances:
1 ¾ ,
3 10 ran Time: 02:04:70
Winner owned, trained and bred by Miss L Brooker.
Benha (Bengali
D’Albret x Bahaa) has been out of sorts
for the last couple of seasons and had dropped down the handicap,
over his preferred trip of a mile and under an inspired ride
from useful claimer Joe Akehurst he made short work of the opposition
and kicked clear in the final furlong to score by an easy length
and three quarters. WA Savannah Sunrise (Dantist x Sasparilla
Sunrise (Maliek El Kheil)) was a game second and is genuine as
the come, she chased hard in the final furlong but couldn’t
sustain the pace of the winner. Pavot Al Kyle (Pavot Al Maury
x Ellaria) made a pleasing return to the racecourse after a year
off, always handy he kept on for third.
The
Avon Thoroughbreds Banded Stakes (A,B & C) over 1 Mile:
1. Mehshalla Mr. A Newey
2. Sabez Mr. F J Offord
3. Eternal Light Mr. S Harrison
Distances: ¾,
15 7 ran Time: 02:06:10
Winner owned by the Samad Racing Partnership. Trained by Miss.
S Davison. Bred by Mrs. L Sharpe.
Mehshalla (Pogojii x Mehsha (Shahpoor)) returned to form with
a vengeance on the same track where she lost her maiden tag to
give in form trainer Sam Davison a double for the day, Mehshalla
always looked in command but had to work hard in the final furlong
to hold off the relentless challenge of a staying on Sabez (Mahbuba
x Zalmera), under a strong ride from Joe Akehurst who was also
scoring a double. Mehshalla was promptly retired to the breeding
paddocks after claiming this her third race win. Sabez tried
hard to catch the winner in the final furlong but went down by
a half a length. Eternal Light (Ernal x Magic Fairylight) made
a pleasing seasonal debut back in third.
The AJAY Construction Maiden Stakes over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
1. Rainbow De Faust Mr. H Haynes
2. Rampart Mr. A Byles
3. Prukamzan Mr. S Walker
Distances: 5, 8 7 ran Time: 02:39:30
Winner owned by Stockwell Racing Partnership 1. Trained by Miss.
G Ward. Bred by Chantilly Bloodstock AG.
The most
impressive and eye catching winner of the day was undoubtedly
in form
trainer Georgina Ward’s flashy colt Rainbow de
Faust (Darike x Gabie de Carrere) who could scarcely have been
more impressive in making the maiden look like a walk in the
park, this confidence boosting win should put him spot on for
his next target which may well be the Derby Trial! Rampart (Bengali
D’Albret x WMA Rachael) bought out of Ascot Arabian Racehorse
Sale in 2005) made a pleasing race course debut in second travelling
well but hanging slightly, she kept on in the final furlong at
one pace and was four lengths adrift in second. Whilst Prukamzan
(Makzan x Prunelle de Ghazal) looked a little tapped for toe
in the final furlongs and will have learnt a lot from this experience.
The ARO Returns to Exeter in July Handicap Stakes 0-90 over
2 Miles:
1. Fedor du Bournais Mr. J Akehurst
2. Take A Chance Mr. B Adams
3. CS Khan Mr. A Byles
Distances: ¾,
4 7 ran Time: 04:12:20
Winner owned and trained by Mrs. D Thomas. Bred by M.R. Vitre.
They went
a steady pace as the soft ground was stamina sapping but Fedor
du Bournais
(Djouras Tu x Cosete Du Bournais) has clearly
lost none of his ability and outstayed his rivals in dour fashion
to make the long trip from Wales for owner/trainer Delyth Thomas
worth while. Take A Chance (Bengali D’Albret x Tajhiane)
was heavily backed on the course and ran an absolute blinder
from out of the handicap to take second and looks to be firmly
on the upgrade. CS Khan (Khairouan x Cikada (Klarnet)) was a
shade disappointing another four lengths back in third and perhaps
didn’t appreciate the soft ground.