Arabian Racing Review
Huntingdon Sat 9th August
by Paul Simmons

The ARO/AHS Maiden 3 yrs plus over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
Sam Davison had a strong hand in this race and her three runners cut out the running with Al Harith taking on Celtic Pearl to force the pace with Sakeena Sky Zayin pulling hard in behind, as they approached the straight Mudalal and Few and Far were cruising in behind; with Few and Far going for home inside the two furlong marker. But the Royal Cavalry of Oman’s homebred Mudalal (Darike x Rawabi) was finishing best of all and got home by a length, trainer Julian Smart said afterwards “He’s a nice horse and its good to get another winner on the board”. Few And Far (The Wiking x Elina Des Fabries) is progressing with every run and showed a likeable attitude rallying hard in the final furlong to hold off the staying on Al Harith (Asad Saif x Wadha Al Thania). Whilst Bill Smith’s homebred mare Tuleekah (Karmah x CV Tulee) made an eye catching debut a neck back in fourth.

The Jebel Ali Handicap Stakes 0-70 over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
A one two for the Bill Smith yard with two well handicapped and unexposed geldings leading the field a merry dance. Secondwan led the field inside the home straight and was finishing with plenty of pace but stablemate Prukamzan (Mazkan x Prunelle De Ghazal), well ridden by an in form Simon Walker, was cruising down the straight and had more in reserve, and won at the line by a length. Secondwan (Al Sakbe x First Alizee) lost nothing in defeat just couldn’t get past the winner. Whilst Roches Du Cayrou (Newday x Kahinaoura) looks like he is coming back to form and kept on ahead of the ever consistent Operatic for third.

The Kelanne Stud Handicap 0-50 over 6 Furlongs:
They went a fair pace in this handicap sprint with the enigmatic Golden Dream leading the field at a fair clip into the straight before throwing her chance away by hanging left. Sharka took over the running and was flying down to the finish line under a strong ride from Phil Collington, but Rob Woollard – recording a double on the day - had more in hand on Trip To Khairo (Khairouan x Tikis Trip), and he rode a superb race to just get Jenny Peyton’s game filly up by head at the line. A second winner of the day for owner/trainer Jenny Peyton and this smart filly looks like she has plenty more races in her. Sharka (Makzan x Humarni) ran the race of his life and only just failed to break his duck, his turn is near. Whilst Rob Baily’s mare Skromnani (Tidjani x Skromnitsa) who has showed little to date, was finishing well inside the final furlong and she looks to be coming to hand.

The Nokomys Handicap 0-85 over 2 Miles:
Fedor Du Bournais cut out the running with market leaders Maestro Al Maury and Hellow settled in behind. As the hit the home straight Hellow powered into the lead and went for the finish line, but Maestro Al Maury was fighting hard in behind and the two went head to head inside the final furlong for a bobbing finish; with Maestro Al Maury (Dormane x Melusine Al Maury) just getting home under a typically strategic ride from Phil Collington for HH Sheikh Hamdan. Trainer Gill Duffield said of the winner “He is very talented but also a little too intelligent”. Hellow (Kesberoy x Hafia De Faust) ran a game race in defeat and Fedor Du Bournais (Djouras Tu x Cosete Du Bournais) chased them home.

The Royal Cavalry of Oman Handicap 0-80 over 6 Furlongs:
Nasij cut out the running and set a scorching pace from the off, until stablemate Madid took over inside the two furlong marker and had set sail for home and confident victory under Phil Collington with Muhal running on determinedly in behind. But top weight and 5/2 favourite Khadeer (Vadeer x Kenithra) came with a wet sail down the stands rail and flew home for a one length victory under an enterprising ride from Simon Walker to win for HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin R Al Maktoum and trainer Bill Smith. Madid (Bengali D’Albret x Kahina Al Kihm) ran well in second and appreciated the drop in trip and class, whilst Muhal (Amer x Babelia) lost too much ground at the start and did well to finish so close in the circumstances, he was finishing like a train but was never going to get there.

The Jebel Ali Handicap 0-60 over 1 Mile:
Odds on favourite Raihan led the field from the start with El Hamsa and Benny The Dip close in behind. As the hit the home turn Benny The Dip well ridden by Steve Harrison kicked on for home with Mr Ben chasing well in his slip stream, as they hit the final furlong it looked to between them. However, David Turner was stoking up a gargantuan effort from Sam Davison’s maiden mare Whisper (The Wiking x Sucha), she cut through the pack like a knife through butter, showing a devastating turn of foot inside the final half furlong to win by a length at the line. Speaking afterwards Sam Davison said “She goes well at home but just wasn’t showing it on the track, but she’s come good today”, whilst part owner Linda Cross said “I can’t believe it she came out of nowhere to win that, a superb ride from David”. Back in second was another solid performance from Benny The Dip (Bengali D’Albret x Duiker) who so nearly got there, whilst Mr Ben (Bengali D’Albret x Widget) ran well in third and looks capable of opening his account in this grade.