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.