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PAUL SIMMONS OFFICIAL RACE REPORTER


Arabian Racing Review
Nottingham Sat 17th May
by Paul Simmons

The Pamela Linney Memorial Maiden Stakes over 1 Mile:
Shibl (Al Sakbe x Bisbille) was thought good enough last season by Champion trainer Gill Duffield to be entered in the Breeders Cup, but sadly he never ran. However, this strapping son of leading sire Al Sakbe made up for lost time with a confident victory on his racecourse debut showing a useful turn of foot under Phil Collington to get home by an easy five lengths from stablemate Alsharq (Al Sakbe x Valina Des Fabries). The latter built on her debut from last season and is one to keep an eye on next time out, both are from HH Sheikh Hamdan’s powerful string. Try My Best (Khairoaun x Tidjana) did as his name suggests, running well and staying on nicely in the final furlong and is going the right way.


The Jebel Ali Racing Club Handicap Stakes 0-45 over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
El Hamsa (Nasem x Myska) made a promising start to the campaign with a confident victory under Steve Harrison for the Morris family, he was kept up to his work in the final furlong and pulled clear to win by a decent three lengths. Back in third was Benny The Dip (Bengali D’Albret x Duiker) who was always travelling well and fought hard inside the straight but couldn’t get past the winner. Whilst Anganate Safinat (Manganate x Astree) made another solid effort ten lengths back in third, he couldn’t reel in the first two but stayed on dourly ahead of the rest of the field.

The Royal Cavalry of Oman Conditions Stakes over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
An extremely disappointing race with Madid and Meastro Al Maury being declared non runners so only the awesome powerhouse No Risk Al Maury (Kesberoy x Nectarine Al Maury) and Taabeer lining up, (the latter who is a high class stayer). No Risk Al Maury (unbeaten in all 4 starts last term including the Group 1 Dubai Stakes) could do no more than win in a workmanlike fashion and gave stablemate Taabeer (Vasilisk x Bisbille) the slip easily in the straight to win by ten lengths.


The Royal Cavalry of Oman Handicap Stakes 0-80 over 6 Furlongs:
Aberfeldy (Amer x Zeinah) went down in several notebooks last season with some good efforts, here she looked bigger and stronger and scored a confident victory to lose her maiden tag under a well judged ride from Steve Harrison, kicking clear in the final furlong to win impressively for owner Jane Haddock and in form trainer Sam Davison. Back in second Popidol Kossack (Marwan x Peseta) also impressed by showing a smart turn of foot to chase the winner all the way to the line and she is one to watch next time out. Whilst Baseerah (Djendel x Qosheeyya) looked to have boiled over slightly in the preliminaries and was found out in this company, still she wasn’t disgraced back in third and is still entitled to improve.

The Springfield Video Handicap Stakes 0-65 over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
Steve Harrison was clearly riding the crest of wave landing a hatrick at this track, although his final winner aboard the startlingly impressive Merwah (Bengali D’Albret x Aksarka) was by far his easiest. This smart mare looked to be on the upgrade last season and proved it here losing her maiden status in some style, showing the field a clean pair of heels in the final furlong to kick clear for an easy eleven length victory for owner John Elliot and trainer Helen Bona. Back in second was an improved effort from Gazal (Sambist x Shout For Joy) who ran on well in the closing stages but was never going to catch the winner, whilst Operatic (Vert Olive x Operetta) ran his usual sound race staying on for third.


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