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.