Arabian
Racing Review
Salisbury 6th September
by Paul Simmons
Maiden
over 7 furlongs:
Once again the powerhouse that is the Gill Duffield
stable released another potential superstar with the talented
3 yr old colt Hattef (Djendel x Volna) taking this competitive
maiden in fine style under promising young jockey Jack Sherwood
who beat his better fancied stablemate’s with ease in the
end. The field went a fair clip in the early stages when Ambrose
took the lead inside the final half mile with A’Naser, Juhood,
Taakamul and Jaady all handy and Hattef held up in mid field.
As they hit the final two furlongs the race started to take shape
with Hattef under an excellent ride from Sherwood powering into
the lead inside the final furlong to kick clear for an impressive
three length victory for Gill Duffield and HH Sheikh Hamdan. Ambrose
(Amer x KTP Mystic Flight) was again a solid second but he is
starting to look frustrating, but to his credit he was kept up
to his work by Simon Walker to hold of Martin Smith on the winners
stablemate Taakamul (Djebbel x Valina Des Fabries) who was running
on strongly in the closing stages for third ahead of a hard pressed
A’Naser.
Handicap
0-75 over 6 Furlongs:
A fantastic training performance here from David Paton
here to bring about such an improvement in both ability and attitude
from Even Keener, a beautifully bred mare purchased last year
at the Ascot Sales by Caroline Stockham and who runs in the famed
BXPS colours, who won in amazing fashion making the rest of the
field look very ordinary. They went a decent pace throughout with
Sakeena Sky Zayin leading the field until the two furlong marker
with Even Keener, Andaleeb and Al Mamoon all held up in behind.
As they hit the final two furlongs Even Keener (Bengali D’Albret
x Kenithra) swept into the lead under an energetic ride from Anna
Wallace to go well clear of the field to win by an easy twelve
lengths in spite of jinking across the track, and this mare looks
to have a big future. Back in second was Sakeena Sky Zayin (Karmah
x Sweet Simplicity) who was caught flat footed inside the final
two furlongs but under a powerful ride from Kevin Locking galloped
on strongly inside the final furlong to re-take second. Andaleeb
(Newday x Gagarka) ran a solid race for the Royal Cavalry of Oman
in third, he was one paced inside the final furlong but kept up
to his work to hold off Al Mammon.
Open
Handicap for Pure Arabs over 1 Mile 6 Furlongs:
Al Mannsoub (Akbar x Morgane de Piboul) made short work
of disposing of a decent field of stayers to win as he liked by
a comfortable twelve lengths under Phil Collington, giving trainer
Gill Duffield and owner HH Sheikh Hamdan their second winner of
the day. CS Al Wahed typically led the field into the closing
stages before Taabeer took over the running inside the final three
furlongs, however, Collington was cruising under Al Mannsoub and
kicked clear from the two furlong marker to win in impressive
style. Taabeer (Vasilisk x Bisbille) stayed on strongly to hold
onto second for yet another consistent performance. Whilst the
Royal Cavalry of Oman’s Quorman Des Vialettes (Dormane x
Khandela Des Vialette) didn’t seem to travel with his usual
ease, but ran on well in the final furlongs to take third and
was comfortably clear of CS Al Wahed and Malik D’Or.
Breeders
Cup over 1 Mile (UK breds 3, 4 and 5 yrs only):
A fantastic performance here as Tidarbret (Bengali D’Albret
x Iktidar), owned by the Middleton Stud and bred by long time
Arab race breeders and supporters Mr & Mrs James Kippen, became
the first horse in over 10 yrs to win the Breeders Cup who wasn’t
owned and bred by HH Sheikh Hamdan. It was also an impressive
training performance by Dennis Batteate to produce this horse
to win this race and in doing so losing his maiden tag. Flashcat
set the pace from the start with the rest of the field held up
behind, but as they approached the final three furlong Steve Harrison
produced Tidarbret into the lead and went for home with a hard
pressed Estiqraar chasing him home and Adraaj (Bengali D’Albret
x Aicha Tourettes) seemingly struggling to go the pace. As they
entered the final furlong Tidarbret had set sail for home under
an confident and assured ride from Harrison, but Adraaj stayed
on strongly in the closing stages for HH Sheikh Hamdan to take
second by just under three lengths and in turn went clear from
stablemate Estiqraar (Bengali D’Albret x Simooma) in third.
Adraaj was never going to reach the winner and ran another fine
performance, whilst Estiqraar struggled to run on in the final
furlong but was easily clear of the rest of the field.
Handicap
0-100 over 1 Mile:
The field went a fair pace from the start with Muhal
showing the lead in the early stages, before the pace increased
inside the final three furlongs where Angel Picamer came with
a wet sail to saunter into the lead with Riko, Noble Athlete and
Wathiq all hard ridden in behind. As they entered the final furlong
Angel Picamer (Amer x Picea HT) asserted her authority under a
great ride from Simon Walker to go a couple of lengths clear from
5/2 joint favourite Riko, to win well at the line for owner/breeder
Zelda Angel and trainer Bill Smith. Riko (Dormane x Cary De Carrere)
wasn’t disgraced back in second, he rallied hard inside
the final furlong but never looked like passing the winner. Whilst
Noble Athlete (Dorwan Du Cayrou x Noble Dame) galloped on resolutely
through beaten horses to claim third from a hard pressed Wathiq.
Handicap
0-55 over 6 Furlongs:
Unshooda (Makzan x Shunah) returned to the winners enclosure
for the second time in her career her after as fine win under
Simon Walker for owner/trainer Delyth Thomas. They set off at
a decent pace and as the momentum increased inside the final two
furlongs Unshooda shot into the lead and went readily clear of
the field with only Star Valentina and Raihan throwing down any
real challenge. In the final furlong Unshooda kicked clear to
win by a comfortable three lengths. Back in second was a superb
effort from Star Valentina (Div x Pronika), she came with her
run inside the final two furlongs and ran on well to take inside
the final furlong, her turn looks near. Whilst Raihan (Passem
Lotois x G Sustika) put up another solid effort in third but wasn’t
able to quicken with the first two in the closing stages.