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PAUL SIMMONS OFFICIAL RACE REPORTER



Mack The Knife (Makzan x GAS Pepelka (Pepel) winning Chepstow

ARABIAN RACING REVIEW 2004
BY PAUL SIMMONS

Arabian racing in 2004 was once again a successful campaign, with many old and new faces recording significant victories throughout the season. Below is a selection of highlights and awards constructed by me - they help to give an overview of the 2004 results.


Shahngali (Bengali D’Albret x Affecshahn (Derbist)

Most Impressive Debut:
This award would have to go to Shahngali (Bengali D’Albret x Affecshahn (Derbist) for winning a Group 3 over seven furlongs on his seasonal debut. He fought hard to repel the late challenge of Kaspa for a thrilling finish to the first race of the season. In doing so giving owner Tracey Wright and trainer Tony Brunton their first Group victory.


CS Camellia’s (Bengali D’Albret x Ciarosa)

The Best & Closest Finish:
This would have to go to CS Camellia’s (Bengali D’Albret x Ciarosa) enthralling victory in the Group 1 Hatta Mares Stakes over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs when she showed plenty of guts and determination to get home from multiple Group winner Dormah De Brugere and the useful Kolver. In doing so she fulfilled owner and breeder Michael Brunton’s 10 year dream of owning and breeding a Group 1 winner.

Staying Performance:
Another Brunton owned and bred horse CS Al Wahed (Bengali D’Albret x Cikada (Klarnet). Superbly ridden by Pierre Deymonaz Wahed galloped his rivals into submission in the Group 2 event over 2 Miles and was a good 18 lengths clear by half way and the toiling former Group winners Juma and Nadjel were left struggling to maintain the gallop.

Weight Carrying Performance:
This would have to go to Angela and Gary Cook’s extremely progressive Mack The Knife (Makzan x GAS Pepelka (Pepel) for lugging 10 stone 6 lbs to victory in the highly competitive Emirates Arabian Amateur Handicap Stakes over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs at Chepstow. He just got home by a head from the smart Fedor Du Bournais with the luckless Miss Moncrieff in third.


Mellway Gold Charm (Naresh x Alcina)

Best Recovery To Win:
A muddling handicap race over 1 Mile 4 Furlongs at Wolverhampton with no pace at all left Mellway Gold Charm (Naresh x Alcina) a confirmed stayer outpaced with four furlongs to go, this game mare had to dig really deep to find the reserves in order to get up in the shadow of the post to win by half a length. This filly had already won at Exeter for owner / trainer / breeder Jackie Hutchings.

Most Deserved Win:
Jana (Normativ x Joli) was undeniably well handicapped when she won with four lengths to spare over Alanya over five furlongs at Wolverhampton. In her other six runs she didn’t finish out of the first four, notching up 3 seconds, 2 thirds and a fourth. This win was most deserved for this game little filly who always gives her all on the track.

Best Mares Performance:
It would have to go to admirably consistent Wayward Faery (Kesberoy x Faery Wand) who at Lingfield out ran her rivals in the 7 Furlong Al Waha Stakes. She won with 3 ½ lengths to spare over subsequent winner Balquees and Group 1 winner CS Camellia. She also won a decent handicap on a thoroughbred card.

Best Novice Owner/ Trainer/ Jockey performance:
This award goes to Debbie Crothers and her gutsy little mare Chelmer Riasha (Halim Shah x Ria-Bint-Procyon) achieved a game victory at Hereford when getting up by a neck from Makhai in the Town & Country Farms Novice Riders Handicap Stakes over 1 Mile 6 Furlongs.

Best Placed Horse:
Allahmes (Azahmes x Numenor Nim Allatari) was well placed by his owner / trainer Bill Hill throughout the season winning twice. However, at Huntingdon over 1 Mile 6 Furlongs Allahmes scooted clear from the field with an easy 14 lengths to spare over his nearest pursuers.


Lille D’Amour (Merlin Al Maury x Daad)

Mudlark Award:
In a season where Lille D’Amour (Merlin Al Maury x Daad) won four of races including the valuable Jebel Ali Gold Final at Newmarket over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs at the end of the season, as well as two events on the All Weather – Southwell (2 Miles) & Wolverhampton (7 furlongs). Her finest performance was probably when she landed the valuable Emirates Arabian Apprentice Stakes over 7 Furlongs at Chester on the thoroughbred card. The track was officially “soft” but described as “bottomless” by many, Lille D’Amour who loves to get her toe in ploughed through the mud to win easily by 2 ½ lengths from consistent handicapper Bas Hisaan.

Best Maiden Win:
This would have to go to Alison Batchelor’s classy French import Jelvita (Njewman x Vite Amine) won her maiden over a mile at Exeter where she beat subsequent maiden winners Kammaryah and Varona. A smart progressive filly and one to watch.

The Last Gasp Victory Award:
Al Aasi (Samsheik x Buka) trained by Angela Colledge and owned by Jenny Pierson gets this award after just getting up on the line under a superb ride from Steve Harrison to win the 6 Furlong handicap at Exeter from Majestic Dream and SA Bibi.

Best Handicap Performance:
This would have to go to The Vertuous Crusader (Vert Olive x Crusader Spirit (Sky Crusader) for his emphatic victory in the Emirates Breeders Society Stakes over 7 Furlongs on Dubai Day.

Best Training Performance:
Gordon Farr for producing CS Clarion (Chndaka x Cikada) carrying 10st 6 lbs to win the Deira Stakes over 1 Mile 5 Furlongs on Dubai Day. A great performance and Clarion also managed to notch up four seconds during a busy and consistent season. Clarion was brilliantly ridden by Phil Collington.

Best Substitute Jockey:
Aimee Hockley for filling in for O/T/J Philip Rondel on Makhai (Khairouan x Mais) at Uttoxeter, the pair both recorded their first victory when winning the 5 Furlong handicap from Maghriba.


Best Riding Performance:
This award goes to Sam Holdsworth for his brilliant riding of Karaviva (Normativ x Sunlea Kaprina) to get the maiden up to win the 5 Furlong Al Jabal Stakes at Lingfield. The filly is not ridden with a stick, so it was hands and heels only in a power packed ride. In doing so he gave owner / breeder Judy Bethell her first ever winner, and trainer Jane Stevens her first winner for a decade.


WA Savannah Sunrise (Dantist x Sasparilla Sunrise)

Most Progressive Handicapper:
WA Savannah Sunrise (Dantist x Sasparilla Sunrise) went from strength to strength all season and recorded three wins, the first over 6 Furlongs at Huntingdon, then over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs at Stratford before following on a week later at Lingfield over 1 Mile 4 Furlongs. Sunrise was expertly placed by owner / trainer Clare Taylor and brilliantly ridden by Rob Wollard.

Best Anglo/PBA Performance:
This award would have to go to the gutsy Kelway Crimson Sky (Imperial Majesty x Royal Regalia) for her game win at Chepstow over a mile. Inspite of disliking the ground she ploughed on to victory to beat Faer Soar and Inspector Morse. She was excellently trained by Stuart Shefras.

Best Double:
Sam Davison enjoyed an excellent second season but had a meeting to remember at Chepstow when her plucky little mare Mehshalla (Pogojii x Mehsha) won the 1 Mile 2 Furlong Jebel Ali Stakes from the game Jana. She then had another win when Deolali (her Ascot Sale purchase) got up by a head from former stablemate Miss Moncrieff.

Best Juvenile:
Danjani (Tidjani x Russian Dancer (Dantist) went down in several people’s notebooks for the 2005 season when storming home by an easy 12 lengths in the Equestrian Surfaces Maiden Stakes. Bred and owned by Mr. Kippen and trained by Gillian Duffield.

Determination Award:
Philip Rondel (a youthful 62 – proves its never too late) for producing his useful La Perruche to win the Anglo/PBA race at Stratford over 1 Mile with Kelway Crimson Sky seven lengths back in second. Rondel also owns and trains La Perruche.

Unluckiest Not To Win:
Poor Miss Moncrieff (Makzan x Zeinah (Samsheik) ran her heart out all season and was second in the Emirates Breeders Stakes on Dubai Day, she was third behind Mack The Knife in the big handicap at Chepstow and finished the season with a game third in the Clarendon Stud Handicap Stakes at Newmarket behind stablemate CS Patriach (Makzan x Pokrovka). Owned by Eric Philpott and trained by Tony Brunton.

Handicap Guru:
Once again this award goes to trainer Carol Legg. In 2003 season she took both the Jebel Ali Gold Series with her father Eric Legg’s home bred Mystic Dream (Abitibi x Autumn Dream) and the Silver Final at Newmarket with her own homebred French Lieutenant (Dedja Des Forges x Sihrea Crystal (Crystal Magician). Last season (2004) Carol again took the Silver Final with Mystic Dream. Carol Legg you are the handicap Guru!

Owning A Race Award:
This would have to go to jockey Simon Walker and trainer Bill Smith. Since 2001 they have won the final Group race of the season at Newmarket – the 1 Mile Group 2. In 2001 & 2002 they took the race with Gerado Serra’s classy Argentinian Import Karmah, in 2003 they won it with Shiekh Mohammed’s Jilko and last season they took it with the classy Kolver (also owned by Sheikh Mohammed). Walker was again awarded Champion jockey and Smith was second in the Champion trainers table.

The Actual Awards were:

Leading Owner 2004: HH Shiekh Hamdan Bin R Al Maktoum

Leading Trainer 2004: Gillian Duffield

Leading Jockey 2004: Simon Walker

Leading Breeder: Michael Brunton (Clarendon Stud)

Leading Lady Jockey: Emily Jones

Leading Novice Rider: David Weeks

Leading Lady Novice Rider : Carolyn Stockham

Leading Purebred Arabian: CS Patriarch owned & bred by Mr. M Brunton and trained by Mr. T Brunton

Leading Anglo Arab: L’Escalou owned by Mr. D Brunton and trained by Mr. W Smith

AHS Small owner/ trainer award : Sue & Tony Connally

Leading Arabian Broodmare: Cikada (Klarnet x Cider with Rosie) for the 3 rd year running

Leading Sire: Bengali D’Albret

Leading Group Sire: Bengali D’Albret


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