ARABIAN RACING 2004
BY PAUL SIMMONS


Merlin De Carrere

Photo Jim & Chris Bielby Racing Advertiser Ltd.

Salisbury Wednesday August 11th

Track: Good to Firm

The Brunton Punlications Apprentice Handicap Stakes (60-100) 6 Furlongs:
1. Merlin De Carrere Neil Chalmers
2. Bas Hisaan Charlotte Kherton
3. Muthaaber J F MacDonald

Distances: ¾, 1 ¾ 7 ran Time: 01:22:78

Winner owned by The Day In Toulouse Partnership. Trained by Mrs. G Ward. Bred by M. Guy Dell’Ova.

The first race of the apprentice series was won in fine style by Merlin De Carrere (Dormane X Qu’aty De Carrere). He was quickly out of the stalls and joined by Bas Hisaan (Crusader X Maloof Hadiya) and they set a scorching pace and were head for the majority of the race before Merlin De Carrere asserted by three quarters of a lengths at the line. Bas Hisaan showed a return to form and battled on gamely to hold on to second, he has dropped down the handicap and looks capable of scoring again. The favourite Muthaaber (Bengali D’Albret X Volna) lost his unbeaten record and was being pushed along from the start, he seemed to find the trip on the sharp side but didn’t help his cause by hanging, he stayed on gamely to snatch third from Kaspa.