Arabian Racing Preview by Paul Simmons

The Arabian race season starts Tuesday 16th May at Brighton with a Group 3 event over 6 furlongs, this race is a very good guide to the leading lights for the season ahead. Former winners include Jiyush who went on to win the Group 1 Dubai Stakes, Have Fun who won the Group 3 Derby Trial and last years winner Arsene Rupin who went on to win the Group 1 Derby at Newmarket. This seasons race looks to be just as good with Georgina Ward (who has won this race twice in the last 3 yrs) fielding useful French recruit Balroy De Brugere (full brother to multiple Group winning mare Dormah De Brugere) and Bill Smith with the Brunton’s useful colt CS Malik (won maiden before coming second in Group 1 Juvenile Championships). The Group 3 at Brighton is on Tuesday 16th May – the first Arab race of the season.

The Arabian Racing Organisation has seen the registration of trainers increase every year and this year is no exception with the introduction of thoroughbreds into the Anglo/PBA races. The BHB has given ARO permission to allow thoroughbreds to run in Anglo races. The rules are simple the horse has to be :

• 3yrs old or over and rated under 40
• Has to have been out of a professional training yard for 3 months
• From the 1st May 2004 hasn’t won a first prize of over £1750

This addition to the race plan gives low rated/banded thoroughbreds the chance to race alongside their part bred cousins, and is also an innovative way for more people to experience the sport of Arabian racing.

This years Ascot Arabian Racehorse sale held in April saw a significant average price rise, with many new trainers picking up well bred recruits for the season ahead.

Leading Trainers Horses to follow for 2006:

Gill Duffield:
Gill Duffield is one of the leading trainers of Arabian racehorses in the UK and former UK Champion trainer, she trains mainly for HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Newmarket. When not training in the UK she is in Dubai where she is also a leading trainer. For the last three years Gill has trained the winner of the Group 1 Kahayala Classic (the equivalent of the Arabian World Cup and the richest Arabian race in the World), the phenomenal race horse Madjani winning for the last two years. Now back in the UK with 26 horses to train Gill gave me an insight into her leading lights for this season:

• Khawater 5 yr old filly(Tidjani x Synaps) – won her maiden last season and is going well.
• Najayeb 5 yr old filly(Djebbel x Juans Karita Ku) – won twice last season and is a nice type
• Lamasat 6 yr old mare (Bengali D’Albret x Komet) – Won premier handicap and placed 3rd in Group 1 Hatta Stakes, needs time between races but remains a classy mare
• Al Jawza 5 yr old filly (Dormane x Maheba de Piboul) – placed 3rd behind CS Jumali and Wolverhampton and has strengthened up over the winter, her dam won Group 1 Hatta Stakes.
• Maggie de Faust 4 yr old filly (Dormane x Gina de Carrere) – 2nd behind leading juvenile CS Malik only her only start, has wintered well and is a good prospect.
• Munealiq 4 yr old colt (Izentespeshal x Sophie du Loup) – Very well bred his dam won Group 1 Dubai Stakes could be anything.
• Wadi 4 yr old colt (Makzan x Nega) – Grand dam Mega won Group 1 Hatta Stakes, well bred and is a nice prospect, entered at Exeter on 21st May in the maiden.
• Nes Naas 4 yr old colt (Jehol de Cardonne x Itallaki) – nice colt will be out in June
• Markoom 4 yr old colt (Bengali D’Albret x Simooma (Vadeer) – full brother to Mutarased who won last season, dam won Breeders Cup and sire won European Triple Crown.

Bill Smith is a former leading National Hunt jockey who used to ride for the Queen, he has been Champion trainer in UK, he is based in Hampshire. He trains for HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Argentinian businessman Gerrado Serra, American owners Mandolynn Farm and leading UK breeders Michael Brunton and Zelda Angel. This season he has over 30 horses in training including:

• Malik D’Or 5 yr old colt (Dormane x Malika Fontenay) – Owned by MAUFU syndicate - Won his maiden last season and has strengthened up and looks likely to progress.
• Prukasim 4yr old colt (Khairoaun x Prunella de Ghazal) –who is showing the right signs
• Dhabi 6 yr old geld (Dormane x Diraia) – placed last season and has matured nicely over winter
• Wahchi 5 yr old geld (Vadeer x Synaps) – also placed last season and looks progressive
• CS Malik 4 yr old colt (Makzan x Ciarosa (Ciato) – Owned and bred by Michael Brunton - won his maiden and placed at Group 1 & Group 2. Very nice colt, smart prospect and goes to Brighton for the Group 3.
• CS Jumali 4 yr old colt (Bengali D’Albret x Jumah (Div) – Owned and bred by Michael Brunton - Won his only start last season and is going well
• Angel Picamer 6 yr old mare (Amer x Picea HT) – Owned and bred by Zelda Angel - Weak and backward last season but won on her handicap debut and going well.

Georgina Ward is quickly gaining a reputation as being a leading trainer of Arabian racehorses, she is based in South Yorkshire. In 2003 she gained significant wins with Have Fun in several Group races including Group 3 Derby Trial. Last season Arsene Rupin won four Group races including the Group 1 Derby at Newmarket. Her formidable string this season includes:

• Rainbow de Faust 4 yr old colt (Darike x Gabie de Carrere) – Half brother to Have Fun and working very well, is a nice prospect.
• Balroy de Brugere 5 yr old geld (Dormane x Ballade Folle) – Full brother to former leading UK juvenile and Group winner Dormah de Brugere. 5 yr old gelding who is going nicely at home.
• Dormah de Brugere 6 yr old mare (Dormane x Ballade Folle) – Owned by James Kippen – very smart mare and going extremely well at home.
• Danjani 5 yr old colt (Tidjani x Russian Dancer (Dantist ) – Owned and bred by James Kippen -Very well in himself and will be stepped up to Group level this season – won Jebel Ali Listed handicap on Dubai Day.
• Ben Amer 3 yr old colt (Amer x Bengaliya (Bengali D’Albret)) – Owned and bred by James Kippen - exceptionally well bred 3 yr old and looks smart.

Sam Davison is one of the rising stars of the Arabian racing scene and trains in Wiltshire, like most people she started her Arabian race career as an owner/trainer/jockey. The last two seasons has seen her string double in size and her wins last season included Deolali winning the Premier Handicap at Newbury. This season her string of 14 horses include:

• Rampart 5 yr old filly (Bengali D’Albret x WMA Racheal) – bought from Ascot Sale last year, well bred out of smart American family, owned by the Gagnant Partnership, going to Exeter for the maiden in May.
• Jubilee Dancer 4 yr old filly (Chndaka x Russian Dancer (Dantist) – Owned by Tracey Wright - Won international maiden at Newmarket and is working well on the gallops.
• WFA Leopard 8 yr old entire (Bengali D’Albret x Lapsana) – Owned by Dublcheck Ltd – Game and consistent placed 2nd in Dubai Immigration Stakes last season and is going well and should be out shortly.
• Deolali 7 yr old geld (Khairoaun x Operetta (Silver Scenario) – Owned by Gagnant Partnership - Well in himself and going nicely on gallops, goes to Exeter and then maybe the Group 3 at Lingfield in June.
• CS Khan 5 yr old geld (Khairoaun x Cikada (Klarnet) – Owned by Linda Cross – an out and out stayer, goes to Exeter for the 2 mile race and then possibly the Group 3 race at Lingfield in June.
• Heavens Open 5 yr old filly (Saker x Pharitz Maneon (Galeon) – Owned by Monica Calvert & Georgie Moore – ran promisingly on her debut last season, heads for the maiden at Exeter and is showing promise on the gallops.
• Almost All 7 yr old geld (Bengali D’Albret x Emotsia ( Esplendour) – Owned by Linda Cross - Won his maiden in 2004 and has had a year off, going nicely at home.