Exeter 21st May
By Paul Simmons

Track: Soft, Good to soft

The Shaw & Fox Hay Suppliers Maiden Stakes over 6 Furlongs:
1. Penny Black Mr. S Harrison
2. Final Fling Mr. J Akehurst
3. Waadi Mr. P Collington

Distances: neck, 1 7 ran Time: 01:33:40

Winner owned by AJAY Construction Racing Club. Trained by Mrs. J Hutchings. Bred by Mrs. M Manfredi.

Penny Black (Chndaka x Pevunja) had some smart placed efforts last season and she made short work of this field to lose her maiden tag in some style for the AJAY Construction Racing Club, she was always handy and clearly appreciated the cut in the ground which rode officially as good to soft; she showed a useful turn of foot to scoot home half a length clear under a purposeful ride from Steve Harrison who was on the first leg of a double. Final Fling (Djamel x FH Honey Mellon) was half a length back in second and ran an eye catching race chasing the winner all the way to line to suggest his turn is not far away. Waadi (Makzan x Nega) the heavily backed favourite disappointed somewhat but travelled well and was only a length back in third and will be sharper next time out.

The Web-Simple Stakes over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
1. Deolali Mr. S Harrison
2. Fripon Al Maury Mr. S Walker
3. Aljard Mr. P Collington

Distances: ¾, dist 5 ran Time: 02:37:30

Winner owned by Only Fools & Horses Partnership. Trained by Miss. S Davison. Bred by Mrs. E Harrington.

Sam Davison started the season as she means to go on with stable star Deolali (Khairouan x Operetta (Silver Scenario)) showing the field a clean pair of heels and galloping them into submission to win under fine ride from Steve Harrison, his next race might see him step up to Group 3 level at Lingfield in June and on this basis he looks to be improving. Fripon Al Maury (Djouras Tu x Fayoum) is tough and consistent and although he travelled well he was always chasing the winner and was another 2 ½ back in second. Aljard (Vert Olive x Ester du Paon) was smart as a juvenile winning a Group 2 race but he’s lost all form since and looks distinctly temperamental and is clearly nowhere near as genuine as his top class half brother Group 1 Dubai Stakes winner Jiyush, he finished a distance back in third.

The easibed Open Race (TB, Anglo’s & PBA’s) over 6 Furlongs:
1. Robury Mr. P Collington
2. Hardtoback Mr. R G Woollard
3/D Blendon Belle Miss K Cross
Distances: 3 3 ran Time: 01:26:10

Winner owned and trained by Mr. J H Wilson. Bred by Mrs. S C Welch.

The historical first running of an open handicap featuring thoroughbreds and part bred arabs. Unfortunately the field cut up to only 3 runners due unforeseen circumstances but the race had a good finish with newcomer Robury (TB by Robellino x Youdontsay) laying down the gauntlet for the season by outsprinting smart part bred handicapper Hardtoback (Anglo by Norton Challenger x Harem VII) in some style. Robury is owned and trained by John Wilson who is one of the leading Anglo/PBA trainers of recent years and he looks to have a smart recruit here. Hardtoback has plenty of heart and stayed on for second, whilst Blendon Belle (TB by Laguna Beach x Palace Green) would have been third but the weight cloth slipped off in the straight and she was unfortunately disqualified.

The Jebel Ali Racing Club Handicap Stakes (Series Qualifier) 0-75 1 Mile:
1. Benha Mr. J Akehurst
2. WA Savannah Sunrise Mr. R G Woollard
3. Pavot Al Kyle Mr. S Walker

Distances: 1 ¾ , 3 10 ran Time: 02:04:70

Winner owned, trained and bred by Miss L Brooker.

Benha (Bengali D’Albret x Bahaa) has been out of sorts for the last couple of seasons and had dropped down the handicap, over his preferred trip of a mile and under an inspired ride from useful claimer Joe Akehurst he made short work of the opposition and kicked clear in the final furlong to score by an easy length and three quarters. WA Savannah Sunrise (Dantist x Sasparilla Sunrise (Maliek El Kheil)) was a game second and is genuine as the come, she chased hard in the final furlong but couldn’t sustain the pace of the winner. Pavot Al Kyle (Pavot Al Maury x Ellaria) made a pleasing return to the racecourse after a year off, always handy he kept on for third.

The Avon Thoroughbreds Banded Stakes (A,B & C) over 1 Mile:
1. Mehshalla Mr. A Newey
2. Sabez Mr. F J Offord
3. Eternal Light Mr. S Harrison

Distances: ¾, 15 7 ran Time: 02:06:10

Winner owned by the Samad Racing Partnership. Trained by Miss. S Davison. Bred by Mrs. L Sharpe.

Mehshalla (Pogojii x Mehsha (Shahpoor)) returned to form with a vengeance on the same track where she lost her maiden tag to give in form trainer Sam Davison a double for the day, Mehshalla always looked in command but had to work hard in the final furlong to hold off the relentless challenge of a staying on Sabez (Mahbuba x Zalmera), under a strong ride from Joe Akehurst who was also scoring a double. Mehshalla was promptly retired to the breeding paddocks after claiming this her third race win. Sabez tried hard to catch the winner in the final furlong but went down by a half a length. Eternal Light (Ernal x Magic Fairylight) made a pleasing seasonal debut back in third.

The AJAY Construction Maiden Stakes over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
1. Rainbow De Faust Mr. H Haynes
2. Rampart Mr. A Byles
3. Prukamzan Mr. S Walker

Distances: 5, 8 7 ran Time: 02:39:30

Winner owned by Stockwell Racing Partnership 1. Trained by Miss. G Ward. Bred by Chantilly Bloodstock AG.

The most impressive and eye catching winner of the day was undoubtedly in form trainer Georgina Ward’s flashy colt Rainbow de Faust (Darike x Gabie de Carrere) who could scarcely have been more impressive in making the maiden look like a walk in the park, this confidence boosting win should put him spot on for his next target which may well be the Derby Trial! Rampart (Bengali D’Albret x WMA Rachael) bought out of Ascot Arabian Racehorse Sale in 2005) made a pleasing race course debut in second travelling well but hanging slightly, she kept on in the final furlong at one pace and was four lengths adrift in second. Whilst Prukamzan (Makzan x Prunelle de Ghazal) looked a little tapped for toe in the final furlongs and will have learnt a lot from this experience.

The ARO Returns to Exeter in July Handicap Stakes 0-90 over 2 Miles:
1. Fedor du Bournais Mr. J Akehurst
2. Take A Chance Mr. B Adams
3. CS Khan Mr. A Byles

Distances: ¾, 4 7 ran Time: 04:12:20

Winner owned and trained by Mrs. D Thomas. Bred by M.R. Vitre.

They went a steady pace as the soft ground was stamina sapping but Fedor du Bournais (Djouras Tu x Cosete Du Bournais) has clearly lost none of his ability and outstayed his rivals in dour fashion to make the long trip from Wales for owner/trainer Delyth Thomas worth while. Take A Chance (Bengali D’Albret x Tajhiane) was heavily backed on the course and ran an absolute blinder from out of the handicap to take second and looks to be firmly on the upgrade. CS Khan (Khairouan x Cikada (Klarnet)) was a shade disappointing another four lengths back in third and perhaps didn’t appreciate the soft ground.