Wolverhampton 27th May
By Paul Simmons

Track: AW – Standard

The Palm Strip Maiden Stakes over 7 Furlongs:
1. Albaab Mr. P Collington
2. Mustameet Mr. H Haynes
3. Deraasaat Mr. S Phipps

Distances: 2 ½, 11 7 ran Time: 01:40:84

Winner owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Trained by Mrs. G Duffield. Bred by Shadwell Estate Co. Ltd.

Gill Duffield hit form with a vengeance when Albaab (Jehol de Cardonne x Silvena) won the opening maiden in impressive style, showing a useful turn of foot to draw clear in the final furlong by two-and-a-half lengths. “She’s a nice filly and we did fancy her here, I trained both her parents Jehol De Cardonne won the Group 1 Dubai Stakes whilst her dam Silvena won 12 races” commented Duffield after the race. Mustameet (Vert Olive x Mandoline Song) made a pleasing seasonal debut always up with the pace he was staying on at the finish and is going the right way. Deeraasaat (Izentespeshal x Maderba de Piboul) seemed to struggle as the pace increased in the final two furlongs and was another 12 lengths back in third.

The Shindagha Graduation Stakes (Anglo’s & PBA’s) over 1 Mile:
1. Curupanna Mrs. J Smith
2. Hardtoback Mr. R G Woollard
3. Castle Lee Lad Mr. S Walker

Distances: 6, 1 4 ran Time: 02:02:10

Winner owned by Mrs. S Herrod. Trained by Mr. P Greenwood. Bred by JCA Batchelor.

Curupanna (Opera Ghost x Easter Panic) made short work of the opposition on her first start for over a year, always in command she kicked clear in the home straight to score by an easy six lengths, in doing so giving new trainer Philip Greenwood his first winner Arabian racing. Hardtoback (Norton Challenger x Harem VII) was staying on for second ahead of the field but couldn’t go with the winner and might have been feeling the effects of a hard race last week, whilst Castle Lee Lad (Kenilworth Castle x Miss Annabel Lee) battled hard for third and will come on for the run.

The Al Wasl Handicap Stakes 0-90 over 7 Furlongs:
1. CS Malik Mr. S Walker
2. WFA Leopard Mr. P Collington
3. Roches du Cayrou Mr. J Akehurst

Distances: 1 ½, neck 6 ran Time: 01:41: 12

Winner owned and bred by Mr. M D Brunton. Trained by Mr. W Smith.
CS Malik (Makzan x Ciarosa (Ciato)) went down in several notebooks as a horse to follow following his emphatic victory here and is firmly on the upgrade, quickly away at the start he set a decent pace and quickened up nicely from the bend and cruised home with a fair amount in hand under former Champion jockey Simon Walker. Speaking afterwards Dan Brunton said “He did that very nicely and goes straight for the Derby Trial”. WFA Leopard (Bengali D’Albret x Lapsana) is in fine form and was always handily placed, he ran on strongly in the final furlong but was never going to pass the winner. Whilst Roches Du Cayrou (Newday x Kahinaoura) posted another solid effort trying to reel in Leopard in the final furlong and going down by a neck to finish third.

The Jebel Ali Racing Club Banded Stakes (Series Qualifier) (B & C) over 6 Furlongs:
1. Millenium Leap Mrs. V Murphy
2. Sabez Mr. F J Offord
3. Kingsmill Mr. H Haynes

Distances: short head, 2 10 ran Time: 01:28:81

Winner owned and bred by Mrs. C Cone. Trained by Mr. P J Murphy.

Millenium Leap (Khairouan x Balla Star) is a speedy performer and goes well fresh and won this event in fine style under a superb ride by Veronica Murphy (who’s husband trains the mare, and her mother Christine Cone bred and owns the mare). She stuck her head down and battled hard in the final furlong to win by a short head from the battling effort of Sabez (Mahbuba x Zalmera) who looked as if he might reach the winner, he remains in fine form with another good effort. Kingsmill (Crystal Monarch x Dynastja P) was another two-and-a-half lengths back in third and is going the right way.

The Al Ras Open Race (TB’s, Anglo’s & PBA’s) over 1 Mile 4 Furlongs:
1. Exclusive Air Miss. E Owen
2. September Harvest Mr. R Shute
3. Diamond Ring Mr. S Walker

Distances: 1, 1 ¼ 6 ran Time: 02:53:34

Winner owned and trained by Miss. E Owen. Bred by Payson Stud Inc.

Exclusive Air (Affirmed x Lac Dessert) had reportedly not been getting home over hurdles, but he didn’t put a foot wrong here on his Arabian racing debut under owner/trainer/jockey Emma Owen who was always in command and cruised home with a length to spare over September Harvest (Mujtahid x Shawgantry) who was staying on. The odds on favourite Diamond Ring (Magic Ring x Reticent Bride) was slightly out paced another one-and-a-half lengths back in third.

The Nad Al Sheba Handicap Stakes 0-65 over 1 Mile 4 Furlongs:
1. G Panoramik Miss R Illman
2. Notid Mr. F J Offord
3. Lile D’Amour Mr. D Birch

Distances: 10, 3 9 ran Time: 03:05:12

red Winner owned and trained by Miss R Illman. By Ventura Farms.

A major upset in the market and shock result which had the bookmakers smiling was 40/1 shot G Panoramik’s (Menes x Pesenka) all the way victory under a superbly judged ride from owner/trainer/jockey Rachel Illman. G Panoramik hadn’t seen the track for over six years and at the grand old age of 14 was friendless in the market, but time clearly hasn’t withered this talented gelding and he bolted home ten lengths clear of the field to give Rachel Illman her first winner Arab racing. Notid (Tidjani x Sherrie Noreen) stayed on for second and is no back number so the form looks solid, whilst Lille D’Amour (Merlin Al Maury x Daad) was a shade disappointing another four lengths back in third and will be sharper for the run.

The Wild Wadi Maiden Stakes over 1 Mile 4 Furlongs:
1. Aljawza Mr. P Collington
2. Final Fling Mr. J Akehurst
3. Pennard Way Mr. S Holdsworth

Distances: 2, 10 7 ran Time: 03:11:28

Winner owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Trained by Mrs. G Duffield. Bred by Shadwell Estate Co. Ltd.

Another win for Gill Duffield who’s yard is clearly firing on all cylinders, Aljawza (Dormane x Maheba de Piboul) was placed on her only start last season and has clearly strengthened up over the winter, she appreciated this step up in trip and won this event with a touch of class and looks progressive coming home two lengths clear. Talking after the race Duffield commented “We think a lot of this filly, she’s a nice type and could go for the Group 3 event at Lingfield in a fortnight”. Final Fling’s (Djamel x FH Honey Mellon) turn is near, he stayed on well in the final furlong and perhaps didn’t get home over this extended distance, whilst Pennard Way (Way To Go x Pentyl) was well beaten back ten lengths back in third on his debut but will have learnt from the experience.