Wolverhampton 29th September Review
By Paul Simmons

1st Race – 0-60 1 Mile Wanderers Maiden Handicap:
Blu By You (Khairouan x Billou Al Maury) has been improving with every run this season, and he always looked like he was going well under owner/trainer/jockey Mark Wall, settled confidently in the field he quickened up in the straight and pulled clear inside the final furlong to win going away by eight lengths and he can go on from here. Sharka (Makzan x Humarni) ran his best race to date always handy he and Mr Ben had a mighty fight from the home turn for second with Sharka just denying Mr Ben (Bengali D’Albret x Widget) by half a length at the line.

2nd Race – The Dunstall Park OPEN Race (Anglo,PBA & TB) over 6 Furlongs:
Phil Collington was seen at his best on a confident ride on John Wilson’s Saucepot (Bold Edge x Apple Sauce) who produced a power packed display to win the OPEN, she quickened clear inside the final furlong to hold off the fast finishing Megabond (Danehill Dancer x Apple Peeler). Back in third was Ela Figura (The West x Chilli Bouchier) who seemed slightly tapped for toe in the closing stages but dug deep in the end to hold onto third ahead of a fast finishing Cloudcatcher.

3rd Race – The Oxley Open Handicap (Pure Breds) over 1 Mile 1 Furlong:
Only four went to post for this race but Noble Athlete returning to the scene of his maiden win always looked confident under Robert Flint. Settled in behind the leader Osaira, Flint stalked the leader into the home turn and brought Noble Athlete (Dorwan Du Cayrou x Noble Dame) with his run inside the final furlong to win nicely at the line by two and half lengths. Osaira (Tidjani x Cassels Celeste) produced another good effort, making the running and digging deep in the closing stages but she was no match for the winner. Zormania (Dormane x Diriaa), a former juvenile Group winner seemed to have lost her way in France, was always handy and came with her run inside the straight but found nil under pressure.

4th Race – The Bantock House Handicap Stakes 0-50 over 1 Mile 1 Furlong:
Simon Walker rode a confident race on Sue Connally’s game mare Raihan (Passem Lotois x G Sustika), leading from start to finish, and kicking clear in the final furlong to come home clear of a hard chasing Bonham (Bakara x Bonnie Jet). The latter ran another sound race and seems a completely reformed character this season, he came with his run inside the straight and although he couldn’t pass the winner he was clear of the rest of the field and continues to impress. Whilst El Hamsa (Nasem x Myska) maintained his good run of form chasing hard from the final bend and just denying CS Lafaz for third.

5th Race – The Black Country Handicap Stakes 0-90 over 1 Mile 6 Furlongs:
Meastro Al Maury (Dormane x Melusine Al Maury) hasn’t had much racing this season, but he loves a test of stamina and Phil Collington rode an inspired race on HH Sheikh Hamdan’s handsome colt; he was always going well and took the lead before the bend and ran on strongly inside the final furlong to hold off the sustained challenge of Kepassa (Akbar x Kesperla). The latter had failed to impress on his UK starts but showed his first signs of ability here, racing prominently and staying on dourly in the closing stages, chasing the winner all the way to the line. Whilst CS Khan (Khairouan x Cikada) ran another bold race in third, making the running and after he was headed he plugged on for third ahead of the rest.

6th Race – The Albrighton OPEN race (Anglo, PBA & TB) over 1 Mile 6 Furlongs:
A popular win here for long time Arab racing supporter and Bill Hill on his brave mare Litigious (Mtoto x Kiomi). She hadn’t shown much on her ARO starts to date but came of age in style here, always travelling well she had a hard fought dual with Just Serenade inside the final two furlongs eventually asserting her authority over the latter to win at the line for owner/trainer/jockey Bill Hill by a comfortable six lengths. Back in second was a superb seasonal debut for Just Serenade (Factual x Taimbalina), she had with every chance inside the home straight but couldn’t reel the winner back in. Whilst Princess Karla (Fayruz x Mystic Air) continues to hold her form well and stayed on strongly from the three furlong marker ahead of the field.

7th Race – The Wulfruna Handicap 0-75 over 6 Furlongs:
Another win on the day for the in form owner/trainer Delyth Thomas as Ajyaal returned to winning form under a superb ride from Steve Harrison. Always travelling well Ajyaal (Bengali D’Albret x Silvena) settled in second behind odds on favourite and stablemate Al Mamoon, he kicked clear inside the final furlong and pulled clear at the line to win by a length from long time leader Al Mamoon (Passem Lotois x Al Hanoof). Back in third was Djak Sprat (Al Sakbe x Djinka) who ran his best race for a while, settled in behind the front two, he came with his run from the bend and kept on for third.

8th Race – The ARO Sweepstakes Handicap 0-65 over 1 Mile 4 Furlongs:
Another win for rapidly improving Mushammer (Passem Lotois x Kawzah Tiki) who has risen a staggering 20 lbs in the handicap, and his rapid progress doesn’t seem to show any signs of faltering for owner/trainer Carol Legg. Always handy under Pat Murphy he was produced inside the final furlong and pulled clear from a staying on Notid (Tidjani x Sherrie Noreen) to win by a comfortable length at the line. Whilst Notid ran a good race in second, always travelling well behind long time leader Operatic, he challenged inside the straight and made a bold bid for victory but Mushammer was always going better. Operatic (Vert Olive x Operetta) made a brave attempt at making all but was overwhelmed by the first two inside the final furlong and had to settle for third.