Arabian Racing Review
Fontwell Park Sunday 14th June
by Paul Simmons

The Eve Lodge Maiden Stakes over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
A well deserved win for Yaqoot (Darike x Nirva De Cardonne) who ran some excellent races in defeat last season, she was prominent throughout and was brought with her run inside the final two furlongs and stayed on strongly under a well judged ride from Simon Walker to win by a length at the line for trainer Bill Smith and owner/breeder HH Sheikh Hamdan. Back in second was the Royal Cavalry of Oman’s A’Naser (Newday x A’Sabooh) who made his claim fro victory in the home straight but was never going to get past the winner. Whilst Moshahed (Chndaka x Nirva De Cardonne) ran a promising race on his debut in second and stayed on well in the final furlong.

The Angel Arabian Handicap 0-85 over 1 Mile 6 Furlongs:
Jockey Martin Smith’s gold streak continued here as he caught the entire field napping and seized the initiative from the half way point on Qawaafil being almost fifteen lengths clear at one point, this filly gamely out galloped the entire field and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to hold onto victory from a determined Few And Far. Qawaafil (Vasilisk x Bisbille) hadn’t showed much in two runs last term, but as full sister to leading stayer Taabeer this trip was always going to suit, and Smith rode a bold race to out smart the field to claim victory of owner breeder HH Sheikh Hamdan. Winning trainer Gill Duffield said afterwards “That was a good run and she’s improving, but Martin rode that well”. Few and Far (The Wiking x Elina Des Fabries) made up a huge amount of ground in the closing furlongs but was never going to reach the winner, but she battled on well to hold onto third from Alsharq (Al Sakbe x Valina Des Fabries) who was staying on ahead of the rest of the field.

The Al-Nujaifi Farm Series Handicap 0-65 over 6 Furlongs:
They set off at a blistering pace in this sprint with Sakeena Sky Zayin bidding to make a brave bid for victory under a determined Phil Collington, with Whisper and Mr Ben her only real dangers. As they approached the final furlong Sakeena Sky Zayin was all out in the centre of the course for victory, but Whisper (The Wiking x Sucha) was finishing with a stronger burst of speed under a powerful ride from David Turner to win at the line by half length for the Almost All Partnership. Speaking afterwards winning trainer Adam Newey said “We thought she had a good chance today and she did it well, she is so tough and genuine and always tries her best”. Back in second was a decent seasonal debut from Sakeena Sky Zayin (Karmah x Sweet Simplicity) under top weight, whilst stablemate Mr Ben (Bengali D’Albret x Widget) -also trained by Bev Paterson- ran well on his debut, he had every chance in the final furlong and was only half a length back in third.

The Royal Cavalry of Oman Handicap 0-100 over 7 Furlongs:
Mutafani set a fast pace from the off and quickened up the tempo in the final two furlongs, but Aberfeldy (Amer x Zeinah) was travelling ominously well in behind under a confident Simon Walker and she quickened clear in impressive style in the final furlong to win by just over a length for owner Jane Haddock and in form trainer Bill Smith, she looks firmly on the upgrade. Mutafani (Amer x Cheikha) did all the hard work and lost nothing in defeat, he fought hard in the final furlong but couldn’t live with the winner, but ran on gamely to hold off Marsak (Al Sakbe x Margau) by a length at the line.

The Gotottheraces.com Handicap 0-60 over 1 Mile 4 Furlongs:
Floren (Bengali D’Albret x Florys De Nautiac) is maintaining his form admirably well this season and recorded a very impressive victory here under his welter weight of 11 st 2 lb (after his 6 lb penalty for his win at Wolverhampton the week before). Tough as teak this 9 year old entire outstayed his rivals in dour fashion and after tracking Abra into the home straight he stayed on in fine style under a superb ride from owner/trainer/jockey Theresa Smith. Abra (Dormane x Djoula) ran another excellent front running performance and shows no signs of being a teenager, she set a good pace and kept up to her task in the final furlong to hold onto second. Affar (Asad Saif x Al Qaida Al Thania) is clearly going the right way and stayed every yard of this trip, he was handy throughout and battled on in the final furlong to take third from Notid.

The Jebel Ali Racing Club Handicap 0-75 over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
An excellent confident boosting win for Adraaj (Bengali D’Albret x Aicha Tourettes) under a calm well timed ride from Phil Collington, held up with a run mid field, he made smooth headway on this filly in the home straight and quickened up nicely in the final furlong to win by an easy length at the line for owner/breeder HH Sheikh Hamdan and trainer Gill Duffield. Al Fairooz (Makzan x Carthagenna) ran another solid race in second for the Royal Cavalry of Oman, he went for victory inside the two furlong marker and although he rallied inside the closing stages he never looked like passing the winner. Whilst Debrett (Bengali D’Albret x Djeba El Mels) ran another gutsy race back in third, he made all and stayed on well when beaten to hold onto third ahead of Pacific Way.