Arabian Racing Review
Huntingdon Saturday 30th May
by Paul Simmons

El-Hamsa Winning

The Shaw & Fox Maiden Stakes over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
The debutant Safiy Samir led the field along at a decent gallop from the start, but soon had the Royal Cavalry of Oman pair Hajes and Hareer were stalking in behind with Phil Collington cruising on odds on favourite Adraaj for HH Sheikh Hamdan. As they entered the final two furlongs Adraaj asserted her authority and quickened clear but Hajes and Hareer were snapping at her heels all the way to the line, with Adraaj (Bengali D’Albret x Aicha Tourettes) get home under a confident ride from Collington to win by a length. Winning trainer Gill Duffield said “She’s a nice filly from a good family and will improve from that”. Hareer (Walid Al Dunixi x Haseenah) and Hajes (Vertigo x Al Muhabah) had only a neck separating them and look like two smart prospect for the Julian Smart stable, both rallied hard in the closing stages and are ones to watch next time out.

The Royal Of Oman Novice Rider Race Series Handicap Stakes 0-60 over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
Kevin Locking set himself a high standard when winning on his first ever ride at Fontwell Park in 2008 on Nenette, he was once again seen to great effect in this novice rider race (“Hands and heels only”), riding a well judged race on El Hamsa (Nasem x Myska), coming with a strong run inside the final furlong to pull clear from a staying on Floren (Bengali D’Albret x Florys De Nautiac) for the Morris family. The latter ran another excellent race and might have reeled in the winner in another furlong, he is in great form this season and his turn looks near. Whilst Kizhi (Khairouan x Sucha) ran a sound race on her seasonal debut (has been competing in endurance events this spring), she rallied hard in the final furlong and kept on under a strong ride from Jack Sherwood (on the ARO Jockey Development Programme 2009) to finish a good third ahead of Benny The Dip.

The Jebel Ali Racing Club Handicap Stakes 0-50 over 6 Furlongs:
They went off a decent pace for this competitive sprint handicap with Lady Marisha, Abra and Trip To Khairo all showing early speed. As the tempo increased in the home straight it was a real mares affair as all three battled home, but in the end if was Trip To Khairo (Khairouan x Tikis Trip) who came with a wet sail inside the final furlong under a brilliant ride from Rob Woollard who scored with consummate ease by two and a half lengths for owner/trainer Jenny Peyton. Lady Marisha (Nevesti x Shimmering Spektra) ran an eye catching race on her seasonal debut and battled home well in the closing stages under an energetic ride from Adam Brook and looks capable of scoring again. Whilst fellow teenager Abra (Dormane x Djoula) ran another game race a length back in third and deserves to win to, she held on to third from a running on Shouq.

The Hope Farm Trading Maiden Stakes over 7 Furlongs:
The Duffield pair dominated the betting but in the end stable jockey Collington picked the wrong horse as odds on favourite Ebraam was turned over by rising star filly Thimaar. The pace was fair throughout and inside the home straight Ebraam set sail for home with the Royal Cavalry of Oman A’Naser chasing hard in behind, but Martin Smith was stoking a superb run from Thimaar (Chndaka x Alharir) from the back and she shot through inside the final half furlong to just deny an strong finishing A’Naser at the line for HH Sheikh Hamdan. Winning trainer Gill Duffield said afterwards “She’s a lovely filly but I thought she might find the trip a bit sharp, and will be better over further”. A’Naser (Newday x A’Sabooh) ran a great race on his debut and rallied hard in the closing stages and was a shade unlucky at the line, whilst Ebraam (Al Sakbe x Dorswayne du Cayrou) was disappointing six lengths back in third and looks destined for a handicap.

Trip to Khairo

The Jebel Ali Racing Club Handicap Stakes 0-75 over 1 Mile:
A fascinating handicap with some useful colts lined up including last years impressive maiden winner Hidalgo and recent Taunton scorer Al Harith. The race started strangely with Al Mamoon dumping his jockey, before being reunited and then catching a flyer at the start to go several lengths clear at a fair pace. As they turned for home the field had caught Al Mamoon but he wasn’t going to be denied and Anna Wallace was all out from the two furlong marker, but Al Fairooz for the Julian Smart stable was galloping in behind and Hidalgo was making ominious headway through the field. As they entered the final furlong it was Al Mamoon and a determined Wallace set for home, but Steve Harrison looked confident on Hidalgo (Samern x Pella De La Coste) and drove this impressive colt home to win by a length for owner Julie Kelway. Speaking afterwards winning trainer Angela Colledge (scoring with her first runner of the season) said “He’s still a green baby and takes a while to get going but is classy and should improve again from that”. Al Mamoon (Passem Lotois x Al Hanoof) ran a superb race in second and seemed to relish his front running experience and was an easy three lengths clear of Al Fairooz (Makzan x Carthagenna).

The Late Harwood Linney Esq Memorial Handicap Stakes 0-90 over 7 Furlongs:
All eyes were on last season juvenile winner Namoos in this especially as Collington had chosen her over stablemate Marsak. As they tightly grouped field came into the home turn Collington was cruising on Namoos and seemed to be only a matter of time before he pushed the button to gallop clear, but Marsak was going well in behind for an in form Martin Smith and as they entered the final furlong it was the blinkered Marsak (Al Sakbe x Margau) who burst clear for the line with Namoos seeming to find little under pressure. Marsak was hard pressed inside the final furlong by the ever game Jelvita (Njewman x Vite Amine) who eventually bravely went down by a length ahead of the Royal Cavalry of Oman’s Muhal (Amer x Babelia), who was a further two lengths back in third and looks to be improving. Winning trainer Gill Duffield commented afterwards “I thought this was a good opportunity for Marsak to win after last time (Was beaten at Taunton by Shibl), Namoos should come on for that run”.