Arabian Racing Review
Salisbury 6th September
by Paul Simmons

Maiden over 7 furlongs:
Once again the powerhouse that is the Gill Duffield stable released another potential superstar with the talented 3 yr old colt Hattef (Djendel x Volna) taking this competitive maiden in fine style under promising young jockey Jack Sherwood who beat his better fancied stablemate’s with ease in the end. The field went a fair clip in the early stages when Ambrose took the lead inside the final half mile with A’Naser, Juhood, Taakamul and Jaady all handy and Hattef held up in mid field. As they hit the final two furlongs the race started to take shape with Hattef under an excellent ride from Sherwood powering into the lead inside the final furlong to kick clear for an impressive three length victory for Gill Duffield and HH Sheikh Hamdan. Ambrose (Amer x KTP Mystic Flight) was again a solid second but he is starting to look frustrating, but to his credit he was kept up to his work by Simon Walker to hold of Martin Smith on the winners stablemate Taakamul (Djebbel x Valina Des Fabries) who was running on strongly in the closing stages for third ahead of a hard pressed A’Naser.

Handicap 0-75 over 6 Furlongs:
A fantastic training performance here from David Paton here to bring about such an improvement in both ability and attitude from Even Keener, a beautifully bred mare purchased last year at the Ascot Sales by Caroline Stockham and who runs in the famed BXPS colours, who won in amazing fashion making the rest of the field look very ordinary. They went a decent pace throughout with Sakeena Sky Zayin leading the field until the two furlong marker with Even Keener, Andaleeb and Al Mamoon all held up in behind. As they hit the final two furlongs Even Keener (Bengali D’Albret x Kenithra) swept into the lead under an energetic ride from Anna Wallace to go well clear of the field to win by an easy twelve lengths in spite of jinking across the track, and this mare looks to have a big future. Back in second was Sakeena Sky Zayin (Karmah x Sweet Simplicity) who was caught flat footed inside the final two furlongs but under a powerful ride from Kevin Locking galloped on strongly inside the final furlong to re-take second. Andaleeb (Newday x Gagarka) ran a solid race for the Royal Cavalry of Oman in third, he was one paced inside the final furlong but kept up to his work to hold off Al Mammon.

Open Handicap for Pure Arabs over 1 Mile 6 Furlongs:
Al Mannsoub (Akbar x Morgane de Piboul) made short work of disposing of a decent field of stayers to win as he liked by a comfortable twelve lengths under Phil Collington, giving trainer Gill Duffield and owner HH Sheikh Hamdan their second winner of the day. CS Al Wahed typically led the field into the closing stages before Taabeer took over the running inside the final three furlongs, however, Collington was cruising under Al Mannsoub and kicked clear from the two furlong marker to win in impressive style. Taabeer (Vasilisk x Bisbille) stayed on strongly to hold onto second for yet another consistent performance. Whilst the Royal Cavalry of Oman’s Quorman Des Vialettes (Dormane x Khandela Des Vialette) didn’t seem to travel with his usual ease, but ran on well in the final furlongs to take third and was comfortably clear of CS Al Wahed and Malik D’Or.

Breeders Cup over 1 Mile (UK breds 3, 4 and 5 yrs only):
A fantastic performance here as Tidarbret (Bengali D’Albret x Iktidar), owned by the Middleton Stud and bred by long time Arab race breeders and supporters Mr & Mrs James Kippen, became the first horse in over 10 yrs to win the Breeders Cup who wasn’t owned and bred by HH Sheikh Hamdan. It was also an impressive training performance by Dennis Batteate to produce this horse to win this race and in doing so losing his maiden tag. Flashcat set the pace from the start with the rest of the field held up behind, but as they approached the final three furlong Steve Harrison produced Tidarbret into the lead and went for home with a hard pressed Estiqraar chasing him home and Adraaj (Bengali D’Albret x Aicha Tourettes) seemingly struggling to go the pace. As they entered the final furlong Tidarbret had set sail for home under an confident and assured ride from Harrison, but Adraaj stayed on strongly in the closing stages for HH Sheikh Hamdan to take second by just under three lengths and in turn went clear from stablemate Estiqraar (Bengali D’Albret x Simooma) in third. Adraaj was never going to reach the winner and ran another fine performance, whilst Estiqraar struggled to run on in the final furlong but was easily clear of the rest of the field.

Handicap 0-100 over 1 Mile:
The field went a fair pace from the start with Muhal showing the lead in the early stages, before the pace increased inside the final three furlongs where Angel Picamer came with a wet sail to saunter into the lead with Riko, Noble Athlete and Wathiq all hard ridden in behind. As they entered the final furlong Angel Picamer (Amer x Picea HT) asserted her authority under a great ride from Simon Walker to go a couple of lengths clear from 5/2 joint favourite Riko, to win well at the line for owner/breeder Zelda Angel and trainer Bill Smith. Riko (Dormane x Cary De Carrere) wasn’t disgraced back in second, he rallied hard inside the final furlong but never looked like passing the winner. Whilst Noble Athlete (Dorwan Du Cayrou x Noble Dame) galloped on resolutely through beaten horses to claim third from a hard pressed Wathiq.

Handicap 0-55 over 6 Furlongs:
Unshooda (Makzan x Shunah) returned to the winners enclosure for the second time in her career her after as fine win under Simon Walker for owner/trainer Delyth Thomas. They set off at a decent pace and as the momentum increased inside the final two furlongs Unshooda shot into the lead and went readily clear of the field with only Star Valentina and Raihan throwing down any real challenge. In the final furlong Unshooda kicked clear to win by a comfortable three lengths. Back in second was a superb effort from Star Valentina (Div x Pronika), she came with her run inside the final two furlongs and ran on well to take inside the final furlong, her turn looks near. Whilst Raihan (Passem Lotois x G Sustika) put up another solid effort in third but wasn’t able to quicken with the first two in the closing stages.