ARABIAN RACING REVIEW 2003
BY PAUL SIMMONS
As we are
about to enter the 2004 racing season with the first meeting
scheduled for the 16th May at Exeter racecourse and the first
race of the season on the 12th May at Brighton, I thought it
would be an appropriate time to reflect on last season’s
significant performances.
The Champion
Trainer was Bill Smith yet again, the man with the Golden touch,
the Champion Jockey was Simon Walker, who has completely mastered
the art of riding Arabian race horses. Simon is of course attached
to the Bill Smith yard and they are Arab racings’ own
version of the Pipe/ McCoy partnership that rules National
Hunt racing.
The Champion
Owner was for the first time Michael Brunton and for him it
was the realisation of a ten year dream, and a just reward
for all the hard work and support he has given Arab racing
over the last ten years.
The Town & Country
Farms Novice Riders Championship was won by first season jockey
Julie Harvey who was attached to the Angela Colledge yard,
she won a working holiday to Town & Country Farms in America;
home of the late great Arabian Racing stallion “Wiking”.
Below are
a list of memorable performances in my book that stand out
from what was a great season for Arabian racing.
MOST
IMPRESSIVE DEBUT:
This award would have to go to Balquees (Passem Lotois
X Victorias Secrett) who won the final three year old race of
the season at Newmarket over 7 furlongs. After veering across
the track and running very green in the early stages and losing
many lengths this strapping grey filly by French super sire Passem
Lotois (won four placed nine in France and UAE)), regained her
powerful ground covering stride to join the racing pack. She
then showed an awesome turn of foot to get up in the final furlong
to beat the useful filly Blameless (Bengali D’Albret X
Elastica). Balquees showed true grit and determination which
she has know doubt inherited from her incredible mother the American
bred mare Victorias Secrett (ZT Ali Baba) who won 22 races on
the bounce. This filly looks sure to progress this season and
is one to watch, and who knows maybe this year the winner of
the Derby will be a filly?
HANDICAP
GURU:
This award would have to go Carol Legg for her spectacular
end of season double with her fathers homebred Mystic Dream (Abitibi
X Autumn Dream) and her own homebred French Lieutenant (Dedja
Des Forges X Sihrea Crystal). Mystic Dream made use of his feather
weight of 9st 6lb and was given a fine ride by Charlie Studd
to collar long time leader and decent yard stick Operatic over
the 1 Mile 2 Furlongs at the final meeting of the season at Newmarket
to win the valuable Jebel Ali Gold Trophy. This represents his
best effort to date by a long shot and he showed a decent amount
of pace to get up. French Lieutenant then went and claimed the
other valuable handicap of the meeting the Jebel Ali Silver Trophy
over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs as well under strong handling from David
Turner who knows how to get a tune out of this enigmatic character.
Held up for a run he was delivered with precision in the final
two furlongs to hold on by a length from the fast finishing and
often gambled upon Omar who once again almost but didn’t
quite deliver.
MOST
IMPRESSIVE WIN:
Horizon’s win in the Deira Ltd Handicap over
1 Mile 5 Furlongs at Newbury by a going away 12 lengths was incredibly
impressibe under top weight of 10st 7lb. Always cruising along
at a decent clip, John Crofts unleashed a strong run in the last
two furlongs and this handsome grey son of the former Champion
stayer Sambist pulled clear readily. A triumph for the Smallman
family who own, train and even bred him.
UNLUCKIEST
HORSE NOT TO WIN:
I write this totally impartial and with no bitterness
but my own CS Sambisoora was incredibly unlucky not to win after
a long tough campaign that saw her run 10 times. At Wolverhampton
this pretty chestnut daughter of American Derby winner Shahil
Rakkad out of the decent race broodmare Samara Bint Samurai,
duelled for the first six furlongs with Maghriba and then started
to pull clear in the final furlong. She was within the shadow
of the post when the usually enigmatic Anganate Safinat came
with a wet sail to collar her by a neck at the line. Then just
a week later at Stratford she came with the proverbial wet sail
down the straight and failed to collar CS Jameel at the line.
Hopefully this season she will have better luck for her new connections
than she did with me - she deserves to actually get her head
in front again.
LUCKIEST
WIN:
The ever consistent SA Bibi (Abitibi X Florich) won
on merit at Exeter over 6 Furlongs after his usual string of
game and genuine performances. At Huntingdon he was beaten into
second by the useful Bas El Emir only for the fickle finger of
fate (otherwise known as the stewards) to award the race to him
on a “technicality”. We’ll leave it at that
to preserve the modesty of the subject concerned.
DÉJÀ VU:
Prussian Duke the Anglo Arab by Linwood Sweet Excalibur
X Heather Gold and owned and trained by racing stalwart John
Wilson has won three races in the last three seasons. 2001 he
won over a mile at Goodwood, it was a full 12 months before he
reappeared again at Goodwood where he won over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs.
In 2003 he also appeared only once this time at Uttoxeter where
he won again, but as with the last three years he didn’t
reappear. The big question that remains is will he run more than
once this season?
MOST
SURPRISING WIN:
Alanya’s form for the last two seasons has been
poor to say the least. In 2001 she scored a nice double over
6 and 7 Furlongs but has been totally out of form since. After
a string of efforts the best of which yielded a sixth, this 11
year old mare by Esperanzo out of Dalvina who has already had
a spell in the breeding paddocks; decided that Uttoxeter 14th
September was the day. She galloped readily away from the field
(at odds of 10/1) under a fine ride from Sam Holdsworth to win
the 5 Furlong sprint, age is clearly no barrier for this tough
old mare!
CLIMATISATION
AWARD:
Cal
Karamah (Karmah X Mora Amapola) spent most of 2002 out of sorts,
having failed to acclimatised since her arrival from Argentina
(where she won once over a mile from 5 starts in 2001). 2003
however was her season after chasing home the useful WFA Promotion,
she went on to score in the feature handicap at Fakenham when
holding off the useful WFA Leopard and Jumah. She followed this
win up with a decent victory in a valuable handicap at Chester
on a thoroughbred card.
BEST
TACTICAL RIDE:
It may have only been a match race but Phil Collington
rode a fine tactical race on CS Al Wahed to defeat the Group
winning Nadjel by ¾ length. He made all and set a decent
pace before gradually upping the tempo in the final 5 furlongs
and then stealing a march in the final furlong.
MOST
IMPROVED PERFORMER:
Have Fun (WF High Voltage X Gabie De Carrere) finally
lived up to his name and gave talented trainer Georgina Ward
her first Group winner when winning on his British debut over
7 Furlongs at Brighton and then followed up in the Group 3 Derby
Trial over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs. He was desperately unlucky when
hampered and came 4th in the Derby (Group 1) itself at Newbury
but then ran an absolute blinder to come 2nd in the Dubai International
Stakes (Group 1) behind the impressive Djourdan. Has since been
sold and exported to UAE. Before he came to the UK Have Fun was
unplaced in all four starts in France and his efforts showed
the admirable training abilities of Georgina Ward.
BETTER
LATE THAN NEVER:
CS Shamal (Bengali D’Albret X Samara Bint Samurai)
may not have made her seasonal debut until September 7th but
she made it a winning one in the 6 Furlong sprint handicap. She
then followed up just a week later at Uttoxeter under a penalty
over 1 Mile 3 Furlongs. Well worth the wait for her connections
at Clarendon Stud.
WAITING
GAME PAYS OFF:
Wayward Faery (Kesberoy X Faery Wand) was bought as
a foal by her owner Mr Banks and he has been very patient in
waiting until she reached the age of 8 before putting her in
training. She repaid his faith by winning her maiden on her racecourse
debut at Salisbury over 7 Furlongs beating the useful CS Camelia
(a winner twice since, a maiden and a valuable handicap at Chepstow)
and Kaspa (a winner of a decent handicap at Brighton since).
She then followed up at Bath over 5 Furlongs, she remains on
the upgrade and has proved she was worth the wait.
CHEEKPIECES
WORK THE ORACLE:
CS Kadoza (Shahil Rakkad X Ciarosa) had not won since
2001 until the first time cheek pieces were applied at Bangor
On Dee, where he won over a mile. He then followed up a week
later at Chepstow repelling the late challenge of Fedor Du Bournais.
His final run of the season was his best to date when he was
a gallant second behind Jilko in the Group 2 Andalucian Cup.
CS Kadoza had since been sold and exported to the UAE.
BEST
DOUBLE:
Dormah
De Brugere (Dormane X Ballade Folle) won impressively on her
British debut over 7 Furlongs in a Group 2 for three year olds
at the Dubai meeting at Newbury. She then followed up in the
Group 3 over 7 Furlongs at Newmarket. She was disappointing on
her final start but remains a very smart prospect for this season
and the Hatta Stakes and the Derby may well feature on the agenda,
she certainly has the class to contend them.
FAREWELL
TO:
Cikada (Klarnet X Cider With Rosie) this gallant mare
is sadly no longer with us but was one of the finest race broodmares
in the UK, her progeny include International Winner Carrack (by
Galeon), multiple winners CS Al Wahed (by Bengali D’Abret)
Group placed, CS Clarion (by Chndaka), Cicerone (by Gaelon),
CS Comete (by Bengali D’Albret) a winner at Newmarket and
Cador. She has one more runner yet to reach the track CS Khan
(by Khairouan). Her legacy will continue through her daughters
Charala (dam of SA Arc En Ciel – multiple winner) and CS
Comete. Cikada was Champion Race Broodmare in 2002 and won the
award again in 2003, rest in peace Cikada you’ve more than
earned your rest.
ON
MATERNITY LEAVE:
CS Comete is having a year off from the track and is
in foal to Makzan.
Jumah (Div X Samara Bint Samurai) has retired from the race track
after injuring herself in the first two weeks of training (her
new connections took the hint!) after a career spanning 3 seasons
and yielding 3 wins and 12 places from 22 starts, she has a date
with The Wiking on the cards.
Soyhila (Glim X Sabaya) (multiple winner) is due to Makzan this
year.
Pronika (Nikel X Protalina) (multiple winner) has produced a
nice filly foal by Div and is due to return to the track in 2005.
UFO (Piechur X Matsika) has produced a decent colt foal by Div
and is also due to return to the track in 2005.
WEBSITES:
For your information and general interest.
www.arabianracing.org.uk = the official Arabian Racing Organisation website for all
declarations and entries plus latest news.
www.clarendonstud.co.uk = Home of decent race stallion Div and also has top class racing
Arabians in training for sale.
www.harwoodarabianstud.com = Home of race sires Saker and Kasadi and also Arabian race
prospects for sale.
www.ummqarn.com = Home of the Classy race stallions Amer, Djebbel, Sambist,
Makzan.
www.shadwellarabian.co.uk = Home of Arabian Racing stallions Bengali D’Albret,
Vert Olive, Vadeer and Vasilisk.
www.conkwell.com = Home of Arabian Racing stallions Pogojii, Karmah, The Wiking,
Deja Des Forges and Frere Du Loupes.
