ARABIAN RACING 2004
BY PAUL SIMMONS

Newbury Wednesday June 9th

Track: Good to Firm

The UAE Equestrian & Racing Federation Derby Trial Stakes (Group 3) 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
1. Nickel Al Maury M Hills
2. Dormah De Brugere Mr P Deymonaz
3. Bengal Lotois M Tebbutt

Distances: 2, 1 8 ran Time: 02:26:19
Winner owned by H H Sheikh Hamdan Bin R Al Maktoum. Trained by Mrs G Duffield. Bred by Mlle Renee Laure Koch.

The form of this trial is hard to judge as they went off at a crawl with Michael Hills grabbing the inside rail on Nickel Al Maury (Dormane X Nausicaa Al Maury) and restraining him evidently to get the trip. The 7/4 favourite then quickened up in the final four furlongs turning the last few furlongs into a sprint which he won by two lengths from the fast finishing second. Dormah De Brugere (Dormane X Ballade Folle) was the biggest danger and couldn’t travel with the winner in the final furlong and had to settle for second. Whilst the third Bengal Lotois (Bengali D’Albret X Dheila Lotoise) looked tapped for toe in the final sprint to the line and was running on at the finish, this was an eye catching debut and he will be interesting in a truly run race over this trip. The first two home are clearly decent but will be found out in the Derby if there are any question marks over their stamina.