Dubai
Day Meeting July 2006
By Paul Simmons
Majd Al Arab
The
Shadwell Dubai International Stakes Group 1 over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs.
Dubai Day
2006 was, yet again, a resounding success with over 14,000
people in
attendance at Newbury racecourse to watch some
of the finest Arabian racing in Europe. The Tote reported a turnover
of over £118,000 and the crowd were treated to some superb
racing finishes, proving that Arabian racing is every bit as
good as its Thoroughbred counterpart.
The Dubai Immigration Premier Handicap Stakes 0-75 over 7 Furlongs:
1. Almost All Ricard Kingscote
2. Rajjaf Mr H Haynes
3. Rampart James Doyle
4. Mustameet T P Queally
Distances:
2½, 1, 3½.
24 ran. Time: 01:38:76.
Winner owned by Miss L A Cross. Trained by Miss S L Davison.
Bred by Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rasihd Al Maktoum.
Probably
one of the most competitive handicaps of the season with Benha,
Khulan,
Mustameet and Olivphaya all showing early
speed. At the three furlong marker, Khulan was leading the field
down the strait but Almost All, Rampart and Rajjaf were all stalking
in behind. Inside the final two furlongs, 14/1 shot Almost All
(Bengali D’Albret x Emotsia) made his move under a confident
ride from Richard Kingscote. Grabbing the stands rail and quickening
clear of the field in the final furlong, Almost All won, going
away at the line by two-and-a-half-lengths to give trainer Sam
Davison her biggest career win to date. Speaking afterwards,
Sam commented: “I am so pleased he won for his owner, Linda
Cross, who has been very patient with him.” Almost All
had been off the track for a year and to bring him back to win
this race on his seasonal debut is quite an achievement. Rajjaf
(Passem Lotois x Saltiki), from Bill Smith’s yard, was
sent off at 40/1 but ran his best race to date under an inspired
ride from Harry Haynes. Always travelling well, he made his move
inside the final furlong and fought out the finish with Rampart
just prevailing in the final strides to claim second. Rampart
(Bengali D’Albret x WMA Rachael), also from the Davison
stable, came with a determined effort inside the two furlong
marker and was staying on at the finish and lost nothing in defeat,
coming clear of Mustameet (Vert Olive x Mandolines Song).

Zormania R
Hills
The Jumeirah International Stakes Group 2 over 7 Furlongs (3
yrs only):
1. Zormania R Hills
2. Dandyna Charles Nora
3. Yaasah Richard Mullen
Distances: 5, 9. 7 ran. Time: 01:39:57.
Winner owned by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Trained
by M F Roaut. Bred by Mr J Biraben.
They were
smartly away from the stalls with French runner and favourite
Zormania
showing early speed with Djak Sprat and Yaasah
all handy. From the three furlong marker, Zormania went to the
front under a positive ride from Richard Hill’s with CS
Charma and Dandyna in her slip stream. Zormania (Dormane x Diraia)
unleashed a blinding turn of foot in the final furlong to stretch
clear by an easy five lengths at the line, making the field look
very ordinary; this is a very classy filly with a big future.
Dandyna (Al Sakbe x Danzina) seemed to struggle to go the early
pace. During the final two furlongs, her stamina kicked and she
stretched clear of the rest to secure a comfortable second but
had no chance with the winner. Yaasah (Makzan x Tikis Tiffany)
wasn’t disgraced on her racecourse debut in such a hot
event. She travelled well and ran on well in the final furlong
but was another nine lengths back in third and will be sharper
for the run.
The NBD Hatta International Stakes Group 1 over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs
(Mares only):
1. Mizzna F X Bertras
2. Ouassila Thabet T Huet
3. Udjidor De Bozouls Carles Nora
Distances:
1, ½.
4 ran. Time: 02:19:35.
Winner owned by and bred by Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed. Trained
by M. F Rohaut.
A small but select field of contenders for this the Mares Championship.
Last year’s winner Udjidor De Bozouls led from the start
with Ouassila Thabet in her slip stream while Mizzna and Lamasat
settled in behind. From the home strait French raider Mizzna
(Akbar x Uncained Melody) was soon in command, taking the lead
inside the final two furlongs and showing a blinding turn of
foot to quicken away from Ouassila Thabet and Udjidor De Bozouls.
Mizzna won quite cosily by a length at the line from Ouassila
Thabet (Akbar x Harka), while last year’s winner, Udjidor
De Bozouls (Dormane x Udjella), seemed to be caught flat-footed
but stayed on for third.

Majd Al Arab leads
the procession
The Shadwell Dubai International Stakes Group 1 over 1 Mile
2 Furlongs:
1. Majd Al Arab D Bouland
2. Santal F X Bertras
3. Arsene Rupin R Hills
Distances: 2, 5. 6 ran. No time recorded
Winner owned and bred by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Trained by M A De Mieulle.
A useful
field and former champion-stayer CS Al Wahed made sure the
field went
a good gallop, leading from the start until they
headed inside the final six furlongs. Last year’s Derby
winner Arsene Rupin made his move inside the three-furlong marker
with Santhal and Mistral Del Sol chasing in behind and with 5/4
joint-favourite Majd Al Arab seemingly outpaced. Inside the final
two furlongs, Majd Al Arab (Amer x Djelmila) came from nowhere
under an inspired ride from David Bouland. He cut through the
field, showing a devastating turn of foot to gallop clear in
the final furlong to win by an easy two lengths. This impressive-looking
colt is out of Group 1 parents and he has clearly inherited their
turn of foot and seems to be improving with every run; he covered
the final furlong in 32mph, which is extremely impressive for
an Arab. Santhal (Djebbel x Marau) was chasing all the way to
the line but simply couldn’t live with the winner. He remains
progressive and was five lengths clear of other joint-favourite,
Arsene Rupin (Dormane x Djelsomina), who seemed to struggle to
go the pace in the final furlong and was a shade disappointing.

Dahess wins
the Zaabeel for 2nd year.
The Dubai Properties Zaabeel International Stakes Group 1 over
6 Furlongs:
1. Dahess D Bouland
2. Mahaabb F X Bertras
3. Dormah De Brugere Jimmy Quinn
Distances:
5, 2 ½.
7 ran. Time: 01:20:84.
Winner owned and bred by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Trained by M A De Mieulle.
The sprint
championship and last year’s winner, Dahess,
was sent off 4/6 favourite. They were quickly out of the stalls
with last year’s second-placed Mahaab showing early speed
along with Dahess and Bengalant. With three furlongs to go, Mahaab
was still in the lead with Dormah De Brugere hard ridden in second
and off the bridle while Dahess stalking menacingly in behind.
From the two furlong marker, Mahaab was all out with Dahess (Amer
x Danie du Cassou) cruising in behind before David Bouland unleashed
his run, allowing Dahess to utilise his blistering speed. He
came home with an easy five lengths to spare, giving owner and
breeder Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani his second Group
1 winner of the day. Dahess once again proved he is the finest
sprinter in Europe and it is hard not to picture him completing
a hatrick next year. Mahaab (Tahar De Candelon x Joyzell) was
second again, running on hard at the end but having no chance
with the winner. Dormah (Dormane x Ballade Folle) is as tough
as teak; she was off the bridle with two furlongs to go but wouldn’t
quit and stayed on to take third at the line and remains impressively
consistent.

No Risk Al Maury
The Jebel Ali Racing Club Premier Handicap Stakes 0-105 over
1 Mile 5 Furlongs:
1. No Risk Al Maury R Hills
2. Deolali Mr S Harrison
3. Fripon Al Maury Mr H Haynes
Distances:
2 ½, ¾.
10 ran. Time: 03:07:73.
Winner owned by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Trained
by Mrs Duffield. Bred by Shadwell Estate Co Ltd.
A tough staying handicap and Merlin De Carrere made sure it
was a true test of stamina, leading from the start with CS Khamsin,
Mack The Knife and CS Khan held up behind. Mack The Knife took
over from the seven furlong marker before succumbing to CS Khan
with four furlongs to run. The 7/4 favourite, No Risk Al Maury,
was cruising in behind, with Deolali and Fripon Al Maury travelling
well. Richard Hills made his move on No Risk Al Maury (Kesberoy
x Nectarine Al Maury) inside the final furlong to come home easily,
with just under three lengths to spare to give Gill Duffield
her first winner of the meeting. Deolali (Khairoaun x Operetta)
ran a career best in second, chasing the winner all the way inside
the last two furlongs; he is clearly back on form and looks capable
of landing a big prize this year. Fripon Al Maury (Djouras Tu
x Fayoum) was temporarily outpaced but stayed on in the final
furlong to claim third ahead of Aljawza.

Markoom
The Emirates Airline Handicap Stakes 0-90 over 1 Mile:
1. Markoom Mr P Collington
2. Jelvita
Mr D Burton
3. Kaich Mr M Wall
4. Aljaareh Mr M Smith
Distances: ¾, neck, 1 ¾.
16 ran. Time: 01:53:83.
Winner owned by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Trained
by Mrs Duffield. Bred by Shadwell Estate Co Ltd.
Another tough
handicap run over a mile with Maksun Angel, WFA Leopard and
Jelvita
cutting out the early running. From the two
furlong marker, Jelvita went on with Tash Reefat, Za’eemah
and Final Fling all handy. With two furlongs to run, Jelvita
had set sail for home with Markoom and Kaich in hot pursuit.
Inside the final furlong, all three were in a line having gone
clear of Aljaareh. But in the end Phil Collington, who was celebrating
becoming a father for the first time that week, took the stands
rail with 5/1 shot Markoom (Bengali D’Albret x Simooma)
to give Gill Duffield her second winner of the meeting and HH
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum his third. Jelvita (Njewman
x Vite Amin) ran a superb race in second, chasing the winner
all the way to the line. Kaich (Khairoaun x Aicha Croixnoire)
lost nothing in defeat, racing down the far rail he rallied hard
in the closing stages but was only a neck back in third ahead
of fourth-placed Aljaareh (Khairouan x Bisbille).