Mack The Knife (Makzan x GAS Pepelka (Pepel) winning Chepstow
ARABIAN RACING
REVIEW 2004
BY PAUL SIMMONS
Arabian racing in 2004 was once again a successful campaign,
with many old and new faces recording significant victories throughout
the season. Below is a selection of highlights and awards constructed
by me - they help to give an overview of the 2004 results.
Shahngali
(Bengali D’Albret x Affecshahn (Derbist)
Most Impressive Debut:
This award would have to go to Shahngali (Bengali D’Albret
x Affecshahn (Derbist) for winning a Group 3 over seven furlongs
on his seasonal debut. He fought hard to repel the late challenge
of Kaspa for a thrilling finish to the first race of the season.
In doing so giving owner Tracey Wright and trainer Tony Brunton
their first Group victory.
CS Camellia’s
(Bengali D’Albret x Ciarosa)
The
Best & Closest
Finish:
This would have to go to CS Camellia’s (Bengali D’Albret
x Ciarosa) enthralling victory in the Group 1 Hatta Mares Stakes
over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs when she showed plenty of guts and determination
to get home from multiple Group winner Dormah De Brugere and
the useful Kolver. In doing so she fulfilled owner and breeder
Michael Brunton’s 10 year dream of owning and breeding
a Group 1 winner.
Staying Performance:
Another Brunton owned and bred horse CS Al Wahed (Bengali D’Albret
x Cikada (Klarnet). Superbly ridden by Pierre Deymonaz Wahed
galloped his rivals into submission in the Group 2 event over
2 Miles and was a good 18 lengths clear by half way and the toiling
former Group winners Juma and Nadjel were left struggling to
maintain the gallop.
Weight Carrying Performance:
This would have to go to Angela and Gary Cook’s extremely
progressive Mack The Knife (Makzan x GAS Pepelka (Pepel) for
lugging 10 stone 6 lbs to victory in the highly competitive Emirates
Arabian Amateur Handicap Stakes over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs at Chepstow.
He just got home by a head from the smart Fedor Du Bournais with
the luckless Miss Moncrieff in third.
Mellway Gold
Charm (Naresh x Alcina)
Best Recovery To Win:
A muddling handicap race over 1 Mile 4 Furlongs at Wolverhampton
with no pace at all left Mellway Gold Charm (Naresh x Alcina)
a confirmed stayer outpaced with four furlongs to go, this
game mare had to dig really deep to find the reserves in order
to get up in the shadow of the post to win by half a length.
This filly had already won at Exeter for owner / trainer /
breeder Jackie Hutchings.
Most Deserved Win:
Jana (Normativ x Joli) was undeniably well handicapped when she
won with four lengths to spare over Alanya over five furlongs
at Wolverhampton. In her other six runs she didn’t finish
out of the first four, notching up 3 seconds, 2 thirds and
a fourth. This win was most deserved for this game little filly
who always gives her all on the track.
Best Mares Performance:
It would have to go to admirably consistent Wayward Faery (Kesberoy
x Faery Wand) who at Lingfield out ran her rivals in the 7
Furlong Al Waha Stakes. She won with 3 ½ lengths to
spare over subsequent winner Balquees and Group 1 winner CS
Camellia. She also won a decent handicap on a thoroughbred
card.
Best Novice Owner/ Trainer/ Jockey performance:
This award goes to Debbie Crothers and her gutsy little mare
Chelmer Riasha (Halim Shah x Ria-Bint-Procyon) achieved a game
victory at Hereford when getting up by a neck from Makhai in
the Town & Country Farms Novice Riders Handicap Stakes
over 1 Mile 6 Furlongs.
Best Placed Horse:
Allahmes (Azahmes x Numenor Nim Allatari) was well placed by
his owner / trainer Bill Hill throughout the season winning
twice. However, at Huntingdon over 1 Mile 6 Furlongs Allahmes
scooted clear from the field with an easy 14 lengths to spare
over his nearest pursuers.
Lille D’Amour
(Merlin Al Maury x Daad)
Mudlark Award:
In a season where Lille D’Amour (Merlin Al Maury x Daad)
won four of races including the valuable Jebel Ali Gold Final
at Newmarket over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs at the end of the season,
as well as two events on the All Weather – Southwell (2
Miles) & Wolverhampton (7 furlongs). Her finest performance
was probably when she landed the valuable Emirates Arabian Apprentice
Stakes over 7 Furlongs at Chester on the thoroughbred card. The
track was officially “soft” but described as “bottomless” by
many, Lille D’Amour who loves to get her toe in ploughed
through the mud to win easily by 2 ½ lengths from consistent
handicapper Bas Hisaan.
Best Maiden Win:
This would have to go to Alison Batchelor’s classy French
import Jelvita (Njewman x Vite Amine) won her maiden over a mile
at Exeter where she beat subsequent maiden winners Kammaryah
and Varona. A smart progressive filly and one to watch.
The Last Gasp Victory Award:
Al Aasi (Samsheik x Buka) trained by Angela Colledge and owned
by Jenny Pierson gets this award after just getting up on the
line under a superb ride from Steve Harrison to win the 6 Furlong
handicap at Exeter from Majestic Dream and SA Bibi.
Best Handicap Performance:
This would have to go to The Vertuous Crusader (Vert Olive x
Crusader Spirit (Sky Crusader) for his emphatic victory in
the Emirates Breeders Society Stakes over 7 Furlongs on Dubai
Day.
Best Training Performance:
Gordon Farr for producing CS Clarion (Chndaka x Cikada) carrying
10st 6 lbs to win the Deira Stakes over 1 Mile 5 Furlongs on
Dubai Day. A great performance and Clarion also managed to
notch up four seconds during a busy and consistent season.
Clarion was brilliantly ridden by Phil Collington.
Best Substitute Jockey:
Aimee Hockley for filling in for O/T/J Philip Rondel on Makhai
(Khairouan x Mais) at Uttoxeter, the pair both recorded their
first victory when winning the 5 Furlong handicap from Maghriba.
Best Riding Performance:
This award goes to Sam Holdsworth for his brilliant riding of
Karaviva (Normativ x Sunlea Kaprina) to get the maiden up to
win the 5 Furlong Al Jabal Stakes at Lingfield. The filly is
not ridden with a stick, so it was hands and heels only in a
power packed ride. In doing so he gave owner / breeder Judy Bethell
her first ever winner, and trainer Jane Stevens her first winner
for a decade.
WA Savannah
Sunrise (Dantist x Sasparilla Sunrise)
Most Progressive Handicapper:
WA Savannah Sunrise (Dantist x Sasparilla Sunrise) went from
strength to strength all season and recorded three wins, the
first over 6 Furlongs at Huntingdon, then over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs
at Stratford before following on a week later at Lingfield
over 1 Mile 4 Furlongs. Sunrise was expertly placed by owner
/ trainer Clare Taylor and brilliantly ridden by Rob Wollard.
Best Anglo/PBA Performance:
This award would have to go to the gutsy Kelway Crimson Sky (Imperial
Majesty x Royal Regalia) for her game win at Chepstow over
a mile. Inspite of disliking the ground she ploughed on to
victory to beat Faer Soar and Inspector Morse. She was excellently
trained by Stuart Shefras.
Best Double:
Sam Davison enjoyed an excellent second season but had a meeting
to remember at Chepstow when her plucky little mare Mehshalla
(Pogojii x Mehsha) won the 1 Mile 2 Furlong Jebel Ali Stakes
from the game Jana. She then had another win when Deolali (her
Ascot Sale purchase) got up by a head from former stablemate
Miss Moncrieff.
Best Juvenile:
Danjani (Tidjani x Russian Dancer (Dantist) went down in several
people’s notebooks for the 2005 season when storming
home by an easy 12 lengths in the Equestrian Surfaces Maiden
Stakes. Bred and owned by Mr. Kippen and trained by Gillian
Duffield.
Determination Award:
Philip Rondel (a youthful 62 – proves its never too late)
for producing his useful La Perruche to win the Anglo/PBA race
at Stratford over 1 Mile with Kelway Crimson Sky seven lengths
back in second. Rondel also owns and trains La Perruche.
Unluckiest Not To Win:
Poor Miss Moncrieff (Makzan x Zeinah (Samsheik) ran her heart
out all season and was second in the Emirates Breeders Stakes
on Dubai Day, she was third behind Mack The Knife in the big
handicap at Chepstow and finished the season with a game third
in the Clarendon Stud Handicap Stakes at Newmarket behind stablemate
CS Patriach (Makzan x Pokrovka). Owned by Eric Philpott and
trained by Tony Brunton.
Handicap Guru:
Once again this award goes to trainer Carol Legg. In 2003 season
she took both the Jebel Ali Gold Series with her father Eric
Legg’s home bred Mystic Dream (Abitibi x Autumn Dream)
and the Silver Final at Newmarket with her own homebred French
Lieutenant (Dedja Des Forges x Sihrea Crystal (Crystal Magician).
Last season (2004) Carol again took the Silver Final with Mystic
Dream. Carol Legg you are the handicap Guru!
Owning A Race Award:
This would have to go to jockey Simon Walker and trainer Bill
Smith. Since 2001 they have won the final Group race of the
season at Newmarket – the 1 Mile Group 2. In 2001 & 2002
they took the race with Gerado Serra’s classy Argentinian
Import Karmah, in 2003 they won it with Shiekh Mohammed’s
Jilko and last season they took it with the classy Kolver (also
owned by Sheikh Mohammed). Walker was again awarded Champion
jockey and Smith was second in the Champion trainers table.
The Actual Awards were:
Leading Owner 2004: HH Shiekh Hamdan Bin R Al Maktoum
Leading Trainer 2004: Gillian Duffield
Leading Jockey 2004: Simon Walker
Leading Breeder: Michael Brunton (Clarendon Stud)
Leading Lady Jockey: Emily Jones
Leading Novice Rider: David Weeks
Leading Lady Novice Rider : Carolyn Stockham
Leading Purebred Arabian:
CS Patriarch owned & bred by Mr.
M Brunton and trained by Mr. T Brunton
Leading Anglo Arab:
L’Escalou owned by Mr. D Brunton and
trained by Mr. W Smith
AHS Small owner/ trainer
award : Sue & Tony Connally
Leading Arabian Broodmare: Cikada (Klarnet x Cider with Rosie)
for the 3 rd year running
Leading Sire: Bengali
D’Albret
Leading Group Sire:
Bengali D’Albret
For more information on Arabian Racing check out :
www.arabianracing.org.uk
Or call 01635 524445
And remember there are races to win for everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!
