EIGHTH RACE 8.40

ONE MILE 51 YARDS FOR PUREBRED ARABIANS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARDS

Wathba Stallions Cup Novice Stakes

Race Summary

Hard to see past the two winners, Thaydah Athbah and Thakeera Al Shahania who both made their debuts in Belgium in January. Both are considered likely Derby types by connections and on what they have shown so far, look open to plenty of improvement and should stay further. Thaydah Athbah is a big framed filly and so the narrow preference is for THAKEERA AL SHAHANIA who is a more compact model for whom this course is more likely to suit. James Owen’s team is in great form and Victoria may prove the most value each way.

1 KAYACK (GB) (31) 2653-36-4

Gr G Kayeed (GB) - Penny Black (GB) (Chndaka (FR)) Kaiya Fraser (3)

Evermore Racing Ms Jen Harris

Br Ms J E Harris P

Placed four times from 1m2f to 1m6f on the All Weather Ran well for a long way on seasonal reappearance last month, but tough task to break maiden under top weight in this company. (R17 W0 P7) (OR 47)

2 THAKEERA AL SHAHANIA (QAT) (23) 51 4 9-12 ( 6 )

Gr F Al Mourtajez (FR) - Gelnaar (QA) (Jaafer ASF (GB)) Tom Marquand

Athbah Racing Mr Philip Collington

Br HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani

Won well on UK debut over this trip at Doncaster at the start of the month beating several of these and two Group placed performers. May just have the fitness edge over her stablemate and looks the one to beat (R2 W1 P0) (OR 101)

3 THAYDAH ATHBAH (FR) (151) 1

Bay F AF Albahar (AE) - Djanet Monlau (FR) (Dormane (FR))

4 9-12 ( 3 )

Tadhg O’Shea

Athbah Racing Mr Philip Collington

Br Athbah Stud

Half-sistertoaGroup3PAcourseanddistancewinnerfortheseconnectionswhobrokehermaidenondebutinJanuary over 1500m on the AW in Belgium Sure to go well again and likely to be a strong contender. (R1 W1 P0) (OR 80)

4 COLJANI (GB) (272) 4-

Ch G Madjani (FR) - Our Dream (GB) (Our Machine (US))

Raffles Partnership

Br Mr P Hammersley/Raffles Partnership

4 9-11 ( 4 )

George Wood

Mr P J Hammersley

By leading sire out of a twice raced dam who was placed on debut over 6f Beaten along way on first racecourse appearance in the autumn Likely to do better once handicapped (R1 W0 P1) (NOR)

5 SASSY (GB) (-)

Bay M Assy (QA) - Spirited Game (GB) (Vert Olive (FR))

Steve Blackwell

Br Mr Stephen Blackwell

5 9-10 ( 1 )

Jordan Williams

Mr S Blackwell

Second UK runner for young sire. Dam a course and distance winner who has produced a dual winner from 7f to a mile Black type performers further back in the pedigree, but likely to need this on debut (R0 W0 P0) (NOR)

6 STORM HANNAH (GB) (-)

Ch F Handassa (FR) - White Khes (GB) (The Wiking (US))

4 9-7 ( 5 )

Miss Teagan Padgett (7)

Mr and Mrs H Owen James Owen

Br Mrs J A Owen

From first crop of dual Group 1PA winner Handassa Dam has produced one runner, a maiden in three starts, but this looks a better proposition on breeding. Market best guide on racecourse debut (R0 W0 P0) (NOR)

7 DELICATESSE (GB) (23) 6

Bay F Al Saoudi (FR) - Delishess (US) (Dahess (GB))

3 8-7 ( 7 )

Georgia Dobie

James Owen Racing Club James Owen

Br Rachael Gowland & Mr James Owen H

Sire a two-time Group1PA winner at this distance and further First foal out of a dual Grade 2 winner in the USA, who later won twice for this trainer in handicaps. Outpaced behind Thakeera Al Shahania, tried in a hood now, but best to watch here.(R1 W0 P0) (NOR)

8

VICTORIA (GB) (23) 0

3 8-7 ( 2 )

Br F RB Burn (US) - Dolfina D'Ibos (FR) (Mahabb (AE)) Callum Hutchinson

James Owen Racing Club James Owen

Br Mr James Owen

By first season sire who was a Group 1PA winner at this distance, out of a winner of three low-grade handicaps from 1m2f to 1m6f Green and keen behind Thakeera Al Shahania, looks more forward than her stablemate, but needs to improve to feature (R1 W0 P0) (NOR)