Racing Weekly Issue 15

ISSUE NO. 16 • 20 FEBRUARY 2019

YOUR RACING DESTINATION

WINSTAR FARM

MUNTAZAH SETS FIREBREAK ABLAZE

ONE-TWO FOR THE KINGDOM

COULD HAVE THREE HORSES IN DUBAI WORLD CUP

TOPS EVENING OF DOMINANT PERFORMANCES

AS AL NABOODHA’S AF MAHER FINISHES THIRD

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DUBAI WORLD CUP WINSTAR COULD HAVE THREE HORSES IN DUBAI WORLD CUP

MUBTAAHIJ G2 UAE Derby winner, MUBTAAHIJ TO STAND IN ARGENTINA

MEYDAN, THURSDAY MUNTAZAH SETS FIREBREAK ABLAZE, TOPS EVENING OF DOMINANT PERFORMANCES

SIMON CRISFORD CRISFORD HOPES TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK

SHARJAH ONE-TWO FOR THE KINGDOM AS AL NABOODHA’S AF MAHER FINISHES THIRD

4

WINSTAR COULD HAVE THREE HORSES IN DUBAI WORLD CUP BLOOD HORSE WinStar president and CEO Elliott Walden has

Midway, campaigned by WinStar and Don Alberto

confirmed the operation plans to possibly start three

Stable, exits a game win in the San Pasqual Stakes

horses it co-owns in the March 30 Dubai World Cup

(G2) over McKinzie. Audible, with the same

Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) at Meydan.

ownership group as Yoshida, won last year's

Candidates include Bill Mott-trained Yoshida, Jerry

XpressBet Florida Derby (G1).

Hollendorfer-trained Battle of Midway, and Todd

"We're looking at (running) all three," Walden

Pletcher-trained Audible.

confirmed Feb. 13. "(Yoshida and Battle of Midway)

WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Head of Plains

are definite. I'll speak to Todd after Audible works

Partners, and Starlight Racing's Yoshida, a grade 1

this weekend."

winner on turf and dirt, was fourth in November's

While WinStar alone is a powerful owner, which was

Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), finishing a stride shy of

never more evident than when its Well

passing 2018 Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow.

Armed brought the curtain down on Nad Al Sheba in

Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Battle

the 2009 Dubai World Cup, aligning itself with

of

power

players such as China Horse Club, Starlight Racing,

high-profile events like Royal Ascot, Breeders' Cup,

Sol Kumin (Head of Plains Partners), and Don Alberto

and Pegasus. WinStar, China Horse Club, Head of

Stable has allowed the burgeoning operation to

Plains Partners, and Starlight were also the four

consistently be part of the classics as well as other

owners of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify

MUBTAAHIJ TO STAND IN ARGENTINA TDN Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), winner of the GI

with the opportunity to repeat the agreement we

Awesome Again S. and of the G2 UAE Derby, will

had made some years ago with UAE Triple Crown

begin his stallion career at Haras Abolengo, one of

winner Asiatic Boy (Arg) (Not for Sale) and, after

the most important argentinian farms, the same

studying the horse we reached an agreement that

farm that bred champion and successful stallion

will allow us to incorporate in our stallion barn a

Candy Ride (Arg) (Ride the Rails).

horse with excellent running power and great

Mubtaahij will join Abolengo’s stallion roster in

ability,” said Julio Menditeguy, owner of Haras

association with his owner Sheikh Mohammed Bin

Abolengo.

Khalifa Al Maktoum, who will support him with his

Mubtaahij will stand along John F. Kennedy (Ire)

broodmare band in Argentina.

(Galileo {Ire}), Long Island Sound (War Front), Equal

“Alejandro García Romero, manager of Sheikh

Stripes (Arg) (Candy Stripes) and Cosmic Trigger

Mohammed Bin Khalifa in Argentina, presented me

(Arg) (Sunray Spirit), the latter an undefeated halfbrother to Candy Ride.

8

MUNTAZAH SETS FIREBREAK ABLAZE, TOPS EVENING OF DOMINANT PERFORMANCES ERA Thursday’s Gulf News-sponsored seventh

could be in the future. A first win in the race for

evening of the 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival

both Doug Watson and Sheikh Hamdan bin

included a pair of stylishly won Group 2

Rashid Al Maktoum’s retained jockey Jim

$250,000 events, but it was the Group 3

Crowley, the 6-year-old son of Dubawi broke

$200,000 Firebreak Stakes and a blowout

well from his outside draw and settled into a

performance by Muntazah that arguably burned

handy position for the first half of the race. The

the brightest on the night that set alight Dubai

early pace was fast enough, with Heavy Metal

World Cup hopes for the Doug Watson trainee.

pushed to the lead by Mickael Barzalona. He was

A pair of handicaps that could have Super

tracked by Satish Seemar’s Behavioral Bias and

Saturday implications, a Group 2 Purebred

Secret Ambition with opening sectionals of

Arabian affair and an eye-catching run in the

24.23 (400m) and 46.58 (800m).

inaugural Meydan Trophy completed the septet

Behavioral Bias challenged Heavy Metal for the

of thrilling Thursday fixtures.

lead around the bend looking comfortable but

$200,000 FIREBREAK STAKES (GROUP 3)

stopped quickly as Muntazah, always in control,

Having finished third behind North America in

cruised past the leader into the home straight

the Al Maktoum Challenge R1 (G2) on Jan. 10,

(after 1200m in 1:11.52) and kicked away to win

Muntazah got back to winning ways with an easy

by an impressive 4½ lengths in a final time of

victory that hinted that a try at longer distances

1.38.21.

Secret Ambition ran on well in second, with

Secret Ambition.

beaten favourite and 2018 winner Heavy Metal

“He’s a horse who’s very tough,” said Mullen “I

in third. Well-regarded Watson trainee Kimbear

was happy from his stall to be on the inside. I

was fourth.

don’t have the gate speed of Heavy Metal, but I

Muntazah has now won twice in the UAE including a Listed win at Abu Dhabi last year and a runner-up finish in the Godolphin Mile (G2) of 2018 behind Heavy Metal, finishing ahead of Secret Ambition and Kimbear.

“He showed last year that he has a lot,” Crowley said. “I thought he was a bit unlucky in the Godolphin Mile and that was his first time on dirt. Obviously, the Dubawis love (the dirt). I was a little bit disappointed with him first time

tried to force the issues as best I could. I was quite happy. I always had enough horse and I was beaten fair and square by a good horse. This horse has come on and hopefully we can make up a little ground and be good enough to run in the Godolphin Mile.”

Seemar added: “(Secret Ambition) was giving a kilo more this time, but other than that, he ran well. That’s the difference a kilo can make sometimes in this kind of a race. As far as (Behavioral Bias, 5th), we will have talk to the

out this season and I think there were genuine

jockey. Maybe it was the distance or what

excuses for that. He ran a good race last time

happened (when acting up before the race).”

and he is a big horse who likes to get rolling.

Of Heavy Metal and Kimbear (placed 3rd and 4th

There was a bit of speed in that race and it

respectively), jockeys were understandably

caught him out and it got a bit messy. I felt he

disappointed having been well fancied before

would come on a lot for that one and he did

the race.

tonight.

“They just rode against us”, Barzalona (Heavy

“We went quick, as you would expect and I’d

Metal) said. This tone was echoed by Pat Dobbs

like to think there is a bit more to come from

(Kimbear), who said: “I was never happy from

him, as well. He is versatile. Although he is a big

the word go.”

horse, he jumps well from the gate and he is quick into his stride. Horses like Heavy Metal were going a fair nick and I was traveling easily on the side. I didn’t want to get involved too early and I probably could have waited a bit more, but we always felt that he would get a little further. He feels a better horse than 12 months ago. I still don’t think he is there yet and there is still a lot to work on. I am sure he will keep progressing.”

“I jumped very well,” O’Shea said of Behavioral Bias. “He’s a fast horse and he’s improved from his (third in the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile three weeks prior). It’s woken him up, so I think he’ll probably end up coming back in trip.”

“It’s a different ballgame for a horse that has been running on turf to go to the dirt,” Sam Hitchcott, rider of Janoobi (sixth) said. “He just didn’t have the pace to go with them early. It’s a big shock when they’ve never done it before. He ran respectably and he’ll go back to the turf, I’d

Watson added: “We thought he was in great

imagine.”

shape last week and we really wanted to try him

Godolphin’s Silent Attack finished last of the

over the 1900m (of the G2 Al Maktoum

seven.

Challenge Round 2), but he couldn’t. He has

$250,000 MEYDAN SPRINT (GROUP 2)

come back and done that well. It was a tough

The 1000m Meydan Sprint sponsored by Gulf

race. He had to sit three-wide the whole way

News (G2) was turned into a one-horse show,

and picked up nicely when he went by (Heavy

courtesy of Group 1 sprinter Blue Point, who

Metal). He’s in great shape and last year he got

locked horns with the David Hayes-trained

better at around this time and that showed it right there. I’m not sure what happened to

Faatinah (Jim Crowley aboard) at the top of the

for Ali Rashid Al Rayhi to take third, with Mike de

straight to power clear with 300m left to run. The

Kock’s Mujaafy in fourth. Rebel Streak (Mickael

5-year-old son of Shamardal made amends under

Barzalona) and Johann Strauss (Royston Ffrench)

William Buick for his second placing behind the

completed the running order.

late Ertijaal in last year’s edition in the process

The Al Quoz (G1) over 1200m on Dubai World Cup

and provided handler Charlie Appleby and owner

night looms large, as the enigmatic King’s Stand

Godolphin with a first win in the feature after

Stakes (G1) winner has returned from Europe in

finishing second in the last five renewals.

solid form. The final time of the race was 56.52.

Australia’s Faatinah confiscated the lead from

“It was a nice comeback opportunity for him and

Mujaafy (Patrick Cosgrave) early on, with Blue

he did it very comfortably,” Buick said. “He did

Point settling midfield, before getting an easy tow

everything right. Lovely to see him come back

into the final 600m by the Nicconi gelding, who

like that. He has probably matured a bit and the

stayed on well to finish five lengths behind the

biggest difference (from his last race here one

winner. Portamento (Fernando Jara) held his own

year ago) is he is coming here now a Group 1 winner

this time. He has proved himself and he feels like

(Christopher elusive Group 1.” Hayes aboard) held

a very confident horse. No question about it.”

on for second with three-quarters of a length to

“He’s a nice horse, this fellow,” Appleby added.

Turkish darling Peri Lina (Selim Kaya) in third,

“Not having been fully tuned up, he ran well. This

who played up in the stalls before the start. Asoof

horse is going to come forward and come into his

(Christophe Soumillon) jumped to the front

own this year. He’s a 5-year-old now and he’s a

before settling just off the speed to finish fourth,

professional. William asked him to pick up and he

with South American G1 winner Furia Cruzada

ran a professional race. After this is the Al Quoz

(Antonio Fresu) in fifth. Front-running Monza

(Sprint on Mar. 30). He’s not overly exposed,

(Carlos Lopez) completing the field. The final

really. Last year, he wasn’t over-raced. It’s going

time was 1:49.60.

to be a fun season for him.”

“It was one of those strappy little fields and the

“It was a good trip; a straight line. That one was

worst thing you can do in those races is to not

too good,” Crowley said of Faatinah’s run.

give the opposition the respect,” Buick said. “So

Jara said: “It was a good trip. (Al Rayhi, trainer)

we gave them the respect and knew we had to get

told me to sit down and try to make one move

everything right at our end and that she could

and (Portamento) finished nice. He just ran a few

produce what she did there. It is lovely and she

days ago and it was hard competition. I think it

relaxes so nicely now, the extra furlong was not a

was a really good effort and the boss brought him

problem for her. She has just opened up a few

in good shape for this race.”

more opportunities for herself. She proved last

Cosgrave said: “It was a pleasing start back after

time that she is a quality filly that she really fills

a long time off. Obviously, he was thrown in the

herself up for the race. She has a great finishing

deep a bit today, but he equipped himself well. He

kick. The combination of being drawn six of six

ran ok, got a bit tired, but all around, everyone is

and an extra furlong, it was important to get the

pleased.”

first furlong right and then take it from there. It

Barzalona said: “He just ran alright. He needs cut

was lovely; a great performance. She has won two

in the ground. He just got beat by a better horse.”

Group 2s now, so she will be looking for the

Ffrench said: “Obviously he hasn’t run in a long

“She had won the Cape Verdi in such great style

time and he was very ring rusty; very slow away

and we were very confident stepping up to the

and over five furlongs it was all over too soon.”

(1800m), but you never know until they’ve done

$250,000 BALANCHINE (GROUP 2)

it,” Appleby said. “She also had the penalty. We

The 1800m turf Balanchine sponsored by

were going out there to get cover and get her

gulfnews.com (G2) for the fairer sex confirmed a

switched off and (Buick) has done a great job

talented filly in Godolphin’s Poetic Charm.

there. She picked up nicely and galloped out

Completing the Cape Verdi (G2)—Balanchine (G2)

strongly.”

double with a dominant 2¾-length win, the half-

Fellowes, who’s already having a strong Carnival,

sister to Teofilo granted trainer Charlie Appleby

was quite pleased with the performance of his

another inaugural stakes victory on the night

Danehill Dancer mare: “I’m over the moon. She’s

with William Buick aboard, after having taken the

a super filly and I don’t know what happened last

Meydan Sprint (G2) with Blue Point earlier on the

time in the Cape Verdi. Maybe there was too

card.

much water on the ground. To be honest, today

Settling comfortably at the rear under Buick, the

didn’t go to plan, as we were going to go forward

Dubawi filly went four-wide in the home turn to

because she stays the trip. Then she was standing

hit the front with 300m left to go. Late-closing

in the gate and falling asleep (waiting for Peri

Charlie Fellowes charge Mia Tesoro

Lina to load). She’s been remarkable. She came to me rated 57 and just finished second in a Group 2.

That’ll probably be it for her in Dubai. She’ll

another horse and she was doing a bit too much.”

come back to England and the plan is for

Remainder of Card: The inaugural running of the

(Coolmore stallion) Australia to cover her. She

$100,000 Meydan Trophy provided the first

might come back into training and we may have a

chance for 3-year-old turf runners to flash their

bit of fun with her before she needs to be retired,

promise and Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby-

especially after she ran a blinder like that.”

trained Art du Val did not disappoint. The son of

“I was happy enough,” Hayes said. “We wanted to

sprinter No Nay Never defied his pedigree and

ride more forward, but I got a bang in the gates

won for fun in the end by four lengths after

from (Peri Luna), who reared up. It probably

stalking nicely throughout the 1900m affair.

startled her a little bit. I had a lovely smooth run

Fawzi Nass’ Bila Shak finished a promising

around and would have loved to have been a

second, while the consistent Trolius completed

couple lengths closer to the pace, but ultimately

the top three for trainer Simon Crisford. In the

it didn’t cost me. I might have finished a length

process, Buick rode his 100th UAE winner.

closer, but the best horse won.”

“That was only his third career start and in the

Kaya said: “I jumped good and I was able to find a

biggest field he has encountered, so it was a goo

good position behind the Godolphin horse. I was

performance,” Buick said. “He has travelled

moving smoothly and the pace was fine to for me.

nicely throughout and then quickened in style

I feel if the horse had not had the incident at the

when I asked him. Once I managed to relax him,

starting gate, she could have finished in second

after about a furlong, I was always happy and he

position.”

stayed the trip nicely but he has enough pace to

Soumillon said: “She jumped out well, but

drop in trip if we wanted.”

unfortunately someone else wanted to go in front

Appleby added: “He is an improving 3-year-old

and she just got tired in the last 200m.”

and William was impressed with him there. We

Fresu said: “Like I said the other day, this was a

liked him last year and he did well to win his

bit too short and all these horses are more miler

debut before going to France, when a good

types than her. Even running over 1800m, the

second in a Listed race. Hopefully there is more

extra furlong didn’t help today.”

to come from him, because he is still learning and

Lopez said: “She was a bit keen. I got beside

hopefully progressing.”

The penultimate race, the $135,000 Inside Out

Richie has given him a great ride.”

Handicap over 1200m on dirt, was an intriguing

In the finale, Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor

contest and supplied Satish Seemar with his sole

struck with Mountain Hunter, who was given a

victory of the evening. A competitive encounter

beautiful ride by Christophe Soumillon to win by

on paper Lavaspin, drawn in stall two, took the

a measured 1½ lengths over stablemate Red

initiative from the get-go holding a prominent

Galileo. It was another nose back to Appleby

position on the rail before being joined by Steve

trainee Walton Street, completing a top-three

Asmussen’s Switzerland on his outside. A

finish for the royal blue. Over the 2410m of the

challenge at the 400m mark from Doug Watson’s

Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), the Gulf

Pop the Hood was fended off without

News-sponsored handicap provided a possible

consequence and Lavaspin drew clear of the one-

preview for the Dubai City of Gold (G2) on Super

paced American raider to win by 2¼ lengths with

Saturday.

Nine Below Zero running on well for third.

“He is a nice horse and was always travelling well

“We have had to be patient with him since his last

for me,” Soumillon said. “I was able to get a good

win as he spiked a temperature when he was due

lead and always had a nice position, so when we

to run and has had a few other little niggles as

hit the straight, I was able to ask him for an effort

well,” said Bhupat Seemar, assistant trainer. “He

and he quickened nicely. He has then run all the

is a very fast horse. From that low draw with such

way to the line and seen out the trip well. It was a

a low weight, the plan was always to be positive

good performance.”

and

14

CRISFORD HOPES TO TURN BACK THE CLOCK

for the Englishman, who trains out of a satellite

GULF NEWS

led by Century Dream (Oisin Murphy) in the

Dubai: If you had to draw up a list of horsemen who have sampled more success than most at Meydan Racecourse, the name Simon Crisford will without question be among the contenders.

In his previous role as Godolphin’s racing manager, Crisford was associated with some of the biggest and most prestigious winners ever seen at the Dubai World Cup Carnival.

However, the scenario changed ever since he went solo in 2015 and took up a public trainer’s licence.

Successes in Dubai have not been as abundant

operation at the Grandstand 2 Stables adjoining Meydan Racecourse.

All that may be set to change at the eighth Carnival meeting on Thursday where Crisford saddles several runners with serious chances Group 2 Zabeel Mile, one of three Group races that embellish an attractive six-race card.

The five-year-old son of Cape Cross makes his debut in this race, following a career-best effort when finishing third to ‘Horse of the Year’ Roaring Lion in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October.

Century Dream has raced in elite company and was previous a close fourth to Accidental Agent in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes also at Ascot during the Royal meeting.

Crisford commented: “We are really pleased with him and looking forward to the race.

“He’s doing absolutely fine, he’s travelled very

told her.

well to Dubai and trained really well since

“Hopefully she jumps and she runs well like

being there. Things have gone according to

that. She’s a very backwards filly, mentally, and

plan.”

she doesn’t give everything. She does what you

Quite clearly the class act among the eight

tell her to do and we never really ask her to do

runners in the Mile, Crisford’s charge takes on

as much as a race.”

the likes of Godolphin’s Mythical Magic

Charlie Appleby’s Divine Image (William Buick)

(William Buick), who was third in the Al Fahidi

and the Saeed Bin Surour-trained duo of Dubai

Fort on his Dubai debut last month, former

Beauty (Christophe Soumillon) and Swift Rose

Group 3 scorer Wooton (James Doyle) and Top

(Hayley Turner) finished second, fourth and

Score (Christophe Soumillon).

14th in the Guineas at a mile on dirt and all

Crisford is also well represented by Starry Eyes

three re-oppose.

in the $250,000 (Dh918,125) UAE Oaks (G3).

Godolphin send out six contenders in the

A daughter of Animal Kingdon, winner of the

Group 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes over 10

2013 Dubai World, Starry Eyes makes her

furlongs on turf include a trio from Charlie

second appearance on the dirt at Meydan

Appleby, already winners at this year’s Carnival.

having finished fifth in the Guineas.

First Nation (William Buick), Oasis Charm (Brett

The Oaks has been won on 10 occasions since it

Doyle) and Spotify (James Doyle) look an

was first run in 2001 by Godolphin-trained

impressive team for the in-form Appleby who

fillies but French raider Silva looks the pick of

remarked: “First Nation won well on his first

the 12 runners in this year’s renewal of the

start in Dubai and the form of the race has

season’s third Classic.

worked out well. He has done everything right

Pia Brandt’s filly was a compelling winner of the

since and looks the one to beat.

UAE 1,000 Guineas, which was used as a prep

“Oasis Charm is a very strong traveller, who

race of the Oaks by her connections and is

picked up nicely in a competitive handicap, and

expected to be more suited by the step up in

deserves to have a crack at a nice race like this.

trip to nine furlongs on Thursday.

“Spotify won over a mile and a half last time but

“The distance is no problem for her,” Brandt

has sharpened up for that run and we feel that

said of the French-trained filly.

dropping back to 10 furlongs is well within his

Her [Guineas] was excellent. She was very

compass.”

professional and did what [jockey Oisin Murphy]

16

ONE-TWO FOR THE KINGDOM AS AL NABOODHA’S AF MAHER FINISHES THIRD GULF NEWS

Khaladeiah, with the Khalid Al Nabooda’s homebred AF Maher, ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, running on for third.

“We came here to win this race, and that’s what we did,” said an ecstatic Shaikh Mutlaq Bin Mashref, trainer of the Al Khalediah Stables.

“It feels great to win such a prestigious race

Sharjah It was a case of mission accomplished

which is a wonderful initiative. We knew that

for Saudi Arabia’s powerful Al Khalediah Stables

the competition would be strong so we brought

after homebred Mubasher Al Khalediah scored a

some of our strongest horses to the UAE.

thrilling victory over stable companion Morheb

Horses from the Al Khalediah Stables have been

Al Khalediah to win the inaugural running of the

winning races around Europe, but winning this

Dh200,000 GCC Cup Sponsored by Shadwell, on

race was extra special, as it was the GCC Cup,”

Saturday.

he added.

With the talented Abdullah Al Fairoz in the

“I believe that the race can only get better and

saddle the handsome four-year-old was doing

stronger in the future and will be top of the

the best work in a tight three-horse finish, to

agenda for homebred Arab horses. We look

cross the line half a length clear of Morheb Al

forward to coming back again next year to defend our title.

NOMADIC

|

24

“But for the moment, let us enjoy being the first

hailed the inaugural running of the Cup a big success.

winners of the GCC Cup, it is indeed a great, great

“The GCC Cup is great idea from our Chairman

honour and one that we are immensely proud of,”

Shaikh Abdullah Majid Al Qasimi,” said Al Yahyai. “We

said Mashref.

had a strong field lining up and it could not have been

Mashref said that he had a good feeling about racing

a more thrilling finish.

in the UAE and that he was looking forward to

“This is what horse racing is and we hope that it will

returning next month for the Dubai World Cup

be a great advertisement for the concept of having a

meeting at Meydan Racecourse on March 30 where

high-class race exclusively for homebred Arabs. It

he will attempt back-to-back victories in the Dubai

proves that Arabian racing is getting stronger and

Kahayla Classic (G1), having won the 2018 running

stronger. There are more horses, owners and jockeys

with Tallaab Al Khalediah.

than ever before and the numbers are growing

“We’ll be back soon, hopefully with two horses,

rapidly.

Tallaab Al Khalediah and Murad Al Khalediah,” he

“This race can only get better and better in the years

said. “The Kahayla Classic is the race every Purebred

to come.”

Arabian owner, trainer and jockey wants to win.

Hopefully we will come back strong and win it for Al

Results

Khalediah Stables, and prove that horses bred in

The GCC Cup Sponsored by Shadwell

Saudi Arabia are among the best Arab race horses in

Purse: Dh200,000 (Purebred Arabian, Prestige) 1700M

the world.”

Dirt

A GCC Cup was a 1,700m race with Prestige status

1. Mubasher Al Khalediah (M Bin Mashref) Abdullah Al

and restricted to horses foaled within the GCC

Fairoz

countries — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi

2. Morheb Al Khalediah (M bin Mashref) Abdullah Al

Arabia and, the

Odhaib

Winning time: 01:57:77 secs. UAE. Sultan Mohammad

3. AF Maher (E Oertel) Tadhg O’Shea

Khalifa Al Yahyai, general manager of the Sharjah

4. Shareq Al Khalediah (L Marouane) Royston Ffrench

Equestrian and Racing Club,

Distances: 1/2 length, 1/2L, 2 1/2L.

NOMADIC

|

24

18

AL NABOODAH'S DOMINANT NIGHT WITH FIVE PUREBRED ARABIAN WINS IN ABU DHABI THE NATIONAL

by Ernst Oertel.

“It only goes to prove we can breed good horses locally,” said Al Naboodah.

AF Saab carried the Al Naboodah silks when winning the Abu Dhabi Colts Classic on December 16 before purchased by Sheikh Hamdan and moved to the Oasis Stables of Musabah Al Muhairi.

It was a perfect five for Khalid Khalifa Al

“It’s an honour to see horses bred by me being

Naboodah’s breeding operation on Sunday at

successful in the silks of Sheikh Hamdan,” added Al

the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

Naboodah.

The horses bred by the Emirati businessman

“This is the joy of breeding good horses and it’s even

scooped all five prizes that were on offer for the

better when a horse from my breeding operation

Purebred Arabians, including both the Emirates

successful for another owner.”

Fillies and Colts Classic.

Oertel’s four winners on the night took his tally to

The Colts Classic winner AF Saab won in the

36, seven clear of Satish Seemar in the UAE trainer’s

silks of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid but the

championship.

remaining four were in the Al Naboodah colours

Tadhg O’Shea was on board three of them. He

and trained

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to the top of the UAE jockey’s title race on 35, two

been rescheduled three weeks after the start of the

more than his nearest challenger Richard Mullen.

UAE season on the request of local trainers and

Meanwhile, the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Global

owners,” said Lara Sawaya, chairperson of the Sheikh

Arabian Flat Horseracing Festival announced 124

Mansour bin Zayed Global Flat Horseracing Festival.

races for the 2019/2020 season, an increase of 24

According to Al Naboodah staging the final race of

from last season.

the series at the beginning of the season leaves the

The highlight of the series is the Sheikh Zayed bin

local horses with a clear disadvantage.

Sultan Al Nahyan Cup and the Sheikha Fatima bint

“In the case of the overseas horses they arrive at

Mubarak Ladies World Championship.

their peak forms after racing for most of the summer

The Sheikh Zayed Cup and the Sheikha Fatima bint

in other parts of the world,” said Al Naboodah.

Mubarak series gets underway at the Sam Houston

“The Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown

Park, Texas, in the United States on March 9 and

is a very prestigious and the world’s richest race (Dh

conclude with the final races in Abu Dhabi on

5million) in the world for the Purebred Arabians. It

November 24.

would be unfair to have it run at the beginning of the

“The grand finales were usually slated for the

UAE season as our horses will not be prepared for

opening or second race meeting in Abu Dhabi but it

the challenges.”

has now

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LUKAS AIMS TO 'ENJOY' FIRST DUBAI WORLD CUP TRIP WITH BRAVAZO

earnings, Lukas has also shaped the careers some of

EVENING STANDARD

compete at Meydan for the first time with current

Knowing where to start when talking about D. Wayne Lukas’ achievements and influence on North American racing is a difficult task. The former basketball coach-turned-horse trainer has won 20 Breeders Cup races, 14 Triple Crown events and trained three horses to earn the status of America’s Horse of the Year, not to mention the more than two dozen Quarter Horse champions he conditioned before moving on to Thoroughbreds.

The first to break both $100 and $200 million in

the country’s finest trainers with former assistants including Todd Pletcher, Dallas Stewart, Mark Hennig, George Weaver and former leading UAE trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, among others.

Although in the twilight of his career, the 83-year-old is still breaking new ground and this year plans to stable flagbearer Bravazo.

The 4-year-old son of Awesome Again won the Risen Star Stakes (G2) before contesting in all three Triple Crown races, including a runner-up finish in the Preakness Stakes as a 3-year-old. Placed in four Grade 1 races since then, the Calumet Farm homebred returned to the work tab last Wednesday morning, breezing a half-mile in 49 flat.

NOMADIC | 24 He will start next in the $12 million Dubai World Cup on Mar. 30.

“We’re going to get maybe four more works between

now and then, so we just wanted him to stretch his

“I’ve talked to Bob Baffert and a couple of people

legs again,” Lukas said.

who have been over there and they said, ‘You need

Bravazo returned to his Oaklawn base on Jan. 28,

to go, you need to go and you’ll enjoy it.’ But I never

two days after finishing fourth in the $9 million

had any strong feeling about it.

Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream

"In this particular case, Calumet’s Brad Kelley is real

Park. Lukas said Bravazo will ship to the UAE on

adamant about (how) we need to try this. Go over

Mar. 18.

there and try it.”