ISSUE 3 • 15 NOVEMBER 2018
YOUR RACING DESTINATION
IN SEARCH OF FIRST DERBY
CHAMPION AL SHAMOOS
GODOLPHIN TURNS TO BAFFERT
SETS SIGHTS ON KAHAYLA CLASSIC
RASHID EQUESTRIAN H O L D S S E A S O N ’ S SECOND MEETING
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04
BOB BAFFERT IN SEARCH OF FIRST DERBY WIN, GODOLPHIN TURNS TO BAFFERT
06
AL SHAMOOS SETS SIGHTS ON KAHAYLA CLASSIC AFTER GROUP 1 SHEIKH ZAYED BIN SULTAN JEWEL CROWN WIN
08
BAHRAIN RACING RASHID EQUESTRIAN CLUB HOLDS SEASON’S SECOND MEETING
10
MEYDAN SUPERIOR, TAAMOL SHOW PROMISE THURSDAY AT MEYDAN
14
ALAIN Al Ain kicks off busy weekend for UAE horse racing
PAGE 4
IN SEARCH OF FIRST DERBY WIN, GODOLPHIN TURNS TO BAFFERT TDN
An unraced horse named Coliseum (Tapit) worked four furlongs in :47 2/5 yesterday morning at Santa Anita. It was his fourth recorded public workout, and the word is out. The off-shore bookmaker Bovada has the horse at 20-1 in its latest winterbook wagering for the Kentucky Derby. It should come as no surprise that the colt is trained by Bob Baffert, but when it comes to the owner it’s not one of Baffert’s usual suspects. The horse is owned by and was bred by Godolphin.
Godolphin only recently became a client of Baffert’s. The trainer explained that he is now getting horses from them because they are appreciative of his on-going support of the Dubai World Cup racesand they want to win the GI Kentucky Derby. With Godolphin having just won its first G1 Melbourne Cup with Cross Counter (GB) Teofilo {Ire}), the Derby remains of one of the few iconic races on the globe that the stable has not won. They’re counting on me,” Baffert said. “They’ve won everything there is to win but the Kentucky Derby. I think they’re saying, ‘Ok, it’s up to you now, Bob, to get it done.’ They sent me a couple of 2-year-olds, but this one (Coliseum) is definitely the best one.” Before you rush off to Las Vegas to bet on Coliseum to win the Derby, you might want to note that Baffert also said,” I don’t have any American Pharoahs (Pioneerof the Nile) or Justifys (Scat Daddy) in my barn this year.” But he does believe that Coliseum is a horse with a lot of upside. “He’s a nice horse, but he’s a Tapit and has a lot of typical Tapit issues,” Baffert said. “He can be a head case. In the middle of his works he just wants to take off. But his work (Sunday) was definitely his best so far.” NOMADIC
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PAGE 5
PRINCE OF ARRAN HEADING TO HONG KONG SPORTING LIFE
Prince Of Arran will head to the Far East later this month in a bid to cap what has been an amazing year for trainer Charlie Fellowes. The Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin on December 9 is the target for the five-year-old, who has given connections memorable days in Dubai, the United States and Australia, as well as in the UK. Prince Of Arran gave Fellowes a day to remember when third in the Melbourne Cup, just days after he clinched his place in the 'race that stops a nation' by winning the Group Three Lexus Handicap at Flemington. "Prince Of Arran is a very happy boy. He's in a great place. He's still out at Werribee in Australia. He had an easy week last week and we're just stating to pick things up again this week," said the Newmarket handler.
"The plan is to to fly to Hong Kong on November 26 and he'll be prepared for the Hong Kong Vase on December 9. Then he will have a longoverdue holiday." The Newmarket handler went on: "He's been remarkable. If you told me in January that 10 months later I'd be flying over for the Hong Kong Vase and going there with a realistic shout I'd have chuckled! "He's improved and improved all year - mentally rather than physically. Mentally he's in such a good place at the moment. "He's enjoying his racing, which I don't think he was as a younger horse, and he's done really well. "He's won about £620,000 this year and placed at Group One level, won at Group Three and was unlucky in a Group Two. "He's not only improved out of all recognition, but has become incredibly consistent, which he wasn't before. For a young trainer like me that's unbelievable. He's taken us to places I never thought we'd go. "We've only got 50 horses in training and we've won over £1million globally in prize-money on the back of a strong year back in England. It's been a wonderful year." NOMADIC
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FEATURE
PAGE 6
AL SHAMOOS SETS SIGHTS ON KAHAYLA CLASSIC AFTER GROUP 1 SHEIKH ZAYED BIN SULTAN JEWEL CROWN WIN
THE NATIONAL Al Shamoos provided French trainer Charles Gourdain with his first and biggest career prize winner in Abu Dhabi. The four-year-old filly ridden by French jockey Julien Auge produced a strong run on the home stretch to win the Dh5 million Group 1 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Jewel Crown in the silks of Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed on Friday evening.
NOMADIC
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PAGE 7 Auge had Al Shamoos behind the leading group
Weissmeier, 21, was victorious on Jean de
before producing his challenge from the 400
Roualle’s Harrab in the Sheikha Fatima bint
metres out marker to win by a length from Fazza
Mubarak Apprentice Jockey Championship half-
Al Khalediah, winner of the Group 1 World Cup on
an-hour earlier.
the Prix de l'arc de Triomphe day in his last start. “It was an amazing race to win,” said Danz who Al Shamoos will return to France but Gourdain
took up the running on the home stretch to win
has not ruled out returning for a crack at the
from Bainoona by three and-a-half lengths.
Kahayla Classic, the Arabian showpiece on the Dubai World Cup meeting on March 30 at
“I have been riding in Germany for 10 years and
Meydan.
this is my fifth year riding in the Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Festival for Purebred Arabians.
“If everything goes well and as planned, we’ll return to defend the title in Abu Dhabi,” said the
“I have no words to describe winning this prize.
Frenchman.
The feeling of winning a big race is incredible."
“She has got a great future. We will be doing her
For Weissmeier, winning a race outside her native
program in Europe and in this area as well. We
Germany, was her biggest achievement.
will think about bringing her for the Kahayla Classic.
“The trainer instructed me to be behind the lead horses, which I did, and when we turned the final
“The only worry is she hasn’t raced on the dirt. She
corner I got space to go from the inside. He was
has run on the all-weather and won in Sweden.
flying from there,” she said.
Yes, we’ll consider when the time comes.”Gourdain said he was quietly confident of
Like Danz, Weismeier also rides professionally in
Al Shamoos’ chances coming to Abu Dhabi after
Germany, but the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed
she scored a victory in a Group 1 race at
Festival for Purebred Arabians permits jockeys
Longchamp in her last start.
who are under 25 to take part.
“She was very impressive in her victory in the last
“I was runner up two years ago in the same race
start but you never know when you are against
and it was nice feeling to win this time. This is also
older horses,” added Gourdain.
my first winner in the Sheikh Mansour Festival after a couple of seconds.”
“She travelled very well behind the leader and finished like she did in Longchamp.” Earlier, the German riders Rebecca Danz and Esther Weissmeier were both victorious in supporting races on the six-race card. Danz, 29, aboard Asyyad. triumphed for trainer Eric Lemartinel in the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Championship.
PAGE 8
RASHID EQUESTRIAN CLUB HOLDS SEASON’S SECOND MEETING GDN
Al Rabda 1558, owned by Victorious, trained by Yousif Taher and ridden by Husain Makki, won the other feature race of the day which was for the Al Sakhir Cup for Arabian horses, . The favourite beat Al Jellaby 1656 by five lengths. Al Jellaby 1434 was third and Al Hamdanieh 1637 fourth. The day began well for the favourites with Duwaliya, owned by Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, trained by James Naylor and ridden by Andrew
MUNSHID scored the biggest and lone upset
Elliott, cruising to victory in the race for
of the day at Rashid Equestrian and Horse
locally bred races, edging out Shomukh by a
Racing Club in Sakhir. Munshid, owned by Al
head, Hasbah was third Wishah
Sairafi Syndicate, trained by Osama Hashim
fourth. Another favourite Yaoud, owned by
and ridden by Andrew Elliott, beat Prince
Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa,
Bonnaire by a neck to win the Late
trained by James Naylor and ridden by
Abdulhadi Al Afoo Cup which carried a cash
Andrew Elliott, followed suit beating Stevie G
prize of BD2,000 Millers Wharf was third and
by three-fourth-length to win the handicap
Taking Libertys fourth.
race. NOMADIC
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Al Rabda 1558, owned by Victorious, trained
PAGE 9
by Yousif Taher and ridden by Husain Makki, won the other feature race of the day which was for the Al Sakhir Cup for Arabian horses. The favourite beat Al Jellaby 1656 by five lengths. The day began well for the favourites with Duwaliya, owned by Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, trained by James Naylor and ridden by Andrew Elliott, cruising to victory in the race for locally bred races, edging out Shomukh by a head, Hasbah was third Wishah fourth. Another favourite Yaoud, owned by Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, trained by James Naylor and ridden by Andrew Elliott, followed suit beating Stevie G by three-fourth-length to win the handicap race. Torqit, owned by Mohammed Yousif Sarhan, trained by Yousif Sarhan and ridden by Ali Samir, beat Likethelook by half-alength to win the race for imported horses. American Artist, owned by Al Adiyat Racing, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by Gerald Mosse,
beat Emerald by three-fourthlength to win the race for imported horses which carried a cash prize of BD2,000. Wayne Looney, owned by H and R Stables, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by Rosie Jessop, completed a good day for the favourites beating Caped Crusader by half-a-length to win the race for locally bred horses.
SUPERIOR, TAAMOL SHOW PROMISE THURSDAY AT MEYDAN ERA Racing at Meydan returned on Thursday
Walking Thunder, won a 1400m maiden at
evening with a seven-race, all-dirt card,
Meydan last Thursday. Both were ridden by
including five competitive handicaps and a
Connor Beasley. “As with Walking Thunder,
pair of 1600m maidens. Proceedings began
we were hopeful because his work at home
with the first of the maidens, the Longines
had been good,” bin Harmash said.
Ladies Master Collection, contested by six
“Obviously, we are delighted to have won
juveniles foaled in the northern
the first two maidens for the 2-year-
hemisphere of whom four were making
olds.Phoenix Ladies principal Pamela
their debuts. Ahmad bin Harmash-trained
Cordina added: “Amazing. We could not
Superior, who lived up to his name,
have hoped for a better start and, again,
prevailed after a titanic struggle with Doug
credit to Ahmad who was confident and
Watson-trained fellow debuter Martial Art.
Connor for another great ride. I would be
A thrilling stretch duel between the two
hesitant to suggest we're finding this game
well-regarded colts made for an inspiring
easy. A lot of hard work goes into finding
glimpse of what could be two future
and preparing winners, but at the moment
Meydan stars. A son of the impeccably swift
we're proving that with the right
sprinter Majesticperfection, Superior
preparation, study of races and pedigrees,
continued the perfect start to racehorse
you can have success. A massive thank you
ownership for the Phoenix Ladies
to Ahmed and his staff for their hard work
Syndicate, whose first ever runner,
and to Connor for giving our two runners such great rides.
PAGE 11 We want to get more women involved in
Al Rayhi said. “Hopefully he can follow this
racing and this syndicate is an ideal way for
up.” O’Neill added: “I was quite impressed
them to do that.” Superior is a half-brother
with him though a bit worried because he
to four winners and their dam is a half-
was sweating on the way to the start. He
sister to the dam of Grade 2 winners War
broke well and was a bit fresh early on, but
Story and Land Over Sea.
once I had a bit of cover, I was happy most
The official feature was the Longines V H P
of the way round. He was always highly
Collection, a 1400m handicap, which
regarded in England and now, having had
appeared highly competitive on paper with
a Dubai summer on his back, has
its eight runners. However, Taamol, who
acclimatised properly and he could be a
pulled noticeably early under Dane O’Neill,
nice horse this season on either surface.”
had enough to quicken clear, outclassing
The Al Rayhi double was initiated in the
his rivals. O’Neill, who had the choice of
second 1600m maiden, the Longines La
three for his boss, His Highness Sheikh
Grande Classic Collection, which was run at
Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was able
a searing gallop throughout the first half of
to settle Taamol in behind Lytham St
the race with at least half of the 12 runners
Annes and Mazeed. He briefly had to niggle
seeming to want to lead. Of those who did
his mount on the home turn, but they soon
race prominently, Roy Orbison was the only
had the other pair in their sights and
one to remain in contention throughout,
ultimately posted a comfortable
leading halfway up the straight and soon
triumph, completing a double on the card
with the race in safe keeping. Fernando
for trainer Ali Rashid Al Rayhi. “We were
Jara was in the saddle for Al Rayhi and
very hopeful today when dropping the
owner Mohd Khalifa Al Basti
horse in class and knew he was in good form coming into the race
PAGE 12 They may have been denied in the opener
with this race in mind over 1600m. He will
with Martial Art, but Dobbs and Doug
probably have a month off and then come
Watson soon gained compensation,
back over 1600m or perhaps step up to
teaming up to land the following Longines
2000m. We really hope he is a Dubai World
Gents Record Collection, a 2000m
Cup Carnival horse.” In similar fashion,
handicap, with Al Basti’s Tried and True,
jockey and trainer wasted no time in
who completed a one-two finish for Doug
doubling up with Lavaspin, who ran out
Watson, as Grand Argentier finished
the comfortable winner of the Longines
second. Watson said: “Pat has given him a
Ladies Record Collection, a handicap over
great ride and was able to settle him off
1200m. Owned by Mohd Khaleed Ahmed,
the speed, but keep out of the kickback
this was only Lavaspin’s fifth career outing
before he ran on very strongly in the
and first at Meydan, having won once in his
straight. He had been training very well
penultimate outing.
and we thought the small field would suit
“It was the first time he had raced around
him because he does not like the kickback.
the turn, having only run on the straight at
Grand Argentier was slowly away, but has
Jebel Ali, so that was a concern,” Mullen
still run very well. We also had Storm Belt
said. “I was able to get inside other horses
in there, but he was hampered, which cost
on the bend, which was ideal. In the end,
him his chance.”
though we were hopeful, he has probably
Touch Gold Racing were a second
won in better style than I expected.”
syndicate to celebrate a victory on the
The concluding 1600m handicap, the
card, courtesy of Welford, who was the
Longines Dolce Vita Collection, featured a
comfortable winner of the Longines Master
well-timed ride by Xavier Ziani on His
Collection Moon Phase, a 1600m handicap,
Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed
with Richard Mullen in the saddle for
Al Maktoum’s Sandeep Jadhav-trained
Satish Seemar. Twice a winner in Great
Untold Secret, who waited patiently for
Britain when trained by Mark Johnston for
daylight on the rail behind the leaders
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al
turning for home. Once the proverbial seas
Maktoum, this was just his fourth UAE
parted, the son of Shamardal scooted clear
outing and second of the current
with authority and won with something in
campaign. Welcomed to the winner’s
reserve.
enclosure by a large crowd of enthusiastic owners, connections revealed this race was identified as a target when the conditions book was announced. “We knew the 1200m was on the short side for him last time and he has had a few problems since we have had him,” said syndicate manager Mike Kaye. “Therefore we decided to give him a run at Jebel Ali, where he does not really like the hill,
Al Ain kicks off busy weekend for UAE horse racing THE NATIONAL
Bashayer, Marahib and Tawazun, under the stable jockey Pat Cosgrave, look the pick of Lemartinel’s entries in the second, fifth and seventh races respectively. Satish Seemar is double-handed in the solitary race for the thoroughbreds with Iftitah and Heraldic. Iftitah is the choice of the stable’s
The UAE horse racing season enters its fourth
first jockey, Richard Mullen, but assistant
week with three meetings scheduled over
trainer Bhupat Seemar believes both horses
three days across the Emirates, starting at Al
can challenge for victory having already got a
Ain on Thursday followed by Jebel Ali and
run each under their belt this term. “Our
Sharjah over the weekend.
horses have been improving for their seasonal
At the Al Ain Racecourse, Eric Lemartinel, the
debuts,” he said. “Iftitah proved last season he
leading trainer for Purebred Arabians last
handles the Al Ain surface, whereas Heraldic
season, has 14 runners in five of the six races
will be trying it for the first time. “We hope it
for the breedin a seven-race card that also
will suit and both should be competitive in an
include a race for thoroughbreds.
open race.”
Selvaratnam earlier this year, is yet to break
Bachalard in no hurry to find success
the ice at his home track, but insists he is not
GULF NEWS
losing any sleep over it. “We certainly don’t
It will be his first start in 435 days since he
feel the pressure,” he said at Jebel Ali
won his maiden at Gulfstream Park when
Racecourse on Tuesday. “We expect most of
previously trained by David Braddy.
the good horses to perform well by the end of
In his first season in the UAE, Bachalard
the year or early January. “(But) we’re running
acknowledged that the domestic racing scene
a nice horse from America (Draco), first time
was fiercely competitive.
out, this week, but he’s probably going to
“Anywhere you go it’s very competitive and
need the run, as it’s his first start in quite a
the UAE is no different,” he said. “Every trainer
while.” The lightly-raced son of Astrologer will
wants to win, that’s what we’re in the business
be making his three-year-old debut in the
for. “Wherever there is big prize money it’s
feature race Emirates NBD co-feature on
harder to win, nothing comes easy in the
Friday, where he takes on eight rivals.
sport.
Nicholas Bachalard, the new boss at Jebel Ali, is happy to give his runners more time to find their form in what is being seen as transition year for the yellow stable. The Frenchman, who replaced interim trainer Karthi
PAGE 16
Seemar and Mullen takes Sharjah feature with Bedaveeya
in company with the Doug Watson duo of Dangerous Thought and Team Meeting. It was the last named who found the going too tough nearing the 300m pole at which point Dangerous Thought hit the front but was soon challenged by Bedaveeya with Ajwad still battling between them. However, with about 100m remaining, Mullen’s mount surged clear to settle the matter in a few strides, chased
ERA Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club staged
home by Dangerous Thought with a gallant
the first of its six fixtures throughout the new
In doing so, Bedaveeya provided owners Dubai
campaign on Saturday, a six-race card
Japan Aibakai with a first UAE winner and is
highlighted by the sole Thoroughbred contest,
the only horse to have raced for them to date.
a handicap over 1000m, won comfortably by
“That was only his fourth career start and he
Bedaveeya.
can improve,” Mullen said: “He had two runs
Partnered by Richard Mullen, riding for his
late last season at Jebel Ali
main employer Satish Seemar, they chased the strong early pace set by Ajwad,
Ajwad denied third close home by Jockey Joe.
PAGE 17
and back there again at the first meeting of
Curtis, who had won the opener at Abu Dhabi
the new campaign when he was an excellent
on Friday for Al Mheiri aboard AF Momtaz,
second. “He has come on a lot for that outing
said: “That was close and credit to both horses
and we hoped this flat track would suit him
who have really tried hard. Luckily for me, we
because he has plenty of natural speed.”
arrived at the post with my horse’s neck
The opening 1200m maiden produced a
extended and, crossing the line, I thought we
thrilling finish with Muhaymin and Emir De
had just made it. “This is my fourth winner in
Carrere locked together throughout the final
my first UAE campaign which has really
300m, shortly after the latter had headed the
started well and is proving a great
early leader, AF Lewaa. Debutant Muhaymin,
experience. The following 1200m handicap
with William Lee riding for Helal Al Alawi,
also developed into a duel, this time over the
gained the initiative with less than 200m to
concluding 400m with AF Meghwaar and
run but Emir De Carrere, under a powerful
Fernando Jara attempting to get past ES
drive from Ben Curtis, refused to be beaten
Tango, the pair puling clear of their 13 rivals.
and regained the advantage in the final
Try as they may, it proved a fruitless quest
strides. Having his fourth start, the determined
with ES Tango responding gamely to the
victor is trained by Musabbeh Al Mheiri and
urgings of Sam Hitchcott and registering a
was a first winner for owners Al Wasl Racing
third career victory, all on dirt.
with their 21st runner.
PAGE 18
Trained on the Sharjah track by Ibrahim Al
Settled in midfield by Connor Beasley, the
Aseel, ES Tango made a winning debut, over
winner made stealthy progress down the back
this course and distance almost exactly two
straight but still had plenty of ground to make
years ago, as well as landing a 1000m dash at
up entering the final turn. However, once
Al Ain last December.
straightened for home, Beasley’s mount
“Obviously we like to do well here on our
responded well for pressure to open her
home course,” Aseel said: “And it is important
career tally at the seventh attempt.
to have winners for my main patron, Sheikh
Homebred by Mansoor Khalifa Sultan bin
Abdulla bin Majid Al Qassemi who also bred
Habtoor, the filly delighted her trainer, Elise
this mare.”
Jeanne, who said: “She has shown a really
Champion Jockey Tadhg O’Shea will be riding
good attitude there and it is a great result for
a lot for owner Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda,
the owner, as well as our yard.
who enjoyed an Abu Dhabi double on Friday,
“Connor rode her very well and timed his
this season and they combined to land the
challenge to perfection after it looked like the
1000m maiden with homebred debutant AF
runner-up had the race won.”
Alwajel.
The finale, a 1700m handicap, produced a
Never far off the pace, the pair quickened to
virtual carbon copy finish only this time
the front just over halfway and they galloped
Jeanne and Beasley were denied close home
resolutely to the line with the result never in
by Al Jazi who appeared a most unlikely
any doubt. The winner is prepared by Ernst
winner when, early in the back straight, she
Oertel, who trains the majority of the Al
was being rousted along by Pat Cosgrave and
Nabooda string, and appears to have a decent
seemingly struggling.
young horse on his hands.
However, the pair started to make ground on
“He had been working well on the dirt surface
the home turn while, up front, Beasley had set
at home so we were quite hopeful,” Oertel
sail for home on MH Areeb in what had looked
said: “Mr Al Nabooda has some nice horses
a race winning move. It was only in the final
and deserves all the success he gets as he
150m the result looked in any doubt and, with
puts a lot into the sport, especially with the
Beasley’s mount tiring, Al Jazi actually won
local Purebred Arabians he breeds on his
going away.
farm.”
Running in the colours of His Highness Sheikh
O’Shea added: “Winners are always nice and
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and trained by
especially so in these colours. I have enjoyed
Eric Lemartinel, it was a third career victory for
plenty of good luck in them over the years and
the 6-year-old mare, but first since she landed
Ernst and I have always done well together.”
a 1000m dash at Al Ain in February 2017.
The 2000m maiden produced another close
“She has run on very well in the end,” Cosgrave
finish with Jiniz, who seemingly had the race
said: “She certainly made me work, but in
in safe keeping turning into the short Sharjah
fairness, when it mattered she has delivered.”
straight, denied close home by Mh Reyah E’Shemal.
PAGE 19