Racing Weekly Issue 4

ISSUE 4 • 22 NOVEMBER 2018

YOUR RACING DESTINATION

ALI RASHID AL RAYHI

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

DOUBLE CELEBRATION

PAYS TRIBUTE TO ERTIJAAL

ABOUT GODOLPHIN'S HISTORIC SEASON

FOR MULLEN, RAYHI AND JARA

Celebrating the achievements of the industry from all over the world, we are

From all of us at The

proud to be your destination for racing news; bringing you articles from the

Racing Weekly, we

region and beyond of what you need to know about the industry and its way

wish you the very

forward. best!

Seasons have kicked off and others are continuing on from strength to strength with new surprises and exciting new hope that every one does have an opportunity to grow and become in the lead of this industry.

D. Rashed Managing Editor info@racing-weekly.com

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ALI RASHID AL RAYHI PAYS TRIBUTE TO ERTIJAAL AFTER STAR SPRINTER SUFFERS FATAL COLIC

GODOLPHIN FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT GODOLPHIN'S HISTORIC SEASON

JEBEL ALI DOUBLE CELEBRATION FOR MULLEN, RAYHI AND JARA

SHARJAH AF MAHER STAYS UNBEATEN AT SHARJAH IN SATURDAY FEATURE

ENCRYPTED Encrypted being targeted at AllWeather Sprint Championship Final

PAGE 4

AL RAYHI PAYS TRIBUTE TO ERTIJAAL AFTER STAR SPRINTER SUFFERS FATAL COLIC RACING POST The UAE racing community has been rocked with the confirmation local sprint sensation, Ertijaal, arguably the most recognised horse based in the Emirates to have campaigned at the Dubai World Cup Carnival, died last Thursday after succumbing to colic.

Described by Jim Crowley as ‘an aeroplane’ after their victory in February’s Meydan Spring, the seven-year-old son of Oasis Dream won half of his 22 starts for owner and breeder Sheikh Hamdan.

His career started in Britain with William Haggas, winning the 7f Listed Spring Cup and a valuable three-year-old conditions contest on All-Weather Championship Finals Day at Lingfield in 2014. Without joy in four more starts that year, including when down the field in the 2,000 Guineas, Ertijaal joined trainer Ali Rashid Al Rayhi and flourished in the UAE. The star sprinter won eight of his 14 starts for Al Rayhi, including the last two runnings of the Meydan Sprint, while finishing second and third in the Al Quoz Sprint.

A setback ruled him out of the 2018 Al Quoz Sprint but he was reported in fine fettle prior to last week’s tragedy. An emotional and distraught Al Rayhi said: “It's devastating, not just for me and my whole team but also Sheikh Hamdan, for whom Ertijaal was a real star.

“He was certainly one of the most popular horses in the UAE and, over 5f, one of the fastest in the world.

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“Jim Crowley won the Meydan Sprint on him in 2017 and described him as ‘an aeroplane’, so fast was he, while Paul Hanagan was another just amazed by his natural speed. He's a horse we're never going to replace."

Ertijaal mastered the 5f sprint turf course at Meydan like no other. He holds four of the eight fastest winning times, including the top two, with his course record of 55.90 seconds coming in the Meydan Sprint in 2017.

His second-best time – 56.02 seconds – was just as impressive under a big weight in a handicap in January, while the next two fastest winning times – 56.21 and 56.34 – were achieved in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in 2014 and 2016.

Ertijaal, who won almost £900,000 in prize-money for connections, boasts the second-fastest 6f turf time at Meydan.

He added: "It's a massive blow and particularly hard for his groom Mohammed Sheer and Mohammed Arshad who used to ride him most mornings.

“I'm very proud to have been associated with such a wonderful horse for Sheikh Hamdan and can only thank him for the opportunity and pass on our heartfelt condolences to him.

“I'm very proud to have been associated with such a wonderful horse for Sheikh Hamdan and can only thank him for the opportunity and pass on our heartfelt condolences to him.

“Hopefully we can have a lot more success together in the future but there'll only ever be one Ertijaal.”

'His track record will be a hard one to lower' Royston Ffrench rode Ertijaal on his initial UAE breakthrough victory over 7f.

Ffrench said: “Ali dropped him back to sprinting trips after I rode him and the rest, as they say, is history; he started winning regularly and never ran a bad race from Grandstand Stables.

“His 5f turf track record at Meydan will be a hard one to lower and it's a massive loss to Ali and his team, as well as to UAE racing.

“Ertijaal had established a following

around the world and a reputation as

one of the very fastest turf sprinters

in training.”

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FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT GODOLPHIN'S HISTORIC SEASON ARABIAN BUSINESS A historic first win Last week was the first victory for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Godolphin in Melbourne since the first attempt, with Faithful Son, in 1998. In remarks after the win, trainer Charlie Appleby credited Sheikh Mohammed for the win.

Global success Godolphin has won 30 Group One races around the world this year, of which Charlie Appleby has won 12. Fellow trainer Saeed bin Suroor – who has been with Godolphin since 1994 – landed another nine.

The successes follow a shake-up of Gololphin’s top management and CEO.

FEATURE

High-level investments In September of this year, Sheikh Mohammed reportedly spent nearly $19m at the world’s biggest thoroughbred auction in Lexington, Kentucky, where he scored 22 yearling thoroughbreds. Among them was the son of American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown winner.

A unique training programme In 2003, Godolphin founded the Godolphin Flying Start competition, in which every year candidates are selected to join the two-year scholarship with no obligation for graduates to work for Godolphin. In 12 years, about half of the alumni have become owners or managers in the industry.

Impressive numbers Since its inception in 1992, Godolphin has fielded more than 4,660 horses in over 26,000 runs. In 26 years, Godolphin horses have won a total of 5,190 races, including 288 group one races. The figure represents a strike rate of 20 percent for Godolphin.

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MASAR CONTINUES TO MEND, BOUND FOR DUBAI TDN

FEATURE

2018 G1 Investec Derby hero Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who was sidelined with an injury in July, is on the mend and will winter in Dubai before a possible clash with two-time G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), according to Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby.

“Masar has not been seen since the Derby, but he is doing well in his recuperation,” said Appleby. “He will go to Dubai again and winter out there, but he won’t be running out there. We are looking forward to getting him back on track.”

Appleby was complementary of Juddmonte’s rising 5-year-old mare and added, “It is great for racing that Enable stays in training, as she has obviously had a light campaign this year with only having the three runs. From our point of view, for us, and for racing, to have the chance to take her on is exciting and hopefully their paths will cross.”

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PAGE 8

DOUBLE CELEBRATION FOR MULLEN, RAYHI AND JARA KHALEEJ TIMES

Ffrench's mount burned off those who chased him by the 200m pole but, meanwhile, Mullen had pulled Above Normal around the septet in front of him to challenge down the centre of the track.

As the distress signals went out on High On Life, who actually weakened into fifth over

Jebel Ali Racecourse staged its second

the closing stages, Mullen's mount swept

meeting of the new season on Friday

past in the final 100m to win going away and

afternoon, a seven-race card highlighted by a

record a second course and distance victory

1200m rated conditions contest won stylishly

this season, having won a handicap at the

by Above Normal, according to a press

first Jebel Ali meeting three weeks ago.

release.

He also won on this course, over 1400m, in With High On Life setting a blistering early

March and has proved a shrewd acquisition

pace under Royston Ffrench very few of the

for owner Nasir Askar.

nine runners were ever able to land a blow with Richard Mullen and Above Normal last

Horses owned by syndicates have made a

but one at halfway.

bright start to the new season and Touch NOMADIC

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Gold Racing were celebrating a second success of the campaign after a hard fought victory by Au Coeur in a 1400m handicap, initiating the double for Mullen and Seemar.

Restricted to 3-year-olds, a 1400m conditions contest looked a hot heat on paper but was turned into something of a procession by local debutant Draco who was always travelling strongly under Tadhg O'Shea.

In doing so he provided his trainer Nicholas Bachalard, with a first winner since being appointed by Draco's owner and racecourse patron, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to train at the adjoining Jebel Ali Stables.

The pair were never headed, galloping Early leader Alkhalifa cried enough at the

resolutely up the hill, chased throughout by

halfway point and Wasim, attempting to

Tadhg O'Shea aboard AF AL Arrafah who was

concede weight to his eight rivals, swept by

second with the pair both homebred by Al

under apprentice Saeed Al Mazrooei.

Nabooda.

However, O'Shea was sat motionless on Draco, a 3-year-old Astrology colt who had

Jara, who also won what was the very first

landed the most recent of his three starts in

race of the UAE season for Al Rayhi aboard

the US in September 2017 to lose his maiden

Hello three weeks earlier, said: "He already

tag. Once O'Shea asked for an effort the race

had two runs this season so was obviously

was over to the delight and perhaps relief, of

race fit and that perhaps told as he stayed on

his trainer.Â

very well after a very good run at Sharjah last week. Six days between races is not a long

When it comes to racing Purebred Arabians

time but he is tough and resilient. It was a

foaled in the UAE, Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda

gutsy effort from the horse and a great start

has few peers and provided first and second

to the afternoon."

in the opening 1400m maiden for those bred locally. Fernando Jara was soon out in front

The 1950m maiden was another race in

aboard the Ali Rashid Al Rayhi-trained AF

which few of the field were ever able to get

Meghwaar, having his third outing of the

involved and was won smoothly by Arch

season and after an excellent second over

Gold, confidently ridden by Pat Dobbs for

1200m at Sharjah last Saturday.

Doug Watson.

AF MAHER STAYS UNBEATEN AT SHARJAH IN SATURDAY FEATURE ERA Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club hosted

unbeaten Sharjah record after three visits

the second of their six meetings scheduled

and was snagging a second valuable

for the season on Saturday, a six-race card

course Prestige prize having fortuitously

highlighted by the second edition of the

won the HH Ruler Of Sharjah Cup in

HE Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan

February. It was a third winner on the card

Cup, a 1700m Prestige Handicap

for trainer Ernst Oertel and owner Khalid

AED100,000.

Khalifa Al Nabooda.

When Tadhg O’Shea sent AF Maher clear

“I am glad to have won this one again at

on the home turn, the feature race looked

least,” said O’Shea, who had landed the

all over, but his mount appeared to have

inaugural edition of the contest last year

other ideas; waiting for company entering

aboard Mawahib. I cannot get it right every

the straight. Da’Areen and Royston Ffrench

time, especially with this team who have

looked to take advantage, leading briefly,

multiple strong chances in many races. At

before O’Shea was able to motivate his

least I have won the big race and

mount again, seeing off that challenge.

completed a treble for a very supportive

Clear again, AF Maher was either tiring or

owner and trainer.”

again seeking something to race with in

The opening 1200m maiden, restricted to

the final 100m, allowing Mahfouz to close

3-year-olds, was won fairly comfortably by

to within half a length at the wire.

AF Hajeej. Never far off the pace with

In doing so, AF Maher maintained his

Antonio Fresu riding for trainer Oertel and

PAGE 11 owner-breeder Al Nabooda, the sophomore

who pounced on the home turn with

drove clear and the race was soon in safe

Richard Mullen in the colours of Yas Horse

keeping with JAP Malawih closing to take

Racing Management.

second.

The 1200m handicap was a thriller with

Al Nabooda said: “Ernst trains most of my

Sam Hitchcott producing 6-year-old mare

horses and is very good with these

ES Almas to lead in the final strides,

Purebred Arabians foaled in the UAE,

denying the gallant AF Almajhaz. The

which the vast majority of my string are.

winner doubled his career tally, both over

The trainer was fairly hopeful although,

this course and distance and is trained by

perhaps, we thought AF Mot Hefa had a

Ibrahim Aseel for Sheikh Abdulla bin Majid

better chance which is why Tadhg O’Shea

Al Qassemi, who also bred her.

rode her. At least we had the winner and

“Never worried,” Hitchcott quipped. “I

Antonio Fresu, who was on several winners

actually won a maiden on her here in

for us last season, has given him a great

March last year and we landed that in

ride.” An hour later, the same connections

virtually identical fashion, leading near the

were celebrating a double after the easy

line. She has a willing attitude, which is

victory of AF Tareh Al Thahab. Quickly away

always a big help and, having been off

under Fresu, he never headed in the

since January, that was a good return to

1000m maiden, shedding her maiden tag

racecourse action for her.”

at the fifth attempt after four outings last

Sent straight to the front by Fernando Jara,

season. Another Al Nabooda homebred,

Skygazer never relinquished in the only

the 4-year-old filly displayed good early

Thoroughbred race, a 2000m handicap

speed then quickened clear more than

continuing the good early starts to the

400m from home, after which Fresu never

season of the jockey and his main

had a moment of worry.

employer, trainer Ali Rashid Al Rayhi. A 6-

Fresu said: “You always know riding for

year-old, he has now won five times for Al

these connections that you have a good

Rayhi, four in the UAE and once on the turf

chance and I am very grateful for these

in China. He was having his third start of

opportunities.”

the season in a race in which he was fourth

Oertel added: “Antonio is a very good

12 months ago behind Ballad Singer, who

jockey, but Tadhg O’Shea is our main one.

was third on this occasion. Prior to that, his

Here he picked the third, AF Lewaa, who

only previous Sharjah performance was a

has also run well. It is obviously nice to

course and distance handicap victory at

have a double on the board after just three

the end of November 2016. “He obviously

races.” Al Nabooda and Oertel were only

likes it here at Sharjah,” Al Rayhi said. “That

involved in four of the six races and for the

was a very good ride from Fernando and

majority of the concluding 1700m

the horse has really battled for him. He has

handicap, it appeared a clean sweep was

now won twice here, once at Al Ain, once

on the cards with O’Shea out in front

at Jebel Ali, as well as his turf victory in

aboard AF Eshaar. However, they proved

China, and has been a good servant to the

powerless to deny Jean de Roualle-trained

yard.”

Musanad,

Encrypted being targeted at All-Weather Sprint Championship Final S P O R T I N G L I F E

"He's tremendous. When you're a front-runner it's nice just to be able to do our own thing up front," said the Newmarket trainer. "The threeyear-old (Corinthia Knight) took him on heavily all the way, and we were drawn badly.

He's always been ridden one way - I dare say it

With Easter being late in 2019, Palmer can

was the same for the other horse. He was only

afford to let the three-year-old have time off

beaten a length and a half and ran very well,

after he booked his ticket by winning a fast-

although maybe not up to his best."

track qualifier, the Listed Golden Rose Stakes,

Palmer believes improvement is possible,

at the Surrey venue on Saturday.

however - at the right venue.

Asked about the sprint showpiece next spring,

"I know he's won at Lingfield, but I think he's

Palmer said: "That absolutely is his target. He

better on a straight track. You're more likely to

will probably have one run before, towards the

get a breather into him," he said. "His next

end of March. The nice thing about that is it's

race will be on a straight track. There is a five-

over four months away, so he can have a

furlong conditions race at Newcastle in

winter break. He started off in May at

January. That does mean coming back in trip,

Newmarket, and he's been quite busy all year,

but it is a possibility. He hasn't won a stakes

so he can have a break now and have a prep

race this year, which is amazing for a horse

run for the all-weather finals.

that has won nearly ÂŁ200,000 in prize-money

"I've been really pleased with him this year. We

this year. He might be quite well-treated at

hoped he would improve all year as a three-

the weights at Newcastle.

year-old, and he did exactly that. He's won

"(But) his principal target is to go to Dubai.

ÂŁ100,000 this year - it's been fantastic."

There's a new Group Three over six furlongs at

Palmer is looking at Dubai in March for Gifted

Meydan on Super Saturday. It was a conditions

Master, who was a close fifth behind his

race when Jungle Cat won it. It's probably the

stablemate at Lingfield after being taken on

right thing for him. He can have a short break

for the lead.

now, too."

PAGE 14

Tally adds to Godolphin’s Australian Stakes success SPORT 360

” said Godolphin racing and bloodstock manager Jason Walsh. “It’s great to see him win another feature Stakes race.” Tally also became the 17th individual winner of 19 Stakes races for Godolphin in a spring season that began in September and was highlighted

by Cross Counter’s scintillating victory in the

Tally capped off a remarkable season for

G1 Melbourne Cup. The Cup was one of six G1

Godolphin with a superb win in 1800m Eclipse

races won in Australia by the Dubai-based

Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

operation over the same period with the

The talented son of Street Cry turned around a

Cummings stable collecting two wins

lapse in his form to clinch victory in

(Hartnell and Best Of Days), Saeed bin Suroor

Melbourne with a typically courageous

recording two victories (Benbatl and Best

performance. The win was Tally’s eighth in a

Solution) and Charlie Appleby clinching wins

career that includes G1 placings in the ATC

with Cross Counter and Jungle Cat.

Derby at Randwick and the Turnbull Stakes at

Jockey Craig Williams said: “It seemed to make

Flemington. He also won the G2 Alister Clark

the difference for him, along with this lovely

Stakes at Moonee Valley as a three-year-old in

big track, he really enjoyed himself.

the autumn of 2016. “These horses that have

“He’s got nothing more to prove to us.

had a number of seasons with us, the team

“He’s a million-dollar Stakes earner, a fantastic

develops a great affinity with them,

horse and one we’re very proud of.”