Gulf Review 2019- 2020

Gulf Review 2019-20

Because of the onset of Covid19, racing in the Gulf states concluded earlier than usual, dashing all hopes of an extended season in the UAE.

Nonetheless many of the major championships were secured by some familiar faces in the UAE and Qatar where there is no distinction between races run for thoroughbreds and Arabians.

UAE

In the UAE racing came to a halt on March 22, leaving the celebrations for a 25 th Dubai World Cup postponed and six further meetings cancelled in what had been planned as an extended season. The final fixture was an all thoroughbred card at Jebel Ali on March 20, held nearly a week after the Emirates Championship (Gr1PA) and Round 3 of the Arabian Triple Crown (Gr3PA) had been run at Abu Dhabi.

In another successful season for Khalid Khalifa Al Nabooda, he recorded his third own ers’ c hampionship with 33 winners, five ahead of the Godolphin team and seven ahead of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

To add perspective, he had won the title last season with 53 winners, so the loss of the new fixtures, will have impacted on the overall results. Not least the eagerly anticipated return to the track of his 2019 Dubai Kahayla Classic winner AF Maher, who was expected to defend his title on his seasonal debut and was due to go head to head with another former winner in Tallaab A l Khalediah.

Having chosen to defer celebrations, Al Naboodah spoke with the UAE’s The National: “Firstly, I want to say, our thoughts and prayers are with the people around the world at this difficult time. Our government is doing everything within their control to prevent the spread of the Covid-19. We hope this situation will soon end and life returns to normal as quickly as possible.

“Racing can resume next season, but for the time being we want people to be safe,” he said.

“For me, on the racing f ront, it was another good season. To win the owner’s title for the third time in four years just goes to prove we can breed quality horses (Purebred Arabians) under challenging weather conditions.

“Obviously, the results and work that has gone into breeding horses gives me a lot of pleasure and happiness. It’s even better when you are the champion owner with horses bred and raised on your own farms.”

His principal winner was the five-yearold son of AF Al Buraq, AF Alwaj el, w ho gained revenge on RB Money To Burn in the 1400m Liwa Oasis (Gr2PA) at Abu Dhabi, having finished fifth to that one over a mile in Round 1 of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr1PA) at Meydan in January. AF Alwajel is out of Samira De Carrere (by Djouras Tu), herself a Listed PA winner over a mile on Abu Dhabi’s turf.

AF Alwajel (AE) and Tadhg O'Shea win the Liwa Oasis (Gr2PA) (Photo: ERA)

AF Al Buraq (FR) five time leading UAE sire, now at the Haras de Saint Faust

Al Nabooda’s own breeding programme supplies 95% of his winners, making his achievements all the more remarkable. Keeping around 30 stallions in the UAE to avoid problems with importation of semen, his flag bearer AF Al Buraq, who has been UAE leading sire for five seasons has now relocated to the Haras de Saint Faust under the Shadwell Arabians banner, leaving al Nabooda to focus on his other stallions.

Also a significant achievement for Al Nabooda’s Al Aweer Farm was their inaugural p rivate auction in February, when of the 30 horses offered, 25 were sold. He has plans for a second auction in August, so buyers will have enough time to prepare the horses for the forthcoming 20-21 season. “We had an average of Dh30,000 per horse in the first auction,” he told The National. “My objective is to encourage and bring in more people involved in horse racing. The more the merrier.”

Sateesh Seemar secured his sixth trainers title. Primarily a thoroughbred trainer, he has three Arabians, of which SS Jalmod was the most successful, winning at Abu Dhabi and placing four times from nine starts. Doug Watson, another multiple UAE champion was second with 36 winners, he also has a handful of Arabians to compliment his powerful thoroughbred string; however last years’ champion, Ernst Oertel was in third place, with 29 winners, all of which were Arabians from Al Nabooda’s powerful string.

Tadhg O'Shea

It was business as usual for Tadhg O’Shea who collected a recordbreaking eighth jockey’s championship, surpassing Ted Durcan’s previous seven, which O’Shea had equalled last season. O’Shea had been anticipating his best ever book of rides on World Cup night, including in the opening race on AF Maher and a first ever crack at the Dubai World Cup on War Story.

Now back in his native Ireland with his family he says: “Obviously to miss the World Cup was disappointing, but everyone’s h ealth and well-being comes first. Hopefully we’ll come back stronger next season and we are already looking forward to returning to the UAE.”

O’Shea rode 42 winners, the majority in the Al Nabooda colours, though two wins came on Rmmas for Sheikha Fatima bint Mansour Al Nahyan, who also ended the season as leading domestic Purebred Arabian.

Rmmas is trained by Jean de Roualle, the seven-year-old son of Mahabb had an excellent though brief, season on the turf at Abu Dhabi, which his trainer feels suits him better than Dirt. Reappearing in the prep race over the same 2200m, a month before The Presidents Cup (Gr1PA), he readily accounted for Al Zahir who was seeking a hat-trick in the race. Returning to Abu Dhabi in March, he then lost out by a neck in the Emirates Championship (Gr1PA) to Somoud.

Bandar (FR) wins Round 3 of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr1PA) at Meydan

2019-2020 UAE Group PA results

November 21 2020

Bani Yas Stakes presented by Longines Hydroconquest (Gr2PA)

1400m Meydan, Dubai

1. ES AJEEB (AE) 2. Aatebat Al Khalediah (SA) 3. Mawahib (FR) Dist: 0.75, 9 Time: 1.33.88

November 24

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (Gr1PA)

1600m Abu Dhabi, UAE

1. MASHHUR AL KHALEDIAH (FR) 2. Bel’Izam (FR) 3. Chaddad (GB) Dist: 0.5, Nk Time: 1.44.69 Turf: Good

December 19

Madjani Stakes sponsored by Masdar (Gr3PA)

1900m Meydan, Dubai

1 . AATEBAT AL KHALEDIAH(SA) 2. Ziyadd (FR) 3. Mawahib (FR) Dist: 6, 5.5 Time: 2.07.66

January 9 th 2020 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 presented by Longines La Grande Classique (Gr1PA)

1600m Meydan, Dubai

1. RB MONEY TO BURN (US) 2. Cheikh Roque (FR) 3. AF Al Sajanjle (AE) Dist: 4.25, Hd Time: 1.46.92

January 26 Al Ruwais Stakes (Gr3PA)

1200m Abu Dhabi, UAE

1. RB LAM TARA (US) 2. AF Alwajel (AE) 3. Rawaa (FR) Dist: 2.5, 0.75 Time: 1.16.92

January 30 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 sponsored by JAFZA ( Gr1PA)

1900m Meydan, Dubai

1. ZIYADD (FR) 2. Bandar (FR) 3. Amwaj (FR) Dist: 1.75, 0.5 Time: 2.08.67

February 9 HH The President Cup (Gr1PA)

2200m ADEC, Abu Dhabi

1. RMMAS (FR) 2. Al Zahir (FR) 3. Goshawke (US) Dist: 0.75, 0.75 Time: 2.28.21

February 13 Mazrat Al Ruwayah sponsored by Wheels (Gr2PA)

1600m Meydan, Dubai 1. RASI (GB) 2. RB Lam Tara (US) 3. Wadeeaa (FR) Dist: 2.75, Nk Time: 1.46.80

February 27 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 sponsored by JAFZA (Gr1PA)

2000m Meydan, Dubai

1. BANDAR (FR) 2. RB Texas Hold EM (US) 3. Mawahib (FR) Dist: 0.75, 2 Time: 2.16.84 NR:1 Shahm

March 1

Arabian T riple Crown R2 (Gr3PA)

2200m ADEC, Abu Dhabi 1. BASMAH (FR) 2. RB Kinsman (US) 3. Omania (GB)

Dist: 0.5, 2.5 Time: 2.29.02

Liwa Oasis (Gr2PA)

1600m ADEC, Abu Dhabi

1. AF ALWAJEL (AE) 2. RB Money To Burn (US) 3. Hakeemat Muscat (OM) Dist: 1.75, 1.25 Time: 1.29.75

March 5

Al Ain Mile (Gr3PA)

1600m Al Ain, UAE

1. SOMOUD (FR) 2. Shadd’Ad (FR) 3. MH Rahal (AE)

Dist: 1.25, 0.5 Time: 1.49.27

March 14

Emirates Championship (Gr1PA)

2200m ADEC, Abu Dhabi

1. SOMOUD (FR) 2. Rmmas (FR) 3. BF Mughader ( OM) Dist: nk. 1.75 Time: 2.26.35

Arabian Triple Crown (Gr3PA)

2400m ADEC, Abu Dhabi 1. BASMAH (FR) 2. Dagui Lotois (FR) 3. Omania (GB) Dist: 3, NS Time: 2.41.28

Somoud (FR) wins the Emirates Championship (Gr1PA)

Rmmas (FR) and Tadhg O'Shea win the HH The President's Cup (Gr1PA)

(Photo: ERA)

He comments: “Rmmas is such an easy horse to train, we were thinking of running him in the Qatar Arabian World Cup on Arc day, but with Covid-19, all are plans are now on hold.”

Rmmas started his career in France winning the Prix Dunixi when with Didier Guillemin and has now won five times in the UAE for de Roualle. Bred by Sheikh Mansour Al Nayhan, he is out of Shamayl and is therefore a fullbrother to the Group 1PA winning fillies Rakha, Mabrooka and Joudh.

Thanks to the Jewel Crown’ s g enerous prize money, Athbah Stud’s Mashhur Al Kahediah was the leading horse, however he had been prepared in France and Saudi Arabia during the winter for his UK trainer Phil Collington.

Mashhur Al Khalediah (FR) and JeanBernard Eyquem winning the 2019 Jewel Crown (Gr1PA) for Athbah Stud and Phil Collington (Photo: ERA)

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani

QATAR

In contrast to the UAE, who lost their most important World Cup fixture in the a glorious seasonal highlight, The HH The Amir Sword Festival, crowned by the record-breaking achievements of Ebraz. Consequently, it was no surprise to see racing in Doha suspended due to Covid19 a week earlier than the UAE, with their last race meeting taking place on March 12.

The results underline the quality of Al Shahania Stud’s produce, with Shei kh M ohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani securing the owner championship with just 15 winners from 94 runs. Having been runner-up for the previous four

final days of preparation, Qatar had had seasons, it was his first win since 2014/15.

Less than QR 500,000 behind in second place was Umm Qarn with 34 winners from 143 runs, with Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari, who has been the foremost owner in recent years, in third with 35 winners from 273 runs. Perhaps it was fitting, in what was to be the last PA race of the 2019-20 season, that it should b e won by Sheikh Mohammed’s Rajeh, a dual Gr1PA winner in France and to date, the most successful produce of Al Shahania’s multiple top level winner, Jaafer ASF.

Heading the trainers list was Alban De Mieulle with 48 winners from 232 runs, with less than QR30,000 separating him from Gassim Ghazali in second with 70 wins from an incredible 515 starters. This was a first trainers’ championship for de Mieulle since 2012/13, ending Ghazali’s stranglehold on the last six seasons.

For the race to be leading jockey, last years’ runner-up Ronan Thomas claimed his first title in only his second Qatari season. Deposing Harry Bentley, who had dominated t he championships since his first title win back in 2013/14. Riding for de Mieulle, Umm Qarn and Al Shaqab, Thomas’s principal successes included back to back wins in the Late Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy – Qatar National Day Trophy (Gr2PA) with Yazeed.

Alban de Mieulle

Yazeed (FR) and Ronan Thomas (photo: QREC)

Ebraz (GB) and Maxime Guyon make history (photo: QREC)

The leading horse was of course HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Ebraz. Despite only three starts this season, his achievements have secured him a place in Arabian racing history.

Following his victory in the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1PA) at ParisLongchamp, he did not reappear in Qatar until January, when runner-up to the filly Al Naama, in the HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani Cup (Gr2PA). Though winning over a mile at Goodwood, his trainer Julian Smart, felt t hat distance at the Al Rayyan track is sharper, but there was no doubting his fitness on Pearl Day two weeks later. Lining up in the same conditions race that he won in 2019, Ebraz scored an easy victory, setting him on track for an historic third HH The Amir Sword, and Doha Triple Crown title. Smart reflected on Ebraz’s achievement commenting: “We set out with the Triple Crown as a target when we started running him at Goodwood three years ago. He was second twice and as I’ve always s aid, the more these Arabian horses mature, the better they become. When they are as good as he was at four, it was always something in the back of my mind that we should do, because he is a versatile horse. You’ve got to have a special horse that can do the mile in the UK, the mile and a quarter in France and come here for the mile and a half.

“It was an amazing achievement, it’s just fantastic for Sheikh Mohammed and Al Shahania Stud and everyone involved to be the first to do it. It was something p eople, even myself, were not sure could ever be accomplished and we have, it’s just amazing really.”

Jabalah (FR)

2019-2020 Qatar Group PA results December 15

The Late Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy – Qatar National Day Trophy (Gr2PA)

2000m Doha, Qatar

HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani Cup (Gr2PA)

1600m Doha, Qatar

1. AL NAAMA (FR) 2. Ebraz (GB) 3. Tayf (FR) Dist: 1.5, 0.25 Time: 1.44.26

1. YAZEED (FR) 2. Akmar (FR) 3. Tayf (FR) Dist: 1.25, Nk Time: 2.16.02

December 21

Qatar Derby 3yo (Gr1PA)

1600m Doha, Qatar

1. JABALAH (FR) 2. Lady Princess (FR) 3. Battash De Faust (FR) Dist: Nk, 1.5 Time: 1.45.98

Qatar Derby 4yo (Gr2PA)

2000m Doha, Qatar

1. SHALAA (FR) 2. Bin General (FR) 3. Marid (FR) Dist: 1.5, 0.25 Time: 2.14.48

January 9 th 2020 Majd Al Arab PA Sprinter Championship (Gr3PA)

1100m Doha, Qatar

February 1 HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3PA)

2200m Doha, Qatar

1. TAYF (FR) 2. Bin General (FR) 3. Gtnah (FR) Dist: 2.5, 0.75 Time: 2.30.50

February 22 Qatar International C up (Gr1PA)

1600m Doha, Qatar

1. METHGAL (FR) 2. Shalaa (FR) 3. Marid (FR) Dist: Time: 1.40.93

HH The Amir Sword (Gr1PA)

2400m Doha, Qatar

1. EBRAZ (GB) 2. Tayf (FR) 3. Yazeed (FR) Dist: Time: 2.31.22

1. RB KINDLE (US) 2. Daloob (FR) 3. Caid De L’Ardus (FR) Dist: 2.75, SHD Time: 1.10.82

Mubasher Al Khalediah (KSA)

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia made the headlines in the racing world with the additional of the Saudi Cup to the global racing calendar. Though the inagural fixture is too young to secure pattern races, they did hold their first Group 1 PA contest in January - the long standing Prince Sultan World Cup, which has been won three times by their domestic world champion, Tallaab Al Kahlediah.

This year he was saved for his successful assault on the Saudi Cup's Arabian race, the Obaiya Cup and t he spoils went to Mubasher Al Khalediah, also for Al Kahlediah stables. He went on to finish fourth in the Obaiya, behind Tallaab Al Khalediah, Hajres and Mashhur Al Khalediah.

January 22

Prince Sultan World Cup (Gr1PA) 1800m Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

1. MUBASHER AL KHALEDIAH (KSA) 2. Mutawakel Al Khalediah (KSA) 3. Shabah (GB) Dist: 0.75, 1.25 Time: 2.01.12

Tallaab Al Kahlediah (KSA)