Nashmiah springs surprise in UAE 1,000 Guineas at Meydan

The UAE 1000 Guineas Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, a 1600 metre Listed race for three-year-old fillies was the highlight of Thursday evening’s card which also saw Dutchman Adrie de Vries ride a winning treble.

For the UAE 1,000 Guineas, the Nicholas Bachalard-trained Nashmiah arrived in Dubai unbeaten after three starts in the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia where she was bred, but was seemingly facing a far stiffer task, particularly from Godolphin’s odds-on favourite Really Special. However the latter was to ultimately finish a distant fifth having appeared to take a bump as the gates opened.

The Listed mile contest on dirt was run at a scorching gallop and as a result few of the 11 runners managed to get involved. Jockey Mickael Barzalona though had plenty of confidence in Nashmiah who was never far off the pace throughout and led just after halfway.

They did look in some trouble at the top of the straight but Barzalona revealed he gave his mount a breather before winning by a head from Nomorerichblondes in second and Rajah taking third.

Speaking afterwards he said: “She has won all three of her starts in Saudi Arabia and I rode her last time when she impressed me with her toughness. I was able to allow her to get a breather at an important stage and then she really fought hard.

“This was a big step up in class but she has done that very bravely. It is a great result for the whole team and for Saudi Arabian racing and breeding as she was bred in the Kingdom.”

Another upset looked possible in the Meydan Classic Trial, a turf race for three-year-olds, when debutant and outsider Nobelium hit the front a furlong out ahead of favourite Top Score.

However, the Rashed Bouresly-trained colt’s lack of experience caught him out close to home and Godolphin’s Top Score fought back to regain the lead in the dying strides.

Top Score, ridden by de Vries for Saeed Bin Suroor, looked all over the winner as the field turned into the straight and hit the front, seemingly cantering two furlongs out. Momentum then appeared to be with Nobelium when he loomed large under Bruno Reis a furlong out before another swing late on went decisively in Top Score’s favour.

De Vries said: “I thought we were beaten when the other horse went past but my mount fought back gamely.

“We had a bad draw last time on dirt and I wouldn’t blame the surface for that defeat.

“I think he went on the dirt but I’d guess he’ll stay on turf for the Meydan Classic now.”

It was a similar scenario in the following dirt handicap run over a mile and two furlongs in which Godolphin’s Alabaster, who went to the front effortlessly early in the straight, was headed a furlong out by Etijaah.

Also trained by Bin Suroor, but ridden by Oisin Murphy, Alabaster fought back valiantly to regain the initiative in the dying strides. Etijaah, the mount of Jim Crowley, was joined on the line by Emotionless, also owned by Godolphin but trained by Charlie Appleby, in a dead-heat for second.

The Fawzi Nass-trained Krypton Factor took the 1400 metre turf handicap, completing a double for jockey de Vries.

The nine-year-old was winning for just the third time since his Group 1 Golden Shaheen victory on the old Tapeta surface at Meydan in 2012. They were chased home by Ireland’s Jamesie, ahead of a British contingent of Sir Maximilian, Watchable, Naadirr and Line Of Reason.

The night was to get even better for de Vries who completed a treble, this time riding a winner for England, in the Range Rover turf handicap run over a 1400 metres distance.

Always prominent on the David O’Meara-trained Salateen, the pair hit the front more than 400 metres from home before eventually prevailing in what was virtually a four way photo finish.

The meeting opened with the only Purebred Arabian race on the card, the 1600 metre Group 2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah, in which AF Mathmoon was never headed under Jim Crowley.

Crowley, retained by the horse’s owner, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, never appeared to have a moment of worry and the pair eased clear throughout the straight to win by a comfortable five and a half lengths from AF Maqayes who was second throughout and well clear of the third, Burning Breeze.

The finale, the 1800 metre turf handicap, gave Godolphin a treble on the night, this time with Charlie Appleby saddling Folkswood, a two-length winner under Colm O’Donoghue, ahead of Elleval in second and Hors de Combat.

The next Dubai World Cup Carnival action at Meydan is this Saturday, 12 February.