05.03.2020

AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE ROUND 3 - Bandar makes light of his draw by landing his first Gr1 PA win

MEYDAN (UAE), FEBRUARY 27^th, 2020

Gr1 PA - 5-year-olds and up - 2,000m (10f) - $200,000

Having been drawn widest of all, Bandar (Munjiz) still proved capable of a fast start which enabled him to annex the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (Gr1 PA) at the main expense of RB Texas Hold Em (TM Fred Texas). It also enabled Bandar to open his account in the United Arab Emirates, and he also gained a first Gr1 PA win in the process. He is trained by Majed Al Jahoori for the Al Wathba Racing stable, which is the nom de course of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Refusing to shirk the issue. The quickest away, Bandar seized the initiative and was tracked by Af Al Sajanjle (Af Al Buraq) on the rails, whereas Cheikh Roque (Dahess) and Harrab (Bibi de Carrère) both raced on the outside of the latter. The US’s RB Texas Hold Em kept his powder dry just behind the leaders – in tandem with the Éric Lemartinel mare Mawahib (Abu Alemarat). In the straight, Bandar quickened the tempo and repelled the repeated attacks of RB Texas Hold Em until the bitter end. Mawahib just held on to third at the main expense of Af Al Sajanjle, with Fettah du Loup (Kerbella) having to settle for fifth.

To see the race replay please click: 

https://youtu.be/2_iWIXSKjuU

Gearing up for a potential assault on the Kahayla Classic. Fernando Jara, the winning jockey, told Dubai Racing TV after the race: "The 13 draw was certainly a source of concern and we just had to work around it. However, regardless, he needs to be on the lead so as steer clear of traffic problems. He put in a fantastic effort today. I had a good feeling on the final bend. I knew that the horse would pick up for me and that he had the ability to see it out to the bitter end, and that’s what he did. I was always confident during the race. We need to discuss it with the trainer and the rest of the team, but I hope that he will be aimed at the Dubai Kahayla Classic (Gr1 PA). »

Made in France. A former inmate of the Frédéric Sanchez stable, Bandar was a dual winner on the French circuit. Also successful in the Grand Prix de Sa Majesté le Roi Mohammed VI (Gr3 PA), Bandar had been seeking his place in the sun on the United Arab Emirates circuit.

Coming off a second in Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr1 PA), his win was a deserved success – despite the enforced absence of his stablemate in the same ownership, Shahm (Mahabb), as the latter was pronounced a non-runner after refusing to enter the stalls.

A full brother to four Group winners. Bandar was bred in France by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nayhan. The dam Dahwa (Tidjani) won the Prix de l'Élevage (Gr2 PA). She has produced Najah (Munjiz), one of the top 4-year-old fillies of her generation, and successful in the Prix Nefta (Gr2 PA) when accounting for older members of the fairer sex on her seasonal debut. Dahwa’s production line also includes Thabit (Munjiz), the winner of the Coupe du Sud-Ouest des Pur-Sang Arabes (Gr3 PA), but, above all, Hayyan (Munjiz), with the latter completing the English and French PA Derby (Grs1 PA) double. The grandam Amidou Douzaia (Chéri Bibi) has produced around 15 black type performers over two generations. They comprise Haboob (Akbar), second in the Qatar French Arabian Breeders' Cup pour femelles de 3ans (Gr1 PA); Shahm (Mahabb), the winner of the President of the UAE Cup - Coupe d'Europe des Chevaux 

AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE R3

Gr1 PA - 5-year-olds and up - 2,000m - $100,000

1^st        BANDAR (57) H7

(Munjiz & Dahwa, by Tidjani)

Owner: Al Wathba Racing

Breeder: H.H. Sheikh M. Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Trainer: M. Al Jahoori

Jockey: F. Jara

2^nd       RB TEXAS HOLD EM (57) H5

(TM Fred Texas & RB Sand Storm, by Burning Sand)

Owner: Byerley Racing

Breeder: Mrs D. Waldron

Trainer: D. Watson

Jockey: P. Dobbs

3^rd       MAWAHIB (55) F7

(Abu Alemarat & Fraynce, by Dormane)

Owner & Breeder: H.H. Sheikh K. Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Trainer: E. Lemartinel

Jockey: F. Veron

Other runner(s) in finishing order: Af Al Sajanjle, Fettah du Loup, Cheik Roque, Harrab, Dupleix, Bf Mughader, Goshawke, Af Mahshoum & Nashmee.

Non-runner(s) Shahm.

(Turf) Good to soft. 2'16"34. Distances : 3/4 - 2 - SHEAD.