30.03.2020

ARABIAN TRIPLE CROWN ROUND 2 - THE BEST IS YET TO COME FROM BASMAH

ABU DHABI (UAE), MARCH 1^st, 2020

Gr3 PA - 4-year-olds - 2,200m (1m & 3f) - AED 300,000

Having never previously finished further back than third in four prior outings, Basmah (Bibi de Carrère) was a ‘maiden’ coming into the race. However, she relinquished that status here. As the Éric Lemartinel runner made all in the Arabian Triple Crown Round 2 (Gr3 PA) in the hands of Fabrice Veron on March 1^st. The filly carries the colours of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Soon at the head of affairs, Basmah was tracked by Wild Son (Munjiz) and Alazoum (Nieshan), on the rails, whereas RB Kinsman (Majd Al Arab), a US-bred trained in the neighbouring Sultanate of Oman, pursued a wider course. The latter made his effort and took the fight to the pacesetting Basmah after thrusting his way into the thick of it. However, the latter refused to give way after finding a second wind. The winning margin was half a length. Omania (Lahoob) was left to collect minor honours after edging out Rokbello du Cayrou (Af Albahar) out of third.

One to follow next season. Fabrice Veron told the local press: "She’s a filly that has stamina. In the mornings, she invariably works at her own tempo. There wasn’t much pace in the race and that’s why I took the filly to the front. This enabled me to control the race. I had to ask the filly for a little bit extra in terms of effort. The filly can be both a little laid back and a tad green, and she found the required extra. She has yet to come to herself and will be even better next season. The filly has a warrior’s mentality and she pulled out all the stops when coming under pressure. When on good terms with herself, she has a decent finishing kick."

Emulating her dam six years later. Basmah is out of the 2014 winner of this very same race Nymphea du Paon (Mahabb). The latter proved to be a prolific performer on the track, and the mare landed the Prix Nevada II (Gr2 PA) in France for trainer Élisabeth Bernard. Subsequently exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the mare made an immediate impact after scoring a brace of Gr3 PA wins, en route to finishing second in the Emirates Championship (Gr1 PA). Nymphea du Paon is a half-sister to Darius du Paon (No Risk Al Maury). Both were bred in France by Sergio Raffaello, and the latter won four races, including the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup (Gr3 PA). The great grandam Giulia du Paon (Veinard Al Maury) produced Nemrod du Paon (Tidjani), a winner on the Moroccan and Tunisian circuits, plus Magik du Paon (Mahabb), the Abu Dhabi Championship (L PA) victor, and the very smart endurance performer Padichah du Paon (Al Sakbe).

ABU DHABI (UAE), 1^st MARCH 2020

ARABIAN TRIPLE CROWN ROUND 2

Gr3 PA - 4-year-olds - 2,200m - AED 300,000

1^st   BASMAH (54) (F4)

(Bibi de Carrère & Nymphea du Paon, by Mahabb)

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

Breeder: Scea Al Asayl Racing

Trainer: E. Lemartinel

Jockey: F. Véron

2^nd          RB KINSMAN (56) (C4)

(Majd Al Arab & Rich Kinkga, by TH Richie)

Owner: H.H. Al Sayyid Saud H. Thuwaini Shihab Al Said

Breeder: D. Waldron

Trainer: A. Al Balushi

Jockey: M. de Souza

3^rd          OMANIA (54) (F4)          

(Lahoob & Even Keener, by Bengali d'Albret)

Owner: H.E. Al Sh Nasser M. N. Al Hashar

Breeder: H.E. Al Sh Nasser M. N. Al Hashar

Trainer: I. Al Hadhrami

Jockey: S. Mazur

All ran (10).

(Turf). 2'29"92. Distances: 1/2 - 2 1/2 - SHEAD.