30.03.2020

EMIRATES CHAMPIONSHIP - SOMOUD BOOKS A DATE IN THE KAHAYLA CLASSIC

ABU DHABI (UAE), MARCH 14^th, 2020

Gr1 PA - 5-year-olds-and up - 2,200m (11f) - AED 1,000,000

Two weeks earlier, Somoud (Munjiz) provided trainer Ahmed Al Mehairbi with his first Gr3 PA win after taking the Al Ain Mile. Fast-forwarding to March 14^th, he confirmed that form, and more, following his prestigious if narrow success in the Emirates Championship (Gr1 PA). Ridden by jockey Patrick Cosgrave, Somoud mastered Rmmas (Mahabb), the Jean de Roüalle runner, by a neck. The winner carries the colours of Yas Horse Racing, which we readily associate with His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Continuing on an upward curve.  Formerly with Antoine de Watrigant and Group PA placed in France, Somoud has made constant strides forward since his arrival in the UAE. Successful on the dirt at Al Ain and the Abu Dhabi turf, his consistency has been rewarded at the highest level. Drawn widest of all, Somoud waited at back of the field, in tandem with Rmmas, as Harrab (Bibi de Carrère) tugged the field along. Going to the final 600m, Somoud and Rmmas went on the offensive, and the latter took it up at the 200m pole. However, Somoud dug deep and found that little bit extra which enabled him to reel-in Rmmas and nail the win. Bf Mughader (Falak) held on to third despite weakening a little in the dying stages. Mawahib (Abu Alemarat) finished just outside the numbers in fourth on the rails, whereas Darius du Paon (No Risk Al Maury) was noted finishing well in the thick of it.

To see the race :

https://youtu.be/HMJOkiUD7XE

The Classic will be his third race in a month.  Winning trainer Ahmed Al Mehairbi told the local press: "He’s never stopped improving and will run in the Kahayla in two weeks time. He has progressed through the ranks in no time. He gave me the first Gr3 PA success when winning the Al Ain Mile two weeks ago, and now he’s given me a Gr1 PA prize. The Kahayla will be his third race in less than a month but he’s in such good form that I have no worries on that score. I’m sure he’s now going into the Dubai World Cup night on top of his game. He’s won five times and has finished either second or third in the remaining five races for me. I always believed he is a Gr1 horse and he’s proved that now in no small way." Cosgrave, riding the horse for the first time and the author of a double on the card, added:  "This is an improving horse who has been consistent all season. The connections told me to race quite handily, and hat he would fight for me when I asked him, which is actually what happened. That was a good, brave, effort in what appeared a strong renewal of a prestigious prize. Hopefully I get to ride the horse again!"

Out of a sister to the high class Lahib. Somoud is very much a dyed in the wool graduate of the Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan breeding academy. His sire Munjiz (Kesberoy) is a resident at the Wathba Stud Farm, and he’s the best offering of his dam Wadya (Akbar). The latter is the sister of the high class act Lahib (Kairouan de Jos), whose place in the annals of PA history was forged as a result of his success in the inaugural Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1 PA), and Aleefa (Kesberoy). The latter has generated Loraa (Mawood), successful in the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy des Juments, Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches and the H.H. The President Cup (Gr1s PA); in addition to producing Belqees (Mahabb) winner of the Shadwell - Critérium des Pouliches, Gr2 PA), Fazah (Mahabb), successful in Prix Nevada II (Gr2 PA), and Naziq (Mahabb), winner of Qatar Total Arabian Trophy des Juments (Gr1 PA).

EMIRATES CHAMPIONSHIP

Gr1 PA - 4-year-olds and up - 2,200m - AED 1,000,000

1^st          SOMOUD (57) (H6)

(Munjiz & Wadya, par Akbar)

Owner: Yas Racing

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

Trainer: A. Al Mehairbi

Jockey: P. Cosgrave

2^nd         RMMAS (57) (H7)

(Mahabb & Shamayl, par Kesberoy)

Pr.: H.H. Sheikha F. Bint Mansoor Al Nahyan

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

Trainer: J. de Roüalle

                Jockey: R. Mullen

3^rd         BF MUGHADER (57) (H7)

(Falak & Watan, by Musaed)

Owner: A. Al Hadhrami

Breeder: Hamood Bin Saif Al Raqadi

Trainer: I. Al Hadhrami

Jockey: S. AL Balushi

Non runner(s) (Nashmee).

(Turf). 2'26"35. Distances: NECK – 1 3/4 - 1 1/4.