27.03.2023

Al Ain Mile: the "French-Bred" Nadelshiba lords it at Al Ain!

AL AIN (AE), March 10^th, 2023

Gr3 PA - 5-year-olds & up - 1,600m (8f) - Dirt - AED 350,000

He’s really in his element when it comes to racing on dirt at Al Ain. As, in four outings at the Emirati track, the French-bred Nadelshiba (Majd Al Arab) has won three times. Furthermore, he has yet to finish out of the first three... in the colours of Elbashir Salem Elhrari. After beginning his career in Britain, the 6-year-old bay has immediately found his feet in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  Relative to the March 10^th meeting, he claimed his first Group PA win, having delivered from the front, and in the manner of a tough customer.

After bouncing out of the gates, Nadelshiba found himself in the thick of things at the front end of the race, when a group of six horses were racing virtually on the same line. With 600m to go, Nadelshiba edged his way into a slight lead, and he was still in front on hitting the straight – under the energetic promptings of rider Antonio Fresu. Although Héros de Lagarde (Af Albahar), on his outside, seemed to be travelling the stronger of this duo. The pair went head to head and dug deep, but the outcome was never in doubt as far as Nadelshiba was concerned. As, on reaching the wire, the Ahmed Al Shemaili charge had pulled over a length clear. Héros de Lagarde was second. Oss (Valiant Boy) finished with a flourish on the outside, and he snatched third at the main expense of Fleur du Soleil (Munjiz).

The nephew of Al Hibaab

Born and bred in France by Shadwell, Nadelshiba is son of the Haras du Grand Courgeon sire Majd Al Arab (Amer). He’s the second French-registered product of his dam, Qusoor (Djebbel). The latter won her sole career outing on the Wolverhampton all-weather for Shadwell, and is the mare’s first winner. The grandam Ietlato de Carrère (Tidjani) won the Al Maktoum Challenge Stakes at Frankfurt. In the breeding shed, she has yielded Nesnaas (Jehol de Cardonne), a dual runner-up of the Emirates Championship (Gr1 PA) at Abu Dhabi, and Al Hibaab (Al Sakbe). The latter won the Dubai International Stakes (Gr1 PA) at Newbury for the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, having mastered Djet Taouy (Dahess). This maternal line is that of the outstanding Akim de Ducor (Akbar), as Nadelshiba's great grandam is none other than Guetlato (Grabiec). The latter has also produced Hamana (Goumri): the foundation mare of the Élevage Mels’ breeding operation.

AL AIN MILE

Gr3 PA - 3-year-olds and up - 1,600m - AED 350,000

1er         NADELSHIBA (H6)

(Majd Al Arab & Qusoor, by Djebbel)

Owner: E. Elhrari

Breeder: S.N.C. Shadwell

Trainer: A. Al Shemaili

Jockey: A. Fresu

2e           HÉROS DE LAGARDE (H6)

(Af Albahar & Moubaraka, by Djouras Tu)

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

Breeder: J. Delpech

Trainer: I. Al Hadhrami 

Jockey: R. Mullen

3e           OSS (H6)

(Valiant Boy & RB Burn Baby Burn, byTH Richie)

Owner: Al Ajban Stables

Breeder: G. Neivens

Trainer: A. Al Hammadi

Jockey: F. Jara

All ran (10)

1’49"83. Distances: 1 3/4 - 1/2 - 1 1/2.