No Risk makes Hamdan proud

Newbury, England: No Risk Al Maury, who underlined his credentials as the best Purebred Arabian in Europe when winning the Group 1 Shadwell Dubai International Stakes at Newbury racecourse on Sunday, could well be bound for Dubai.

Speaking to Gulf News in the winner's enclosure, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, said that Dubai was on the six-year-old's agenda, provided he passed his next test.

"The best Purebred Arabia races are held in the UAE and we want him to compete with the best," said Shaikh Hamdan. "But he will first have to pass his dirt test.

"He's won nine races on turf, but we have yet to find out just how well he will act on dirt.

"I will speak with his trainer (Gill Duffield) and we will then make plans.

"But yes, Dubai is where we would want to take him."

No Risk Al Maury, who was winning the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes for the second successive year, showed the qualities that have singled him out as the best middle distance runner in Europe.

After stumbling badly at the start and very nearly unseating his jockey Richard Hills, No Risk Al Maury needed to dig deep in the closing two hundred metres to peg back Qatar's top class Group 1 horse Jaafer ASF for a length and a quarter victory.

Shaikh Hamdan and his retained rider Richard Hills won four of the seven races held as part of the Dubai International Arabian Race day, which was celebrating it's 26th anniversary in Great Britain.

Shaikh Hamdan's other wins came courtesy Quaolina, Royal Class and Aljaareh.

Trained in France by Damian Watrigant, Quaolina was an impressive winner of the Group 1 Al Hai Group Zabeel International Stakes over a straight six furlongs.

Plenty of speed

The four-year-old showed plenty of late speed to upstage his more seasoned rivals and win by two lengths from Mutafani, trained by former UAE-based Julian Smart for the Royal Cavalry Oman.

Nowann, who defeated Quaolina in the Group 3 Prix Damas in France recently, having previously been soundly beaten in the Prix Du Gosse Du Beam, was two and three quarters of a length back in third.

Watrigant was full of praise for his game winner and said: "She a very nice filly who has always given me the feeling that she can win a race at the highest level. "I'm particularly pleased because she has beaten some very good horses."She has trained very well this season and is very fit. She deserved to win a Group 1 because she is a very genuine horse and she gives one hundred percent, both at home and on the course." Hills completed his hat-trick when riding the former Frenc-trained Royal Class to win the Jumeirah Group International Stakes (Group 2).

The NBD Hatta International Stakes (Group 1) for fillies and mares was won by Qatari raider Magadir who was given a fine ride by English Derby winning jockey Alan Munro.

Results

Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Group 1)

Purebred Arabans 4yrs old & upwards (1m 2f).

1. No Risk Al Maury (trained by Mrs G Duffield) ridden by Richard Hills

2. Jaafer ASF (Miss G Ward) A Munro

3. Hespeshal (G A Aberg) R Colldin 4. Prince Dormant (d Batteate) N Pollard.

Distances: 1 1/4length, 9, 4 1/2.

Time: 2min 15.76secs.