It has been a bright start to the British turf season for UAE-owned horses but clouds on the horizon mean that some of the early momentum will be lost this weekend.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid had four winners at the Craven meeting at Newmarket this week headed by Mahsoob in the Group 3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes and Ibn Malik in the Listed European Free Handicap.
Thikriyaat won a Conditions race on Tuesday and Jadaayil looks a maiden winner to keep an eye on after her win on Thursday.
With Godolphin chipping in on Thursday with the impressive Linguistic, who now heads next month for the Dante Stakes, an English Derby trial at York, optimism is high.
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Heavy rain, however, forced the abandonment of Newbury’s meeting on Friday and further rain throughout the day has also cancelled the second day of the Dubai Duty Free-backed meeting.
Sheikh Rashid Dalmook’s Besharah was entered in the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes on Saturday ahead of what could be a lucrative season for the three-year-old filly.
Last season’s dual Group 2 winner signed off her juvenile campaign with an impressive third to Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed’s Lumiere in the 1,200-metre Chevely Park Stakes.
She is entered in the English 1,000 Guineas in two weeks but trainer William Haggas is hopeful of getting a run in to her, even if the rains force the abandonment of the card at Newbury on Saturday, to better gauge her best distance.
“We’ve planned all winter to run her at Newbury,” the Newmarket trainer said. “She’s in great shape and is ready to go. I think there is more rain forecast. I think she wants cut in the ground, but whether she will get the trip in that ground I don’t know. She hasn’t grown much and she is a feisty filly.
“I’m not convinced she is going to stay, but hopefully we will find out. If she doesn’t stay, the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot might be an option.”
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