Ahmad Al Shaikh | Horse Racing Free Tips

Al Shaikh Closing In On His Derby Dream

In racing, as in life, it's always good to have a dream, and for owner Ahmad Al Shaikh, it's a simple one.

“It has always been my dream to win the Derby,” says the Dubaian businessman.

To that end, he is not doing too badly, especially not for an owner with a relatively small string of horses. Al Shaikh has been represented in the last two Derbys, with the 2020 runner-up Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}), and last year by the G3 Chester Vase winner Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who finished eighth.

As we speak at Meydan a day ahead of Dubai's biggest race day, Al Shaikh's thoughts have already turned to the start of the Flat season in Britain where the majority of his horses are based. Among his team of 12 he has another Classic hope for the year in the British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden winner Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}).

“For me, I always like to have a mile or mile-and-a-quarter horse. But in my mind always is the Derby, and when you buy a mile-and-a-quarter horse, there is always the hope that he might be a Derby horse,” Al Shaikh says.

“Last year I also bought five 2-year-olds who should be able to race at a mile and a half. I am not the guy to support the sprinters.”

A feature of the success Al Shaikh has enjoyed in recent years is that it has been with horses well selected at reasonable prices. Khalifa Sat was bought by his trainer Andrew Balding for €40,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale, while Al Shaikh's agent Federico Barberini bought Youth Spirit for €48,000 at Arqana's August Yearling Sale. Hoo Ya Mal, a grandson of the G1 Juddmonte International S. winner One So Wonderful (GB) (Nashwan) was picked up at Tattersalls October Book 1 for 40,000gns from breeder Meon Valley Stud.

“I think he's a good horse,” says the owner of the 105-rated Hoo Ya Mal, whose juvenile form has a pretty solid look to it. His three runs to date saw him finish third to subsequent Group 1 winner El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) on debut at Sandown, before winning York's valuable Convivial Maiden and then being beaten just a nose in the Listed Flying Scotsman S. by Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), who went on to be runner-up in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

Al Shaikh continues, “I don't know if he's a Group 1 horse or not but I think he is the best horse I have. He will run in a trial, in the Craven Stakes, and hopefully from there he will go to the Guineas, and we will see thereafter.”

Al Shaikh has been directly involved in racing as an owner since 2006, when he was gifted a horse by Sheikh Mohammed. In that time, his colours have been carried by the top sprinter Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) during the Kevin Ryan trainee's juvenile season which saw him win the G2 Gimcrack S., and he also campaigned the G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up Hoyam (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}).

“My first horse was given to me by Sheikh Mohammed. She was a filly, she became a broodmare and I have continued with that,” says Al Shaikh, who now boards five mares at Charlie Wyatt's Dukes Stud just outside Newmarket. With two of those he will be supporting Khalifa Sat, who is now standing his first season in Ireland at Lacken Stud.

“Because that first horse was a gift and she was given to me at the sales in Newmarket, I decided to keep her there to be trained. I love going to the races in England. My business is in Dubai in real estate but I get to England every summer with my family, and if I have runners I fly over.”

He adds of the Covid-interrupted season of 2020, “I really missed not being able to go to England for the Derby when Khalifa Sat ran. I had been dreaming that he could finish in the top five. He surprised me, my family and my friends, and that time for me I felt like I had won the Derby. I was so pleased to come second.”

Al Shaikh, who recently announced the appointment of rising star of the weighing-room Marco Ghiani as his retained jockey, also has plans to expand his Green Team Racing banner to include friends and associates in a select syndicate.

With his British-based horses at various yards, including those of Andrew Balding, Kevin Ryan, and Owen Burrows, Al Shaikh also has a couple in his home nation with Doug Watson. And his stated commitment to the Derby is backed up by the fact that along with Hoo Ya Mal, whose name is derived from a type of Arabic sea shanty, he also has the Ryan-trained Green Team (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) remaining among this year's entries. For the 2023 Epsom Classic, his four nominated horses include a homebred colt by Sea The Moon (Ger) and a half-brother to Hoo Ya Mal, by Mukhadram (GB).

A clear enthusiast, both on the breeding and owning front, he says, “I study the sales and I read the catalogues with Federico. I tell him which horses I am interested in and he advises me on whether it's a good choice. I know the pedigrees but I cannot see the physical side, so Federico looks after all of that for me. He is very down to earth, and we are now friends more than anything. We have a saying in our language, 'if you have success with a team, don't change your team'.”

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Ghiani All Smiles As He Joins Green Team

If you are a regular viewer of British racing then the chances are you will have seen plenty of interviews last season with jockey Marco Ghiani. He's the one who is always smiling, with the kind of impish face, dimples and all, that could soften even the sternest of stewards. In 2021, he had much to smile about.

With 101 winners under his belt, more than four times as many as his previous seasonal best, Ghiani was crowned champion apprentice at Ascot, receiving his trophy from Lester Piggott on QIPCO British Champions Day, less than six years after enrolling at the British Racing School. Now, having only just turned 23, the Italian-born rider likely has an even broader grin on his face as he just been named as the retained jockey for Ahmad Al Shaikh's Green Team Racing. That team may not have the numerical strength of Godolphin but the Dubaian owner has certainly had plenty of bang for his buck from the dozen or so horses he has racing in his colours each year.

Notably, in the last two years, he has had a runner in the Derby: Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) was runner-up to Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the 'lockdown Derby' after winning the Listed Cocked Hat S., while Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) lined up last year following his victory in the G3 Chester Vase. Al Shaikh also has a potential Classic contender for this season in the Andrew Balding-trained Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}).

“It's very exciting to be riding for Green Team Racing,” Ghiani says. “Ahmad Al Shaikh has a lot of 2-year-olds and a few 3-year-olds who are going to run soon and hopefully go on to show something special.”

With the horses spread around between Hampshire, Yorkshire and Newmarket at yards including those of Andrew Balding, Kevin Ryan, Mark Johnston and Kevin Philippart de Foy, Ghiani will be covering plenty of miles this year, but then that's nothing new. The in-demand rider took up 590 rides across Britain last year, and now only halfway through March he has already ridden 23 winners in 2022 at a strike-rate of 20%.

“Last year was amazing. I never thought I could have achieved that, to get to 100 winners was really good,” recalls Ghiani, who was joined at Ascot on Champions Day by his parents whom he had not seen for almost two years during various lockdowns across Europe.

Ghiani was born in Oristano, Sardinia, an island with a rich racing heritage, especially when it comes to jockeys. Plenty of Sardinian riders have enjoyed success in Siena's famous Palio, while those who have prospered in mainstream racing include Gianfranco Dettori, the father of Frankie and a multiple champion jockey in Italy, and Andrea Atzeni.

Racing, however, did not grab Ghiani from the start, though appearances in Oristano's 'Sartiglietta', the children's version of the town's celebrated medieval carnival-cum-mounted games, proved to be something of a catalyst.

“I grew up riding ponies from the age of 11 but not in racing,” says the jockey. “Every year we have a carnival with horses and I was involved in that as a kid. In 2014 I was the leading rider there and my horse and I both fell at a full gallop. I got up and my horse got up and later the champion jockey of Italy, Dario Vargiu, texted me to tell me how brave I was.”

Ghiani continues, “I was clueless about racing but I looked him up and started following him. I started going racing at home to watch him and then I told my dad I wanted to be a jockey. We tried to find a course I could go on in Italy but there wasn't one at the time, but I found one in Newmarket and I applied for that.”

Having attended an open day at the British Racing School in 2014, Ghiani returned the following December to take his place on its well regarded apprentice course. He brought with him plenty of talent but almost no spoken English.

“There were only English people at the racing school so it helped me a lot. I started to catch some words and link them together but it was hard,” he recalls.

Newmarket is not without its strong Italian connections, and fortuitously Ghiani found employment with Luca Cumani directly after graduation from the racing school.

“I went there for three and a half years until Luca Cumani retired,” he says. “I had my first ride for him. I then went to Australia for six weeks and when I came back I was offered a job by Stuart Williams. He's a very smart trainer, his horses always run well and he has given me a lot of chances.”

Indeed, being apprenticed to the shrewd Williams proved to be an important stepping stone for Ghiani, who started out with a handful of rides in 2018 and thereafter has kept the winners rolling in at an impressive rate each season.

“So far this year I am going better than last year,” says Ghiani, whose major breakthrough last season came when winning the Royal Hunt Cup for Godolphin at Royal Ascot aboard Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Saeed Bin Suroor kept him on for the next two races, with the young jockey landing his first two stakes wins on the 4-year-old in the Listed Steventon S. and G3 Strensall S.

“It's been a great start,” he adds. “Now I am trying to get on the best horses I can. We'll see how it goes.”

Ghiani has been based in Newmarket ever since arriving in the town to attend the British Racing School, which in its history has only ever had two youngsters score 100% in the rigorous fitness test which students are required to pass before graduation. Ghiani was one, and he followed another famous graduate with the racing world now at his feet: Tom Marquand.

In addition to his banner year at the track in 2021, Ghiani also became a father for the first time, with his son Louis having been born last May. There are clearly currently many good reasons for him to flash that enchanting smile, and it is a safe bet that we will be seeing plenty more of it in the seasons ahead.

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Shamardal’s Emaraaty Ana Prevails In Sprint Cup Thriller

It was tight at the end of Saturday's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock, with Andrea Atzeni celebrating a black-type treble on the day on Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) who denied Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in a photo. Revived of late, the 5-year-old who had been second in the five-furlong G1 Nunthorpe S. at York Aug. 20 tanked along early off the pace but had plenty left to take over approaching the final furlong. Clinging on late as the even-money favourite found his stride under a Tom Marquand drive, the line came in time for the 11-1 shot who held a short-head verdict there, with Chil Chil (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) 3/4 of a length away in third. “He deserves it–we've started riding him patiently and the horse has come alive for doing that,” trainer Kevin Ryan said. “I've had huge faith in the horse and I'm delighted he's done it. He's as good a horse as I've trained–his work in a morning is brilliant and all my team at home have done a great job.”

Emaraaty Ana's future was already bright as he landed York's G2 Gimcrack S. three years ago, but after a flirtation with the mile Classics the following Spring he gradually slid into relative obscurity. By the time the decision was made to geld following his last-of-eight in the G1 Nunthorpe S. last August, the bay was already something of a forgotten horse but on his return this year had a clean slate to work from. Positive tactics, which had been employed in the 2019 G1 2000 Guineas, were again used for his first five starts this term beginning with an underwhelming second in Doncaster's Listed Cammidge Trophy Mar. 27. Third in Newmarket's G3 Abernant S. Apr. 15, he was dropped from six furlongs to five for the G3 Palace House S. at Newmarket May 1 but the result was the same as he wound up at the bottom of the trifecta once again before trailing in seventh and 11th behind Starman in York's G2 Duke of York S. May 12 and in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket July 10.

It was only when connections opted to stop trying to force the issue and give him a chance in a five-furlong Hamilton conditions race at the end of last month that the real Emaraaty Ana stepped forward on the slick summer surface he needs. Visibly revitalised by the switch to hold-up tactics and a soaring sense of belief, he got closest to the flying Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) in the Nunthorpe with the likes of Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) and Suesa (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) behind so it was a surprise to see double-figure odds freely available here. Still tending to over-race despite the customary generosity of Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) up ahead and the more immediate target of last year's G1 Middle Park S. hero Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), he was able to capitalise on Starman's “flat spot” to get first run on the favourite and get to the post in the nick of time.

“He was a great 2-year-old and he lost his way a little bit. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid has been very patient,” Kevin Ryan said. “We were riding him wrong. This is his trip. Last year he was a little bit disappointing, but he has come back to this level and I've had every belief in this horse. I always thought he would get back to the top level. I would say we would go for the Breeders' Cup. I can't see why not, as he would be tailor-made for it as they would go a fast pace on fast ground.”

Atzeni, who had earlier partnered the exciting juvenile Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to win the Listed Ascendant S. for these connections before doubling up on the G3 Superior Mile winner Artistic Rifles (Ire) (War Command), was ending a relative drought at this level. “He's a horse that everyone kept faith with throughout his career and I can't tell you what it means to me to win another group 1, it's been a couple of years since the last one,” he said. “Things can go a bit quiet, but it's all about the horses and I had a very good one underneath me here. He is a horse that we usually ride fairly forward, but as he ran so well in the Nunthorpe giving him a chance we wanted to do the same. He travelled like the best horse in the race and when I let him down he picked up good. To be fair to the horse, when the second horse came to him he found a little bit more and held on.” Starman's trainer Ed Walker said, “There are no excuses, it's disappointing.”

Given that Emaraaty Ana's dam Spirit of Dubai (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) signed off her career with success in the 12-furlong Listed Princess Royal S., it is no surprise that Kevin Ryan had the Guineas in mind but this is clearly a runner who is defying his pedigree. Spirit of Dubai is kin to another middle-distance performer in the G3 Prix Corrida and G3 Prix de Flore winner and stakes producer Trumbaka (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}), while this is the family of the G3 Prix Cleopatre winner Alexandrie (Val de l'Orne {Fr}). She is the dam of five black-type winners headed by the G1 Prix du Jockey Club-placed sire Poliglote (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and is also the second dam of the GI Eddie Read H. scorer Special Ring (Nureyev). Spirit of Dubai's as-yet unnamed 2-year-old filly by Ribchester (Ire) was bought by Nigel Tinkler Racing and Jamie Piggott for 140,000gns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.

Saturday, Haydock, Britain
BETFAIR SPRINT CUP S.-G1, £275,000, Haydock, 9-4, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:09.10, g/f.
1–EMARAATY ANA (GB), 129, g, 5, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Spirit of Dubai (Ire) (SW-Eng), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Questina, by Rainbow Quest
3rd Dam: Soviet Squaw, by Nureyev
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Kevin Ryan; J-Andrea Atzeni. £162,800. Lifetime Record: 19-5-2-5, $586,617. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Starman (GB), 129, c, 4, Dutch Art (GB)–Northern Star (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O/B-David Ward (GB); T-Ed Walker. £61,573.
3–Chil Chil (GB), 126, m, 5, Exceed and Excel (Aus)–Tiana (GB), by Diktat (GB). (500,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-A S Denniff (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £30,773.
Margins: NO, 3/4, HD. Odds: 11.00, 1.00, 22.00.
Also Ran: Happy Romance (Ire), Art Power (Ire), Creative Force (Ire), Garrus (Ire), Summerghand (Ire), Supremacy (Ire), Glen Shiel (GB), Nando Parrado (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Freshman Sire Postponed Off The Mark at Pontefract

Darley's Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when the Karl Burke-trained 9-4 favourite Almohandesah (GB) graduated in Sunday's EBF Fillies' Restricted Novice going six furlongs at Pontefract. The 18,000gns Tattersalls December foal and 16,500gns Tattersalls February yearling prevailed by a head from Shouldavbeenmore (Fr) (Penny's Picnic {Ire}).

1st-Pontefract, £6,000, Nov, 6-20, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:17.13, g/f.
ALMOHANDESAH (GB) (f, 2, Postponed {Ire}–Chocolate Hills {Fr}, by Exceed and Excel {Aus}), a June 1 debut runner-up over this distance at Redcar in her only prior start, tracked the pace in a share of fourth through the early fractions of this one. Rowed along rounding the home turn, the 9-4 favourite came under pressure to challenge in early straight and was ridden out inside the final furlong to prevail by a head from Shouldavbeenmore (Fr) (Penny's Picnic {Ire}), becoming the first winner for her freshman sire (by Dubawi {Ire}). Almohandesah, half-sister to a yearling colt by Pivotal (GB), is the sixth of seven foals and the fourth scorer produced by a winning half-sister to Listed Prix Georges Trabaud placegetter Honour System (Ire) (King's Best). The March-foaled bay's second dam Rawabi (GB) (Sadler's Wells) is an unraced full-sister to G1 Dewhurst S. hero In Command (Ire) and a half to MG1SW sire Royal Applause (GB) (waajib {Ire}) and G1 Nunthorpe S.-winning European champion heroine Lyric Fantasy (Ire) (Tate Gallery). Sales history: 18,000gns RNA Wlg '19 TATFOA; 16,500gns Ylg '20 TATFEB. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $6,562.
O-Ahmad Al Shaikh; B-Flyingbolt Bloodstock, et al (GB); T-Karl Burke.

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