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'TDN Rising Star' Shahama (Munnings), who ran her career record to a perfect four-for-four with an easy two-length victory in the G3 UAE Oaks at Meydan Feb. 18, is reportedly set to give the Mar. 26 G2 UAE Derby a miss and will instead be shipped to trainer Todd Pletcher to prepare for a start in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks May 6. The news was reported in a tweet from Dubai Racing Channel's Michael Adolphson.

A $425,000 purchase out of the 2021 OBS April Sale, the bald-faced chestnut, bred by SF Bloodstock, debuted with a nine-length victory in a seven-furlong event at Meydan Dec. 9 and was accorded 'Rising Star' status off a visually impressive 2 1/2-length score in a Jan. 1 allowance. Victorious in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas Jan. 28, she met with some adversity in the 9 1/2-furlong UAE Oaks, but managed to overcome a poor start and a bit of a wide trip to remain undefeated.

Owned by KHK Racing and trained in Dubai by Fawzi Nass, Shahama is a half-sister to two-time Eclipse Award winner Lookin At Lucky (Smart Strike) and to two-time graded-stakes winner Kensei (Mr. Greeley). Connections paid the $200 nomination fee to make Shahama eligible for the Oaks at its first closing stage Feb. 19.

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In a rare Meydan contest featuring no Godolphin representative, the broad-blazed Shahama (Munnings) kept her perfect record intact when cruising to a bloodless victory in the UAE 1000 Guineas.

The TDN Rising Star has now won all three of her starts at Meydan, following a nine-length opening strike on debut in early December and another facile win in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial on New Year's Day.

From the widest draw in stall six, Shahama was initially taken to the back of the pack by Adrie de Vries but the pair swiftly made a sharp move down the back straight to cruise from last to second, with the eventual winner sitting cosily behind Minwah (Cupid) for a tow round the bend for home. Once in the straight de Vries had only to shake the reins to ask Shahama to pick up and swoop past the leader, and the jockey remained all but motionless as his impressive mount eased clear of the Doug Watson-trained Minwah, who stayed on for second, albeit almost four lengths adrift at the post. In a clean sweep for American-breds, Little Afrodite (Shackleford) was another 11 lengths back in third.

Trained by Fawzi Nass, Shahama looks a smart prospect for her Bahraini owners Shaikh Duaij and Shaikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa of KHK Racing. Asked after the race on their plans for the filly, Shaikh Duaij told the Dubai Racing Channel that the G3 UAE Oaks is the likely next target for Shahama, with a potential shot at the G2 UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup night to follow.

Pedigree notes

Shahama's $425,000 price tag when bought by Fawzi Nass at the Ocala Spring breeze-up sale in Florida last April was no surprise as the SF Bloodstock-bred filly is a half-sister to the five-time Grade I winner and Ashford Stud sire Lookin At Lucky (Smart Strike) as well as the dual Grade II winner Kensei (Mr Greeley). Their dam, the dual 3-year-old winner Private Feeling (Belong To Me), is in turn a half-sister to GIII Pucker Up S. winner Grand Charmer (Lord Avie) and to the dam of champion 3-year-old Wait A While (Maria's Mon). The third dam Sharp Belle (Native Charger) won the GI Monmouth Oaks, while the further family includes Irish Derby winner Sir Harry Lewis (Alleged).

Private Feeling had no foal in 2020, but has a yearling colt by Catalina Cruiser and was covered last season by Tom's d'Etat, a Grade 1-winning son of Smart Strike.

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