By Sean Cronin
Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa's Arabian Dusk (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}–Lady Macduff {Ire}, by Iffraaj {GB}), who hit the board in last month's Listed Empress Stakes, entered Friday's G2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket with maiden status intact and made the breakthrough with a gritty performance in the six-furlong heat.
The 525,000gns Craven Breeze-Up acquisition was sharply into stride from the stands' side stall and raced in a prominent third through halfway. Bustled along to launch her challenge passing the quarter-mile pole, the 12-1 chance gained an edge entering the final furlong and was ridden out up the hill to prevail by 3/4-of-a-length from 'TDN Rising Star' Mountain Breeze (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Ballydoyle's 15-8 favourite Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) was up front throughout and finished another 3/4-of-a-length adrift in third.
“She came from the breeze-up sales, we picked her out as she looked a nice filly, and has just done everything right,” revealed trainer Simon Crisford. “She was always quite green and it has taken her a couple races to learn how to really race properly. Katie Walsh consigned her and she is one of the best ladies in the world. She always produces great stock and this filly was an obvious one for Shaikh Duaij to try to buy. He is absolutely thrilled. I'm not sure the [G1 1000] Guineas will be the right trip for her, but she certainly wasn't stopping at the end of the race today. In fact, she was looking for a bit of company and I think she would have gone again if she had been challenged in the last 50 yards. I think we'll stick to this trip for the moment and maybe look at the [G2] Lowther at York and [G1] Cheveley Park [at the Rowley Mile venue] and see what we are like over the winter. The reality is she came here today as a maiden and, now she has won that race, we know she has a lot of ability with a great temperament. There is every reason to think she can keep advancing as the season progresses.”
Winning rider Harry Davies added, “I have always been very confident in this filly's ability. She has always showed us plenty, but has been very raw mentally. The last couple of times she has had excuses as she's been surrounded by horses and run a little bit green. Today, I've just been able to sit up there with Ryan [Moore aboard Heavens Gate] and been taken into the race. I was confident she'd run well although winning was another question. She has still shown a little bit of greenness when she hit the front, but she is a lovely filly.”
Pedigree Notes
Arabian Dusk, the seventh of eight foals, is one of five scorers and the leading performer produced by a multiple-winning daughter of Tamora (GB) (Dr Fong), herself a winning half-sister to G1 Prix de l'Abbaye heroine Gilt Edge Girl (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}) and G2 Flying Childers Stakes winner Godfrey Street (GB) (Compton Place {GB}). Gilt Edge Girl, in turn, is the dam of Listed Prix Servanne victor Time's Arrow (Ire) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). The April-foaled bay, whose fourth dam is stakes-winning G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes placegetter Tarwiya (Ire) (Dominion {GB}), is half to a yearling filly by Due Diligence.
✅ Nice way to break the maiden
Arabian Dusk lands the G2 @bet365 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes, providing @gainsboroughHQ a quickfire double 👇 pic.twitter.com/jLRxaK1c1E
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 12, 2024
Friday, Newmarket, Britain
DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE S.-G2, £100,000, Newmarket, 7-12, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:11.11, gd.
1–ARABIAN DUSK (GB), 128, f, 2, by Havana Grey (GB)
1st Dam: Lady Macduff (Ire), by Iffraaj (GB)
2nd Dam: Tamora (GB), by Dr Fong
3rd Dam: Tahara (Ire), by Caerleon
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (80,000gns Ylg '23 TATSOM; 525,000gns 2yo '24 TATBRE). O-Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Simon & Ed Crisford; J-Harry Davies. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-1, $80,265. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mountain Breeze (Ire), 128, f, 2, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Lava Flow (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire). TDN Rising Star. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £21,500.
3–Heavens Gate (Ire), 128, f, 2, Churchill (Ire)–Itqaan, by Danzig. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £10,760.
Margins: 3/4, 3/4, SHD. Odds: 12.00, 3.50, 1.88.
Also Ran: Bountiful (GB), Maw Lam (Ire), Tales Of The Heart (Ire), Mighty Eriu (Ire), Liberalised (GB), Fiery Lucy (GB), Teej A (Ire), Enchanting Empress (GB).
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