Bahraini-based by globally successful trainer Fawzi Nass has cemented a reputation as a shrewd buyer of European horses in training both at public auction and privately, and his latest project Simsir (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) came good on his first start for his new yard on Friday, winning the £500,000 Bahrain International Trophy at Sakhir from John Gosden's Global Giant (GB) (Shamardal) and Aidan O'Brien's G1 Irish Derby winner Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
The 4-year-old gelding Simsir was plucked privately from the yard of Mick Halford just this fall, having previously run as a homebred for the Aga Khan. Simsir was not seen until the autumn of his 3-year-old year last year, and won two of his first three starts before a campaign in Dubai earlier this year, where he won a 2000 metre turf handicap. Simsir was second in the Listed Silver S. on his second start back in Ireland in July, and the deal with Nass was made after he finished fifth of 22 runners in The Curragh's Northfields H. on Irish Champions Weekend.
Nass finished first and fourth in his country's most important race, with 22,000gns Tattersalls Autumn buy Port Lions (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) just missing the placings. That 5-year-old gelding has been another success story for Nass; he upset Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) by a head in the Feb. 29 Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup on the inaugural Saudi Cup card.
“To win such an amazing race is an absolute thrill,” Nass said in the aftermath of Simsir's win. “He has done it so bravely. Mick Halford always assured me that he likes it firm and he was right. For me, it was the jockey's race. I thought he committed early in the straight, but he proved me wrong.”
That jockey was Scotsman Lee Newman, the UK champion apprentice in 2000 who has since ridden around the globe and has recently been stationed at Sakhir.
Newman said, “I took the bull by the horns at the five-furlong pole and kicked on from there. It's a track that you can do that at if your horse is a galloper and he is that. It is down to Fawzi for putting his trust in me as he could have asked any jockey from anywhere in the world, but he asked me. I am delighted.”
Newman and Simsir broke sharply from gate two, and after hustling initially to hold a prominent position were content to take a slight hold as Coolagh Forest (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) crossed over from a wide draw to take up the running under John Egan. That rival attempt to stretch his advantage down the backstretch but Newman kept the frontrunner in his sights, and the front two had detached themselves from the rest of the pack by the time they hit the second bend. Newman drove Simsir to the front as they turned into the straight as Coolagh Forest began to pack it in, and while the longshot had a mighty target on his back with some of his more fancied rivals gobbling up ground late, he held on to win by a neck from Global Giant, with Sovereign just nosed out in third.
Following Port Lions in fourth, the order of finish was completed by Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper), Certain Lad (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}), Loxley (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), Deirdre, Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}), What A Welcome (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Dream Castle (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling), Coolagh Forest and Lady Wannabe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).
Pedigree Notes
Being a product of the Aga Khan's program, it should come as no surprise that Simsir hails from a proper pedigree, and indeed he is out of the listed placed Simawa (Ire) (Anabaa), a half-sister to none other than Sinndar (Ire). Simawa has produced two stakes winners: the Listed Loughbrown S. victress Silwana (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) and this year's G3 Amethyst S. scorer Sinawann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). The mare, who was sold to Outsider Bloodstock for €210,000 at Goffs November in 2018, has no 2-year-old of 2020, but has a yearling filly by Gleneagles (Ire) and a colt foal by Motivator (GB).
Sakhir, £500,000, Cond, 11-20, 3yo/up, 2000mT, 2:00.29, gd.
SIMSIR (IRE) (g, 4, Zoffany {Ire}-Simawa {Ire} {SP-Ire}, by Anabaa). Lifetime Record: 10-4-3-0, $487,783. O-Victorious. B-HH The Aga Khan Stud SC. T-Fawzi Abdulla Nass. *1/2 to Silwana (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), Hwt. Older Mare-Ire at 14f+, SW & GSP-Ire, $223,199; Summaya (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), GSP-Ire; and Sinawann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), GSW-Ire, $118,472.
WATCH: Simsir wins the valuable Bahrain International Trophy for Fawzi Nass
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