Amirat Al Zaman and Marco Ghiani win the Emirates Breeders Maiden at Great Yarmouth ©Debbie Burt
Amirat Al Zaman puts French form behind her at Yarmouth
Thursday 4 July 2024 –
There was further success for leading Iraqi owner breeder Dr Mohammed Al Nujaifi following his return to UK racing with another homebred filly, Amirat Al Zaman taking the honours at Great Yarmouth in the £6,000 Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes over a mile. The four-year-old is one of two fillies to join Newmarket handler James Owen this season from France, and now both are winners.
Ridden by Marco Ghiani, for whom it was a first win on an Arabian, the pair set off in front and though Rich Pulls Pitch and David Egan tried to challenge, they were too strong for Al Asayl’s three-year-old filly who finished a length and three quarters adrift on the line. Athbah Racing’s Jameelaty and Dylan Hogan were well behind in third.
Amirat Al Zaman is a daughter of Dr Al Nujaifi’s dual Group 1PA winner Hilal Al Zaman and is a half-sister to two French Arabian Derby winners. Both she and Fareedhat El Izz who also won on her UK debut for Owen and Al Nujaifi Racing, will get entries for the £80,000 UK Arabian Derby, sponsored by the UAE President Cup series, run at Doncaster on August 17, entries for which close tomorrow at Noon.
Watch Amirat Al Zaman and Marco Ghiani win the Emirates Breeders Maiden at Great Yarmouth
Quotes:
Marco Ghiani, jockey, 1st: “She was a bit tricky to get into the stalls but the handlers did a good job. She did really well, jumped nicely, travelled beautifully. I saw something coming on the stand side rails, but I thought that was coming a bit too soon so I didn’t panic, and in the last half furlong the grey horse was getting close, but she found a bit more.
“I’ve ridden Arabians for a few years now, including in Italy, but this is my first winner. The first racehorse I rode at home was an Arabian and I used to get told off all the time, because she always had the better of me – it taught me a lot!”
Val Bunting, Racing and Breeding Manager, Al Nujaifi Racing, 1st: “We are delighted with Amirat Al Zaman, she was born and raised with me and she has always been one of my favourites. After her two disappointing starts in France I think the penny has finally dropped. Hopefully she may go to the Derby next, we’ll see how she comes out of the race.”
Phil Collington, trainer, 3rd: “Dylan felt she travelled into the race pretty well, she just didn’t finish it off. I think we probably need to go back into handicap company, I think she will win, it’s just finding the right race for her.”
Marco Ghiani, Amirat Al Zaman and Lissie Reeves winners of the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes at Great Yarmouth © Debbie Burt
Genny Haynes, ARO CEO: “We are thrilled for all at Al Nujaifi Racing and the James Owen team for the win of Amirat Al Zaman, to go with their other filly’s success at Newbury last month. Also for Marco, who has been PA Group placed with us, to finally get a win.
“It’s really important for us to attract new and returning owners which we had today, not just with overseas owned horses like Amirat Al Zaman and the Al Asayl three-year-olds, but domestic owners too, like Darren Plumb and Selena Caston.
“We thank Emirates Breeders for their continued sponsorship and Baker McVeigh International for sponsoring the Best Turned Out Award presented to Sophie Collington for Jameelaty and look forward to making a quick return to action at Lingfield Park on Tuesday.”
Lissie Reeves receives the trophy for the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes on behalf of Al Nujaifi Racing from Willie McFarland ©Debbie Burt
1st: Amerat Al Zaman (FR)
2nd: Rich Pulls Pitch (FR)
3rd: Jameelaty (GB)
5 ran – No 1 Galactic Girl was withdrawn for not entering the stalls
Distances: 1.75, 10.75
Time: 1.48.22
Going: GOOD
Jameelaty and Sophie Collington Baker McVeigh Best Turned Out Award winners © Debbie Burt
