Group 1 Purebred Arabians; 3.45pm; $1 million; 2,000m; empowered by IPIC
Handassa
The French-trained runner owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, looks the one to beat in this year’s Kahayla Classic. The massive son of Madjani won the third round of the Al Maktoum Challenge with ease.
Handassa took some time to find his stride but when he did, rounding the home bend going very wide, it was soon obvious who would win the contest.
He grabbed the lead early in the straight, and quickened away for a comfortable 8½-length win over Af Tawaq, with Nashmee back in third place. Shaheer finished fourth and race favourite Abu Alabyad was fifth, passing the winning post 14 lengths behind the winner.
Handassa, who showed clear signs of immaturity in the paddock, stopped the clocks in 2.15.5 — a new course record for the Purebred Arabians.
It was his first run over a dirt track, as he had raced on turf and an artificial track (once) in Europe. Handassa also won a Group 2 contest over 2,100 metres last year. Stamina is not a problem and he isn’t short of finishing speed either.
He looked a different class while pitted against a strong field on his UAE debut, and visibly thrilled jockey Paul Hanagan said after the race, “He gave me a feel like a thoroughbred turning in.”
Versac Py
A regular player on the main stage of Purebred Arabian racing over the past four years, Versac Py made an encouraging comeback finishing second to Haajeb in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 over 2,200 metres in early February.
The winner was rather unexpected but nobody was surprised to see Versac Py make an impact.
He had been out of action since last year’s Kahayla Classic, when the son of Njewman picked up an injury and was pulled up. He looked fully recovered with his game run last month, and we know he has the class to match strides with the very best. He was beaten by only a nose in the 2013 Kahayla (caught very late by Al Mamun Monlau, with 2012 winner Tm Fred Texas behind him).
Last year, Versac Py won the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3, beating Af Lafeh by 3¼ lengths over 2,000 metres. Abu Alabyad, another tough top flight runner, was beaten ten lengths into third place on that occasion. It was another classy performance by Versac Py, and a return to such form would put this nine-year-old in the mix on World Cup night.
Thakif
Winner of HH The President’s Cup over 2,200 metres at Abu Dhabi and runner-up in a strong race over 1,600 metres at Doha in February, Thakif is one of the leading contenders for this year’s Kahayla Classic.
A versatile and adaptable performer, he has also shown his liking for Meydan’s dirt track, having won the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge over 1,600 metres here back in January. Thakif went to the front that day and soon had his rivals in trouble. He ran out a comfortable 3¾-length winner from Af Mathmoon, with Bigg N Rich 4 lengths further adrift in third and Sha’Red fourth.
This win set Thakif up for a crack at the President’s Cup, where he switched successfully to racing on turf. Young Harry Bentley was on board this time and he placed Thakif just behind the early leaders, before taking the lead with 400 metres to go. Thakif came under pressure from Abu Alabyad, who finished strongly from the back, but he held on to win by half a length.
Nashmee, who finished third behind Handassa on Super Saturday, filled third place. Two weeks later, Nacer Samiri’s star tried the turf course in Doha and ran another game race to be second, though Aba’ath proved seven lengths too good for him. Thakif is a high-class runner who is also very game and consistent. He might be Handassa’s biggest danger here.
