Dubai: Sharaakah ran a big race in defeat as she narrowly went down to Breeders’ Cup-bound Nemoralia in the EBF Fillies’ Stakes (Nursery Handicap) on Ladies’ Day at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting on Thursday.
With Team Godolphin pilot James Doyle in the saddle, the Irish-bred two-year-old battled hard to repel the challenge of Frankie Dettori aboard Nemoralia before surrendering closer to the finish.
Sharaakah raced in the colours of Dubai businessman Mohammad Jaber, who also owns Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes hero Sheikhzayedroad.
Newmarket handler Jeremy Noseda said he aims to take Nemoralia to America following Thursday’s win.
“I thought the handicapper had given her a big chance. I’ve always felt she was a Stakes filly,” said the ex-Godolphin handler.
“She goes on the turf, but I think she is probably a real dirt filly. That [Breeders’ Cup Fillies’ Juvenile] has been on my mind for three or four months, but I’ll have a chat with Frankie [Dettori] and then make a plan.”
Meanwhile, Fadhayyil was denied a clear run by eventual winner Realtra and had to settle for fourth place in the Group 2 Sceptre Stakes.
The Roger Varian-trained 25/1 outsider swung badly to the right and in the process caused significant interference to three horses — Excilly (unplaced), Terror (third) and Fadhayyil (fourth), which resulted in an eight-day ban for jockey Jack Mitchell.
Fadhayyil is owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.
Varian said of his winner: “She won a Listed race last time but you never come to the races thinking they are going to win as she won today.
“However, for me, I would have been disappointed if she hadn’t finished in the first four. I thought she was overpriced with her form of that Listed win and, stepping up only one notch to a Group Three, she was entitled to run well.
“Jack rode the filly in work at home and also when she won at Haydock. On Saturdays, you can struggle to get jockeys if you don’t have a stable jockey, so when we have an opportunity we give Jack the chance to ride. He took his chance at Haydock on this filly and I’m pleased that Jack was able to win on her again today.”
