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Barnamaj (FR) and Jim Crowley win the Al Maktoum Challenge R2 (Gr1PA) (Credit: DRC // Andrew Watkins) Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (Gr1PA) 2200m, sponsored by Mina Hamriya, Meydan In a rematch of Round 1, this time, stepped up in trip, it was Barnamaj who finished in front of Paddys Day, though again it required a photograph to split the pair. Paddys Day had been bidding to become the first horse since Sahib Du Clos to follow up a Round 1 win in Round 2; whilst Faucon Du Loup was trying to emulate Kahayla, the only horse to record back-to-back wins in the race, in 1994 and 1995. In the event it was HH Sheikh Hamdam’s Barnamaj, on only his second start on Dirt, who showed superior stamina, finishing a head in front of Paddys Day, with Shaheer a further five and a half lengths back in third. Faucon Du Loup again disappointed in sixth. His Highness’s first jockey Jim Crowley commented: “He ran a great race first time on his dirt debut when showing he handles the surface and he stayed every yard of the longer trip tonight. Over this longer distance, I was pretty confident coming here tonight
and the horse has delivered in gutsy fashion.” He continued: “Last time he raced three wide, this time we were in behind horses, so he will have learnt something today and hopefully he will keep progressing. I’ve been lucky in this job so far to ride some really nice Arabians.” Barnamaj’s win was also significant for His Highness’s breeding operation, becoming the first Group 1 winner for his sire No Risk Al Maury. Both sire and dam Tashreefat were trained by Gill Duffield and No Risk Al Maury’s 17 wins included six Group 1 races, becoming a multiple Champion Arabian Racehorse in the UK, as well as a UAE Champion. He was also the first horse to win at Meydan racecourse. Foaled at the Haras de Saint-Faust where his sire now stands, Barnamaj is from No Risk AL MAury’s first crop. Though a juvenile winner in France, and Group placed there and in the UK, he made his UAE debut in January for trainer Ali Al Rahyi and has clearly blossomed on the Dirt surface.
THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE