Gosden A Dab Hand With Classic Fillies

In the centre of the main yard at Clarehaven Stables sits a newly-installed bronze commemorating John Gosden's 2015 Derby and Arc winner Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). The trainer is not yet sure if he has a Derby horse for this year–Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}), another Anthony Oppenheimer homebred, may answer that for him in the Investec Derby Trial at Epsom this afternoon–but he does have an exciting brace of fillies for the English and French 1,000 Guineas.

The winners of the G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn S. and G3 Dubai Duty Free Fred Darling S., Daban (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Dabyah (Ire) (Sepoy {Aus}), provided a memorable week for their owner Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah whose only problem now is to decide, with Gosden, which filly should run in which Classic.

In many ways, it's a decision which makes itself, as the more seasoned Dabyah has already had a trip across the Channel when she ran third in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, making the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches on May 14 her more obvious target. Meanwhile, Daban's Nell Gwyn strike showed that she has the poise to handle the Rowley Mile's famous 'dip', which has been the undoing of so many Classic hopefuls, and will stay at home for the G1 QIPCO 1,000 Guineas on Sunday week.

“Dabyah last year ran great in France and at the moment she will go back to France but she'll also be left in the Guineas here,” said Gosden while addressing a press pack on Newmarket's Warren Hill on Tuesday morning. “Daban will go to Newmarket and she's already shown she handles the track well. I'm very happy with her. If for any reason she didn't run then Dabyah would switch here.”

Showing avowed loyalty to his home town, he added, “The Guineas here is number one, the Pouliches is number two–I've been lucky to win it a couple of times but it is number two.

“I don't think there is any point for an owner with two fillies who have won their trials to be taking each other on when there are two races a week apart. The 1,000 Guineas looks like it will be an exciting race and we have all the respect in the world for Rhododendron (Ire), obviously, as she comes with solid form.”

Last year, Gosden won the Nell Gwyn for the same owner with Nathra (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), who subsequently finished runner-up to La Cressonniere in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in its temporary home of Deauville, where it remains this year as the Longchamp renovation is completed. The trainer is just one of a number in the racing world who has expressed a preference for France's first two Classics to remain on Normandy's fairer track.

“We were in Deauville last year and it's a wonderful straight mile,” he said. “If you stand at the mile start at Longchamp you shake your head that they can run a Classic race from there. If you're drawn above six you're history as you have to stay straight. It's a desperate start, so we all had a vote in the bar at Deauville that we'd like to keep the Poules there forever because it's such a lovely straight track. Unfortunately, France Galop weren't too amused as they are building a new grandstand at Longchamp. The mile start at Longchamp is a dreadful problem. Look at horses like Intello (Ger)–clearly the best horse in the race who was done by the draw. It's not a good way to run a Classic, so we really like Deauville.”

For this year at least, Gosden has his wish, and he admits that it's hard to split the two fillies. “They've never worked together but they are very similar types–seven furlongs to a mile is their trip, they won't go an inch over. They are both very much that type but you can see that on their breeding anyway.”

He added, “Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock found these fillies and the owner has backed his judgement so he deserves to have them. They've already each won a Group 3 and it's not easy to win Group races with anything. They both have nice pedigrees to make broodmares.”

While Daban and Dabyah provided the highlights, they were by no means the only winners from Clarehaven last week, with Gosden's team having started the Turf season in rude health. Juddmonte's Shutter Speed (GB) (Dansili {GB}) remained unbeaten when winning a 10-furlong conditions race at Newbury, while Gracious Diana (GB) (Foxwedge {Aus}) showed an impressive turn of foot over the same course and distance when shedding her maiden tag.

“Shutter Speed is a good filly and has always looked our best middle-distance 3-year-old filly. She ran well last year when it was soft and we are heading towards the Musidora at York with her,” Gosden offered. “Her pedigree is quick- her dam is by Oasis Dream and a mile and a quarter may be her perfect trip, but we will see.”

He continued, “Gracious Diana is a lovely filly and I think she is a Ribblesdale filly. We hope to go back to Newbury with her for the [Swettenham Stud] Oaks Trial.”

Meanwhile, Gosden also plans to run the Robin Geffen homebred Astronomy's Choice (GB) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and Anthony Oppenheimer's Precious Ramotswe (GB) (Nathaniel {GB}) in the Listed Pretty Polly S. at the Guineas meeting-a race won in the past by Ouija Board (GB) en route to Classic success at Epsom.

The unbeaten China Horse Club colt Middle Kingdom (War Front) would need to be supplemented to run in the Investec Derby on June 3 but, following his victory last week at Newmarket, he will head next to York for the Derby trial won two years ago by Golden Horn with stablemate and subsequent Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) in second.

Gosden confirmed, “I am going to have a go at the Dante with Middle Kingdom and find out where we stand. He is a War Front and has a good attitude, so we will see where we go.”

Jack Hobbs, whose resounding return from a pelvic fracture has included victory in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan, is likely to be seen next in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot, with a tilt at the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. his major summer target.

Thrilling Start For Al Naboodah
Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah is a relatively new name on racecards but if the extraordinary start to his ownership experience is anything to by, it's one we'll be hearing more of in the future.

In just this third season with runners, the Dubaian businessman, who is chairman of the Al Naboodah Construction Group and one of a number of nominees under the Rabbah Bloodstock banner, has enjoyed a rash of Group winners, with Daban, Dabyah and Nathra being joined by last year's crack juvenile Ardad (Ire) (Kodiac {Ire}), who struck at Royal Ascot before winning the G2 Flying Childers S. Ardad has remained in training at Clarehaven, where he has reportedly wintered well and will now be targeted at a major sprint campaign this season.

Nathra was bought by John Warren as a yearling for 270,000gns, but the majority of Al Naboodah's horses have been selected by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock, with both Ardad and Daban being graduates of last season's breeze-up sales.

“I first bought for Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah at Keeneland in September 2015, followed by the October Sale at Tattersalls,” Brown recalled. “The following year he said he wanted to increase his investment quite significantly and we bought eight or nine yearlings and five breeze-up horses.

“He's amazing to work for–he backs me 100%. I put very few horses up to him but when I really like something he'll go for it. He's on a huge run but we've obviously had some low points, too. The great thing is that he's a sportsman and he takes those days just as well as the good days.”

Rabbah's racing manager Bruce Raymond oversees the horses in training, which include last week's Listed European Free Handicap runner-up Rodaini (Exchange Rate) and are split between John Gosden, Simon Crisford, Ed Dunlop, Sir Michael Stoute and David Simcock in Newmarket, while Al Naboodah also has horses with Graham Motion in America.

“He has a top-class roster of trainers,” Brown continued. “Bruce Raymond manages his racing interests and we work very closely together. Mr Al Naboodah is a young, successful businessman in his early 40s. His work commitments are extensive so he's not able to go racing very often–I'm not even sure he's going to make the Guineas–but he watches everything and knows exactly what's going on.”

In addition to his racehorses, Al Naboodah has a burgeoning breeding interest, with two of his broodmares in foal to Shamardal and one to War Front. Whatever happens in the forthcoming Classics, both Daban and Dabyah have already earned their places at stud in the future, as has Nathra, who may well aim to give her owner more success at Royal Ascot in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge S.