SAHIS WINS THE AL BUSTAN BEACH HANDICAP AT CHELMSFORD CITY

The Goodwin Partnership’s Sahis put in an eye-catching performance when winning the Al Bustan Beach (0-65) Handicap. The four-year-old son of promising young sire Al Tair won by a length and a quarter from Shadwell Estate’s Alsimsaam, with Zayin Zyperion a further six and a half lengths behind in third. This was second of five races sponsored by the Royal Cavalry of Oman, run over a mile and a quarter at the Essex track.

Owen was delighted saying: “We bought this horse as a two-year-old from the Arqana sale and he was just a bit too weak to run last year. He’s green in his work at home which is why we put the headgear on first-time-out at Wolverhampton. He was a bit green in that maiden and he ended up making some of the running which didn’t really suit him. The form of that race has been franked, the penny’s half dropped with him at home and I really thought he’d run well here today.

“I do really like this horse, he’s just so uncomplicated and has a laid-back attitude. He should keep going forward now and he should be versatile as to trip as well.”

Sahis was ridden by last years’ leading ARO jockey Alex Chadwick who commented: “I probably got there a bit too soon to be honest. He showed his greeness towards the end and I thought he stuck his neck out really well when Alsimsaam came to him. It was just as well he did, as he was starting to idle in front.”

There was further success for the Owen team as Zara Brooks received the Best Turned Out Award for Sahis from Gail Jefferson from Racing Welfare. This was the first of five awards that they will be presenting throughout the season.

 

 

Genny Haynes, ARO Commercial and Finance Director said: “We congratulate the James Owen team and it was good to see Alex, our leading amateur, get off the mark for the season. Our sincere thanks go out to the Royal Cavalry for supporting the grassroots with a race of this nature and we thank them for their continued sponsorship of our races at all levels.”