SAUDI Arabia celebrated a significant racing and breeding success on Thursday when Nashmiah won the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas over a mile on dirt.

The race was the highlight at Meydan’s sixth meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival and victory went to the 40/1 shot who held on by a head from 66/1 outsider Nomorerichblondes. The 33/1 shot Rajar was third in a race that saw the odds-on Really Special finish fifth in the nine-horse field.

The winner is trained by Nicholas Bachalard and she arrived in Dubai unbeaten after three starts in the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, where the daughter of a Saudi Arabian-bred sire and dam was foaled. Her grandam is the Irish-bred Caerleon mare Rienroe and she is a half-sister to the champion Irish juvenile filly Flutter Away. Mickael Barzalona was on board Nashmiah.

“I knew she was tough after my win on her in Saudi last time,” said Barzalona. “This was a big step up in grade for her and that was a very good performance for the whole team.”

The first turf race on the seven-race thoroughbred card was a seven-furlong turf conditions contest restricted to three-year-olds. It produced a thrilling finish with Godolphin’s Top Score, a son of Hard Spun trained by Saeed bin Suroor and the mount of Adrie de Vries, regaining the initiative in the dying strides and denying 66/1 outsider Nobelium by a nose.

“I thought I was beaten,” said de Vries. “The runner-up went past us easily but then, perhaps, his lack of experience counted against him, whereas my horse has plenty of experience. I am not sure what the plan is with him but I would assume the Meydan Classic would be next, sticking to turf, but he did run well enough on dirt the first time when we had a bad draw which gives the trainer more options.”

There was a dramatic outcome to the following 10-furlong dirt handicap in which Godolphin’s Alabaster, an American-bred son of Medaglia D’Oro and also saddled by bin Suroor, prevailed by a nose from the dead-heaters Emotionless and Etijaah. Oisin Murphy was the winning jockey this time.

“All credit to the horse as he has really battled to win this,” said Murphy. “I rode him last time over a mile and thought this extra distance would suit him and, on this evidence, he will stay even further.”

Dutchman Adrie de Vries rode three winners and his second win on the night came in the seven-furlong turf handicap aboard the nine-year-old Kyllachy gelding Krypton Factor, a winner for Bahrain and trainer Fawzi Nass. They denied David Marnane’s Jamesie who picked up a cheque for more than £20,000. Krypton Factor won the Group 1 Golden Shaheen in 2012.

“It is great to get this win both for the horse and Fawzi who is not only a great trainer but also a true friend,” said de Vries. The rider’s treble came up when the David O’Meara-trained Dutch Art five-year-old Salateen, starting at 33/1, shocked the favourite Flash Fire in a seven-furlong turf handicap.

“I looked at the videos of his races in England and could see he was a tough, genuine, type,” said de Vries. “On this evidence, he should stay a bit further and it has been a great evening.”

Another David Marnane runner Elleval collected more than £20,000 when finishing runner-up in the concluding nine-furlong turf handicap. The four-year-old Exceed And Excel gelding Folkswood gave Godolphin a treble on the night. Charlie Appleby saddled the winner who was ridden by Colm O’Donoghue.

ABU DHABI

The only thoroughbred contest on the six-race card at Abu Dhabi last Saturday was the concluding mile handicap, won by the Satish Seemar-trained Taaj who was produced late by jockey Pat Cosgrave to land the spoils. The winner is an Australian-bred son of Street Cry and out of a half-sister to Peeping Fawn and Thewayyouare

“We have been enjoying a good run of form at Abu Dhabi recently and Pat gave Taaj a great ride,” said Seemar.

JEBEL ALI

Racing scheduled for Jebel Ali last Friday was abandoned due to inclement weather.