Al Bahathri

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Al Bahathri
Child Stakes
(1985)
Awards
Timeform rating 114 (1984), 123 (1985)

Al Bahathri (15 March 1982 – 7 May 2014) was an American-bred, British-trained

Child Stakes. After her retirement from racing she became a very successful and influential broodmare, whose descendants included Haafhd, Military Attack, Gladiatorus and Red Cadeaux
. She died in 2014 at the age of thirty-two.

Background

Al Bahathri was a chestnut mare with a white

Diana Handicap winner Geraldine's Store. Chain Store was a full sister to Double Discount, a gelding who set a world record time of 1:57.4 for ten furlongs on turf when winning the Carleton F. Burke Handicap in 1977. Al Bahathri was described as a "well-made filly... a good mover with a fine long stride".[2]

As a

lavender.[4]

Racing career

1984: two-year-old season

In June 1984, Al Bahathri made her debut in a six

5/1,[5] she took the lead at half way and won by a length from Graecia Magna, with Fatah Flare (later to win the Musidora Stakes) and Silver Dollar in third and fourth. According to Timeform, she displayed "great determination despite drifting right" in the closing stages.[2]

At York Racecourse in August, Al Bahathri was again stepped up in class for the Group Two Lowther Stakes at York and started the 11/10 favourite.[5] After disputing the lead for most of the way she accelerated away from the field in the last two furlongs to win by four lengths from Imperial Jade, despite being eased down by Murray near the finish. On her final appearance of the season at Newmarket in October, Al Bahathri started favourite for the Cheveley Park Stakes, then the only Group One race in Britain confined to two-year-old fillies. Her main rival appeared to be Park Appeal, who had easily beaten Only in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the French-trained Gallanta, winner of the Prix de Cabourg, and runner-up in the Prix Morny. The field split into two group across the wide Newmarket straight, with the favourite dominating the group in the centre, but racing behind the group on the far side (the right side from the jockeys' viewpoint). Al Bahathri appeared to be struggling two furlongs out, and despite staying on in the closing stages she finished third behind Park Appeal and Polly Daniels, both of whom had been among the far side group.[2]

1985: three-year-old season

On her three-year-old debut, Al Bahathri was beaten a neck by the

Waterford Candelabra Stakes winner Bella Colora. She did not look impressive before the race, with Timeform commenting that he appeared to have "gone backwards" since her two-year-old campaign.[6] Murray settled the filly in third place in the early stages before moving up to dispute the lead with Bella Colora. The two fillies engaged in a prolonged struggle throughout the last half mile before Al Bahathri gained a narrow advantage inside the final furlong, at which point Oh So Shap and Vilikaia began to make rapid progress on the outside. In a three way photo finish, Al Bahathri was beaten a short head by Oh So Sharp, with Bella Colora a short head away in third and Vilikaia three quarters of a length further back in fourth. Three weeks later, Al Bahathri was sent to Ireland to contest the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh in which she raced on soft ground for the first time. She started the 7/1 third favourite behind Triptych, who had defeated male opposition in the Irish 2,000 Guineas a week earlier, and Vilikaia, whilst her other opponents included Aviance, Dafayna and Top Socialite, who had finished second in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches since beating Al Bahathri at Newbury. Murray sent the filly to the front soon after the start and maintained her advantage into the straight, where she faced challenges from Vilikaia, Top Socialite, Triptych and Dafayna. Vilikaia briefly looked likely to take the victory, but Al Bahathri rallied in the closing stages to win by three quarters of a length, with Top Socialite a short head away in third.[6]

At

Royal Ascot on 19 June, Al Bahathri started the 4/6[5] favourite for the Coronation Stakes (then a Group Two race) despite being required to concede four pounds to Top Socialite and five other fillies. The favourite took the lead from the start and opened up a clear advantage entering the straight even after stumbling on the final turn. She held on in the closing stages to win by a length from Top Socialite, with the Queen's filly Soprano in third ahead of Ever Genial. Al Bahathri was matched against older fillies and mares for the first time in the Child Stakes (then a Group Three race) over one mile at Newmarket on 10 July. She started the 6/5 favourite ahead of a field which included the three-year-olds Bella Colora, Ever Genial, Fatah Flare and Zaizafon (Seaton Delaval Stakes) and the four-year-olds Free Guest (Sun Chariot Stakes) and Brocade (Challenge Stakes). Murray, who was riding with a shoulder injury, sent the favourite into the lead soon after the start and the filly held on in the straight to win by a neck from Ever Genial with Bella Colora a neck away in third ahead of Zaizafon and the French-trained Northern Aspen. After three consecutive wins over one mile, the filly was moved up in distance to contest the Nassau Stakes (then a Group Two race) over ten furlongs at Goodwood Racecourse on 3 August. She started 6/5 favourite but tired badly in the last quarter mile on soft ground and finished seventh of the eleven runners behind Free Guest. Al Bahathri met Free Guest for the third time in the Sun Chariot Stakes (then a ten furlong Group Two race) at Newmarket in October. Racing on firm ground, she finished fourth of the five runners behind Free Guest, Capo di Monte and Ever Genial, beaten less than three lengths by the winner, who she was meeting on worse than weight-for-age terms.[6]

Assessment and honours

In the International Classification for 1984, Al Bahathri was rated the seventh-best two-year-old filly in Europe behind Triptych, Park Appeal, Alydar's Best, Helen Street, Seven Springs and Oh So Sharp. The independent Timeform organisation rated her on 114, eleven pounds below their best two-year-old filly Triptych.[2] In the following year she was rated the third-best three-year-old filly over one mile behind Oh So Sharp and Lypharita. Timeform gave her a rating of 123, eight pounds behind their top-rated three-year-old filly Oh So Sharp.[7] In their annual Racehorses of 1985, Timeform described her as "a very genuine filly, a pleasure to watch".[6]

Hamdan Al Maktoum funded the creation of a new all-weather training track at Newmarket, named the Al Bahathri gallop in honour of his filly.[8][9]

Breeding record

Al Bahathri was retired from racing to become a broodmare at her owner's

Derrinstown Stud
. She produced at least twelve foals and seven winners between 1987 and 2005:

After being retired from breeding, Al Bahathri acted as a foster mother to foals and weanlings at the Derrinstown Stud. She died in May 2014 at the advanced age (for a Thoroughbred) of thirty-two. The stud's manager, Stephen Collins said "Al Bahathri lived out her final years in retirement at Derrinstown, and, until recently, had remained healthy despite her advancing years... she passed away peacefully".[4]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Al Bahathri (USA), chestnut mare, 1982[1]
Sire
Blushing Groom (FR)
1974 		Red God (USA)
1954 		Nasrullah Nearco
Mumtaz Begum
Spring Run Menow
Boola Brook
Runaway Bride (GB)
1962 		Wild Risk Rialto
Wild Violet
Aimee Tudor Minstrel
Emali
Dam
Chain Store (USA)
1972 		Nodouble (USA)
1965 		Noholme Star Kingdom
Oceana
Abla-Jay Double Jay
Ablamucha
General Store (USA)
1965 		To Market Market Wise
Pretty Does
General's Sister Count Fleet
Cigar Maid (Family 9-e)[15]

References

  1. ^ a b "Al Bahathri pedigree". Equineline. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-900599-40-5
    .
  3. ^ "Obituary: Tom Jones". Daily Telegraph. 27 December 2007. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
  4. ^ a b "The Great Al Bahathri passes away". Derrinstown tud. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-1-873626-15-3
    .
  6. ^
    ISBN 0-900599-42-1
    .
  7. ISBN 0-85112-902-1
    .
  8. ^ "Shadwell star Al Bahathri dies aged 32". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  9. ^ "JCE Newmarket Artificial Surfaces". Jockey Club Estates. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  10. ^ "Hasbah – Record By Race Type". Racing Post. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  11. ^ "Goalwah – Record By Race Type". Racing Post. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Mithali – Record By Race Type". Racing Post. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  13. ^ "Za-Im – Record By Race Type". Racing Post. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  14. ^ "Munir – Record By Race Type". Racing Post. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  15. ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Maid Of Masham – Family 9-e". Retrieved 15 November 2014.
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