Shahama Wins Again, Could Target KY Oaks

Shahama  cruised to her fourth straight victory Feb. 18 in the UAE Oaks Presented by JAFZA (G3) on the sixth evening of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, opening the door to a tilt against the colts in the UAE Derby (G2) or even a trip to Louisville later in the spring.

The impressive victory by Shahama, a half sister to Lookin At Lucky, was the highlight of the evening for everyone other than trainer Charlie Appleby, jockey William Buick, and Godolphin, who combined to win three turf races on the program and just miss in a fourth.

Shahama, by Munnings   out of the Belong to Me  mare Private Feeling , ultimately had no trouble posting her fourth win from as many starts, taking out the Oaks by two lengths. But, as in her three previous outings, she had to overcome some issues to get the job done.

Oozes class! Shahama is stunning as she wins the UAE Oaks under Adrie de Vries to make it four from four after not the best start at Meydan! #RacingDubai pic.twitter.com/YoVOuQwsLO

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) February 18, 2022

Jockey Adrie de Vries said Shahama was bothered before the start by the massive Meydan video board and music from the grandstand and thus missed the break. She was last around the first turn, taking substantial kickback, and had to come wide around rivals to reach contention entering the stretch. Once in the clear, she did what was needed in her first start around two turns.

"The kickback was pretty bad today," de Vries said. "But she's a jockey's dream. She gets you out of trouble from any position. She did that easily enough, pricking her ears. I gave her a slap when she started jumping shadows."

In her earlier starts, Shahama overcame wide trips and, on one occasion, an unusual sloppy track to post easy victories and she has not really been tested.

The victory opens multiple options for trainer Fawzi Nass and the owners, KHK Racing. Shahama could go on to the UAE Derby (G2) on World Cup night March 26. And there has been lots of speculation about a trip to the United Stakes, potentially for a tilt at the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Nass was not on hand to discuss plans. De Vries, asked about overseas targets, said with a coy smile, "I've heard some rumors."

Appleby welcomed winners at 1,000 meters (about five furlongs), 2,810 meters (about 1 3/4 miles), and 1,600 meters (about one mile) on the turf. Those outcomes augur well for the blue-clad minions both through the remainder of the Carnival and back home in England during the flat season.

Lazuli , a 5-year-old Dubawi  gelding, split rivals midway through the Blue Point Sprint Presented by Jebel Ali Port (G2), got to the lead and ran on strongly to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Acklam Express  with Australian raider Parsifal  third.

Lazuli finished seventh at Saratoga in the Troy Stakes Presented by Horse Racing Ireland (G3T) Aug. 6—his final start of 2021. He returned with a runner-up showing over the Meydan turf Jan. 28 going six furlongs.

Buick said he could see no issues with a return to 1,200 meters, which would make Lazuli a candidate for the $1.5 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) on World Cup night, but Appleby later suggested a different course.

"I'd imagine we'll leave him fresh and go to the King's Stand with him," the trainer said, referring to the group 1 sprint at Royal Ascot in June.

Manobo , a 4-year-old Sea The Stars  gelding, presented Appleby with local staying options as he easily won the Nad Al Sheba Trophy Presented by DP World UAE (G3), remaining undefeated after five starts at distances out to 1 7/8 miles.

The latest win looked almost effortless as Buick kept Manobo at the front of horses chasing a breakaway leader through most of the marathon. When asked, he quickly sprinted to the lead and cleared the field, winning by 5 1/2 lengths, under wraps.

Appleby said the question is whether to let Manobo try the 3,200 meters (about two miles) of the $1 million Dubai Gold Cup (G2) on World Cup night or drop him back to the 2,410 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) of the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1).

That decision, he said, will depend on how well Yibir , winner of the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), is doing in the next few weeks as he prepares for the richer race.

Either way, Appleby said, Manobo "is a class horse at anything from a mile and a half to two miles."

Appleby and Buick landed the evening's finale, a one-mile handicap on the grass, with Valiant Prince, another 4-year-old Dubawi gelding, who prevailed by 3 1/2 lengths over Dubai Mirage, another Godolphin runner but trained by Saeed bin Suroor.

Bin Suroor denied Appleby and Buick a four-bagger on the card, as Wild Place led home a Godolphin trio, trailed by Appleby's Silent Speech and Home City, in the Al Waasi Stakes Presented by Marfi Deira for 3-year-olds.

Wild Place, a Mehmas  filly, was shuffled back at the start, moved boldly at mid-stretch, and was just up inside the better-fancied stablemate. It was her first win in her third start and in the last, she finished third, 3 3/4 lengths adrift of Silent Speech.