Al Shemali pulls shocker in Dubai Duty Free

Al Shemali had not even placed in a stakes since 2007 (Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club) Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum’s AL SHEMALI (Medicean) entered Saturday’s $5 million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) as an ordinary handicapper who looked up against it in a world-class field of 16. About 1:50 4/5 later, the rank longshot had assumed the role of wildly improbable spoiler in the about 1 1/8-mile event on the good-to-firm turf. Unable to keep his spot on Godolphin’s roster, Al Shemali eventually found his way to the yard of leading Dubai trainer Ali Rashid al Raihe. It was not without irony that the unheralded chestnut easily outperformed Godolphin’s Duty Free trio of Calvados Blues (Lando [Ger]), Alexandros (Kingmambo) and Justenuffhumor (Distorted Humor), who trailed home 10th, 14th and 15th, respectively. Al Shemali was well placed early by Royston Ffrench, just off the leading quartet. Tam Lin (GB) (Selkirk) showed the way, with American contenders Take the Points (Even the Score), Courageous Cat (Storm Cat) and The Usual Q. T. (Unusual Heat) in close pursuit.

When Tam Lin packed it in turning into the stretch, Take the Points and his
American compatriots took up the running. Al Shemali then saw utter daylight. In
by far the finest hour of his career, the six-year-old uncorked a devastating
change of gear to sweep past them.

Bankable, also a son of Medicean, sliced through the field in swashbuckling
style, but Al Shemali was long gone. The winner maintained a 1 1/2-length margin
at the line. Bankable was a clear second by 3 1/4 lengths over Imbongi (Russian
Revival). The Usual Q. T. salvaged fourth from Take the Points, followed by
Lahaleeb (Ire) (Redback); Ibn Battuta (Seeking the Gold); Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan);
Courageous Cat; Calvados Blues; the well-regarded Presvis (Sakhee), who was stopped cold when commencing
his run from the clouds and never recovered; Snaafy (Kingmambo); Confront (Nayef);
Alexandros; Justenuffhumor; and the tailed-off Tam Lin.

“It was a pleasant surprise but the stable had been in terrific form and I
knew he’d stay,” Ffrench admitted. “It was the case of getting a clear split and
we got it. It’s the most prestigious win of my career.”

Al Shemali, who advanced his line to 18-4-1-3, $3,242,235, had not managed to
place in a stakes since 2007. Then trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he finished
third to subsequent Derby (Eng-G1) hero Authorized in the Dante S. (Eng-G2) and
missed by a head in the Hampton Court S. He was transferred to Godolphin for his
2008 campaign, winning a Nad al Sheba handicap but failing to score thereafter.
In 2009, Al Shemali joined Mubarak bin Shafya, for whom he raced only twice
without success.

Reappearing off a year-long layoff in his debut for al Raihe in February, he
finished fifth in a handicap at this course and distance. Al Shemali snapped a
two-year winless streak next time out in a February 19 handicap on Tapeta. He
stepped up in class for the March 4 Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-G2), where he
reported home sixth behind Red Desire (Manhattan Cafe).

Bred by Minster Stud in Great Britain, Al Shemali is out of the English
stakes-placed Bathilde (Ire) (Generous). He is a half-brother to Group 2-winning
stayer Tungsten Strike (Smart Strike), and he comes from the family of multiple
South African Group 1 heroine Bad Girl Runs (Western Winter) and multiple Dubai
Group 3 victress Deem (Dalakhani), who just finished fourth in Saturday’s Dubai
Sheema Classic (UAE-G1).