Two-time Group 2PA winner, Ekleel Athbah put her recent disappointment at Goodwood behind her by storming the www.aroracing.co.uk International Conditions Stakes at Lingfield Park. Partnered by Tom Marquand, the Athbah Racing homebred won the £4,000 seven-furlong contest by a length and a half from Abiyah Athbah and Mohammed Tabti.
Speaking after the race Marquand said:
It was as straightforward as you would have liked it to have been, but we still had to get the job done, which she has. It was a perfect race for her today to get her head in front and I’m sure if you put harder targets in front of her, she’d run them down, which she’s shown in the past.”
Ekleel Athbah Trainer, Phil Collington commented:
That was very easy for her, she’s highly talented but she’s also not the most straightforward. It was quite a quick turnaround since Goodwood but she did seem very well after the race, she ate up and was fresh and well. The signs were good for today and we’ll look at the Group races in September for her now.”
Trainer of the second, Peter Hammersley was pleased with his mares’ performance though he reported that Tabti felt she had been a bit awkward coming into the straight, but then when the winner went past, she picked up nicely.
We’ll just get her checked over by the physio, but all being well, she’ll head to Haydock for the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup on September 9 in which she was second last year.”
Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said,
It was great to see our two highest rated mares go head-to-head again in preparation for bigger targets this season. We congratulate Phil, Tom and Athbah Racing on Ekleel Athbah’s win and we’re delighted to see the two younger UK bred fillies who finished third and fourth gaining valuable experience whilst supporting our amateur riders.”
We also thank Baker McVeigh International who presented Sue Wileman with the winner Best Turned Out award for Abiyah Athbah.”
