Samsa Al Shahania completes unbeaten double

January 31, 2026

Samsa Al Shahania (Assy x Salma Al Khalediah) maintained his perfect record this season with a resolute victory in the penultimate race on the card, a Purebred Arabian Handicap (80–100) for 5yos and up over 2200m, Class 2, contested by eight runners. The six-year-old bay, racing for Al Shahania Stud and trained by Rudy Nerbonne, followed up his seasonal debut success to remain unbeaten from two starts this season, prevailing by half a length under Lukas Delozier, who completed a double on the day and had also partnered him on his winning return. Breaking well, Samsa Al Shahania and his stablemate Ward (Gazwan) were both prominent early, settling just behind the long-time leader Sidi Star (No Risk Al Maury), who dictated the pace through the early and middle stages. Positions at the front remained largely unchanged, with the field content to let the leader roll along, until Jalaad Al Shahania (Jaafer ASF) began to make ground from the rear, bringing the third stablemate into closer contention. Turning for home, the race took a decisive shape as Samsa Al Shahania was asked to move up and quickly applied pressure to the leader, with Ward following him through in a similar surge. Inside the final 300m, all three Al Shahania Stud runners were locked together at the head of the field, racing in the same colours and asserting clear superiority over the rest. In the closing stages, Samsa Al Shahania found most under pressure, edging ahead to secure victory. Ward, ridden by Pierre Charles Boudot, stayed on strongly to complete the one-two, while Jalaad Al Shahania, finishing with purpose under Soufiane Saadi, claimed third. The trio pulled clear to complete an impressive clean sweep for Al Shahania Stud, Rudy Nerbonne and the French jockeys, underlining the depth of quality within the stable.

Image copyright @juhaimqrec