Looking Back 56) Wahiba

               Wahiba Sands (centre)

Wahiba Sands is a 1993 born bay gelding by sire Pharly and his dam is Lovely Noor.  He made a winning career debut on the flat at Doncaster as a two year old in 1995 with Willie Carson in the saddle for John Dunlop.  He was not back on the racecourse again for nearly twelve months and he was highly tried in some top flat races with a rating in the mid-90s.

His second career win came in October 1997 in a staying flat handicap at Ayr with Kevin Darley on board.  He followed up that with a win at Leicester 13 days later and Frankie Dettori was on board on this occasion and he was third on his next flat start before he was sent hurdling.  John Dunlop trained him to win on his hurdling debut at Leicester with A P McCoy in the saddle on 4^th December 1997.  He went on to win his second start as well at Ascot and then he finished placed a couple of times before he finished down the field in the Supreme novices hurdle at the 1998 Cheltenham Festival.

MCP bought Wahiba Sands from the sales that summer for 105,000 guineas for owner David Johnson.  He made a winning stable debut in the Gerry Fielden hurdle, Grade 2, that autumn at Newbury with Richard Dunwoody riding,  He only had one more run that season and finished second at Haydock after Christmas.

The following season he made a winning return to action over hurdles at Wincanton in November 1999, following up at Ascot next t time out on his first try over 2m4f, winning a Grade 2 hurdle in good style. He went on to finish second in the Christmas hurdle at Kempton and then unseated his rider at Cheltenham in January.  He actually made his chasing debut in the Arkle at the 2000 Cheltenham Festival.  He finished sixth behind yesterday’s horse, Tiutchev.  It was a really good effort considering it was his first chase and he got a little outpaced mid race before staying on really well up the hill towards the line.

After a summer holiday he pulled up on his first run back over hurdles at Wetherby in October.  He returned to fences on his next start and finished second at Newbury before gaining his first win over the larger obstacles at Doncaster in January 2001.  He then ran a great race at Aintree in April to finish a short head second in the Red Rum handicap chase, just failing to get up.  He made a mistake at a crucial time before flying home at the finish in a very competitive race at odds of 15/2.  He went up to Ayr after this and disappointed but then went on his summer holidays.

The following autumn he returned in cracking form with a win at Ascot beating the mighty Best Mate by `1/2 length – the first time he was ever beaten over fences, although he did concede Wahiba Sands 20 pounds.  He followed up that win with another victory back at the track, a course he loved, in December before disappointing in a run after this.  He had a little break but failed to fire in the Queen Mother Champion chase in 2002 finishing well behind Flagship Uberalles.  He finished the season with a return to form and fine second placings at Aintree and Cheltenham’s April meeting.

It was then time for another summer break and he returned to action at Sandown in December.  He found things tough that season off his rating of 161.  He ran some fine races and was placed but found winning more difficult with the handicapper not relenting.  He returned the following season and again was running well but did not manage to add to his win tally.  He ran sixteen times in his final season, picking up prize money throughout and it included six placings as well as ninth place in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival and he also has a crack at the Topham chase at Aintree but pulled up. 

After that season he had a spell point to pointing with Lucy Bridges and although placed in over half of his races he did not manage to get that elusive victory.  He final ever race was at hunter chase at Folkestone in 2005 before David Johnson gifted him to Vicky Sweeney who had looked after him while he was at Pond House.  I know he has had a wonderful active retirement and his is still going strong today.

Wahiba Sands won eleven races and was placed 23 times as well.  Rated 163 at best over hurdles and 100 on the flat he was very talented in all disciplines and won over £270,000 in prize money.

Watch him win over hurdles at Ascot in 1999 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raPh5SYybaU

Watch him beat Best Mate at Ascot in 2001 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eokG2fA_P0U