Newbury, England: Gill Duffield, one of the most successful Purebred Arabian trainers in the world, will be looking to demonstrate her authority at the Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) at Newbury Racecourse in the UK on Sunday.

Veteran Duffield, who is based at the Lester Piggott-owned Eve Lodge Stables in Newmarket, Suffolk, is well represented in the day’s eight races, with Al Hibaab being the star attraction as he seeks to defend his title in the Group 1 Dubai International Stakes.

Twelve months ago Al Hibaab became a 12th winner of the event’s feature race for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, when successful under former UAE champion Ted Durcan. On Sunday, the seven-year-old Shadwell-bred son of Al Sakbe will be ridden by Shaikh Hamdan’s retained rider Paul Hanagan.

“He’s not the easiest horse to train and the whole team has worked hard to get him right for Sunday’s race,” Duffield said. “He’s a big horse and I think we have him in the best possible condition.”

Al Hibaab comes into the race carrying strong form, having posted a comfortable victory over course and distance last month despite conceding over a stone in weight to his rivals.

Twice a course and distance winner, Al Hibaab finished a neck second to Lahoob in the Group 1 Al Nahyan Cup at Lingfleld in May after a slow start.

The Jean Francois Bernard-trained Djet Taouy, who he beat last year, reopposes.

Others in the field include former UAE-based Arabian handler Julian Smart’s Qatari raider Gazwan and Handassa, who also races in the colours of Shaikh Hamdan.

Al Hibaab is one of three horses on the card attempting to defend their crowns from last year, including Smart’s Djainka Des Forges, the joint highest-rated Arabian in the world at the end of 2014, who goes in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Hatta International Stakes, also over 2,000 metres.

Djainka Des Forges, who will once again be ridden by Harry Bentley, a popular competitor at UAE racecourses, is among the first UK runners of the year for Smart, who has recently returned from another successful campaign in Doha, where he trains for Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Thani at Al Shahania Stud.

Duffield is also well represented in the 1,200 metres Group 1 Jebel Ali Racecourse Zaabeel International Stakes with the seven-year-old Radames and Salaama, a progressive four-year-old.

A useful gelding formerly trained in France, Radames ran well on his seasonal return at Lingfield in May, finishing just over two lengths behind Lahoob in the Group 1 Al Nahyan Cup after leading close to home.

Salaama has won two of her four career starts including a Group 2 at Newbury last year. She also contested the Group 1 Zayed Zup at Lingfield and a Conditions event last month,

Shaikh Hamdan is also well represented in the Rotana Hotels and Resorts Premier Handicap Stakes by Aljawaaher, who has recently returned from running in the Dutch DIAR warm-up races in Duindigt.

Despite failing to finish in the top four on that day, he has proven form over this track in the past so could come on for the run.

New Arabian trainer James Owen has supplemented Warko Du Cayrou for the Group 2 Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes after the three-year-old made a very impressive racecourse debut when finishing second to the Peter Hammersley-trained Cheik Roque in the final DIAR prep race.

Both horses will be in with a chance of winning a bonus should they be successful.

Arabian Racing Organisation Racing Manager Amanda Smith said: “The Dubai International Arabian Races are the yearly target for so many of the UK and overseas trainers and I am particularly encouraged to see UK-trained horses supplemented to challenge the overseas rivals in the Group races.

“The ARO is very grateful to His Highness Shaikh Hamdan for his continued patronage of this day and I feel that the quality and quantity of entrants reflects the worldwide appreciation of his support of Arabian Racing. I am looking forward to a very competitive and exciting day.”