Newbury, England: Sunday’s renewal of the Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR), purebred Arabian racing’s flagship race meeting which was held at Newbury Racecourse in Surrey, England, has been hailed a huge success following victories by horses trained in Holland, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
The event, which was conceived by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, some 36 years ago aims to promote the Arabian racehorse worldwide.
And the eight-race meeting, organised under the banner of the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO), more than lived up to expectations not just on the record number of 84 runners that were in action, but on several levels.
The feature race, the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Group 1 PA), produced a close finish with UK Arabian Derby winner Lightning Bolt just getting the better of the 2015 winner Gazwan.
Trainer and breeder Karin Van Den Bos was delighted to win on Arabian racing’s biggest stage and said: “It’s wonderful to be here and to have Olivier Peslier in the saddle, as he is one of the top jockeys in the world.
“I know the track at Newbury and it suited my horse very well.
“Olivier fell on his nose in the prep race when he was beaten by Jaldi Karo, but I knew he was better than that. Maybe he will go to Chelmsford City next.”
Runners representing the Royal Cavalry of Oman won both the Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes (Group 1) with top-rated mare Sylvine Al Maury and also the Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes (Group 2 PA) with Riyam.
The Royal Cavalry’s superstar mare was making her seasonal reappearance to defend the title she won 12 months ago.
Her jockey Jean-Bernard Eyquem said: “She’s a very good filly, I am very lucky to be her jockey. The pace was slow, and she was a little fresh, so though I know I arrived too early with her, I wasn’t worried. However in the last furlong, just as I thought I was going to win easily, I saw Olivier [Peslier on Karimah] coming, but she did just enough.”
In another close finish Riyam scored by half a length from Shomoos Athbah.
A recent winner on his UK debut, he was providing exciting apprentice Ellie Mackenzie with her first at Group level.
Brigadier-General AbdulRazak Al Shahwarzi, who has been a regular participant during the UAE flat racing season, said: “Sylvine is back from injury and has proven today that she is the best Arabian race mare in the world. Riyam was a fighter and the young lady rode him very well.”
The Jebel Ali Racecourse Za’abeel International (Group 1PA) saw Lwsail come home by 10 lengths from Barnamaj while the Emirates NBD International Stakes was won by the Dutch raider Pronto T, who prevailed by half a length from last year’s winner Foaad.
Gerard Zoetelief owns and bred the four-year-old colt who was notching his third winner in a week.
The Emirates Premier Handicap went to Cheik Roque who was bred in France, but has raced in the UK and UAE and is owned by the Athbah Stud of Saudi Arabia.
Representatives of new sponsor Roda Hotels and Resorts, who lent their name to the Premier Handicap, applauded as Kayote, Keira Clarke’s mare, gave leading lady amateur rider Serena Brotherton her first win on an Arabian racehorse.
The closing event, the UAE Embassy Handicap, produced a repeat win for trainer Peter Hammersley with the Heather Phillpott-owned Unity Belle, who she bred in France.
Hammersley had also trained the winner last year, when Unity Belle was fourth.
Mirza Al Sayegh, Director of Shaikh Hamdan’s Office and the passionate Chairman of the DIAR Committee, was delighted with the impact the event has had.
“The Dubai International Arabian Races is an important part of Shaikh Hamdan’s vision to enable more people to enjoy the sport of Arabian horse racing and with the support of Shadwell to help more countries to develop the sport internationally,” he said.
“Last year, we were very pleased to see so many people attending our flagship event at Newbury and we couldn’t be more happier with the 8,000 fans who attended this year’s races.
“The hard work of our committee and our partners has paid off and it demonstrated why the DIAR is regarded as one of the best and most prestigious days of Arabian racing anywhere in the world,” he added.
“It is heartening to see that the travel allowances for international runners and bonuses on offer has resulted in a record number of runners, including 26 international horses taking part in our event. The bonus fund encourages international runners to the UK by offering a prize money bonus to horses placed in DIAR races in their own country which then go on to win one of the bonus races at Newbury.”
Gemma Cobb, ARO Racing Operations Executive, added: “ARO is thrilled with how the day has gone. Our declarations were up again on last year and despite the showers, the crowd was over 8,000 strong. It was very pleasing to see the bonus get claimed in the feature race as Lightning Bolt had been placed in one of the DIAR Prep races in Holland. This has been a great initiative and Dubai International Arabian Races continue to go from strength to strength. The winners of today’s races, either through owning, breeding, training or riding encompass France, Saudi Arabia, Holland, Qatar, Oman and Great Britain which supports DIAR’s aim of top level international competition.”
