Arabian stars on show
Don’t miss the chance to watch some of the world’s best Arabian racehorses go head-to-head on a day of exclusive action and top activities at Newbury
ARABIAN horse enthusiasts and racegoers will gather at Newbury racecourse on Sunday 30 July for the largest day of Arabian racing in Europe — staged under the banner of Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR). It is arguably the equivalent of the Breeders’ Cup in the thoroughbred racing world.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, patron of both the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) and the Arab Horse Society (AHS), has been a great supporter of the Arabian horse. He has played an integral role in promoting the breed in Europe and the Middle East for more than three decades.
This year, once again, Sheikh Hamdan’s passion and generosity brings together some of the best Arabian racehorses for an unforgettable day at Newbury racecourse.
The eight races on the card provide an opportunity for all types of horses to shine on this international stage; from grassroots level in handicap races, to the highest level with a Group Two PA (Purebred Arabian) race for three-year-olds and three Group One PA races for four-year-olds and upwards.
The race day at Newbury has been the platform for some of the world’s best Arabian horses to showcase their talent. Al Sakbe, winner of the Dubai International Stakes (Grade One) in 2001, was one of the best racehorses of his time and became a remarkable sire.
Other stallions have been victorious in this prestigious race: Jiyush in 2002, Eau Royal in 2004, Majd Al Arab in 2006, Jaafer in 2010, Mu’Azzaz in 2012. No Risk Al Maury, the best Arabian racehorse of his generation, won the back-to-back titles, in 2007 and 2008.
The Za’abeel International Stakes (Grade One PA), run over six furlongs, has long been a target for the sport’s top sprinters.
The stallion Nizam won this race in 2004, and his daughter Al Mouhannad won in three consecutive years (2013-2015), for her owners the Royal Cavalry of Oman, long term supporters of Arabian racing and DIAR.
One of the most successful stallions in the world, Dahess, also accomplished this exceptional hat-trick, winning in three successive years from 2005 for his owner
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The best fillies and mares also have a chance to shine on the biggest stage in the very competitive Group One PA Hatta International Stakes. The exceptional Djainka Des Forges won in 2014, before heading back to France to win the Arabian World Cup (Group One PA) at Longchamp in October. She returned to the UK to successfully defend her Hatta title the following year. In 2016, it was the multiple Group winner Sylvine Al Maury who claimed the title.
THIS year, the winners of the 2016 Group One PA races are all entered to defend their titles: Radames and Muraaqib, for owner Sheikh Hamdan, in the Za’abeel International Stakes and the Dubai International Stakes, and the 2016 highest International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) rated filly Sylvine Al Maury, for the Royal Cavalry of Oman, in the Hatta International Stakes.
They will all face strong competition from the UK as well as France, Holland, Sweden, Belgium and Qatar with horses trained by some of the best trainers in the world including Elisabeth Bernard, Thomas Fourcy, Charles Gourdain, Alban de Mieulle, François Rohaut, Julian Smart, Karin van den Bos.
Gary Capewell and Derek Thompson are hosting the day, which will be a great opportunity to learn about racing and the Arabian culture. Remember, the thoroughbreds you see thundering around racecourses today descend from three
Arabian stallions.