Dubai International Arabian Races #DIAR2019
Sunday 28th July 2019 Newbury Racecourse
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL ARABIAN RACES 2019 DIAR always has and always will be, an event of outstanding achievement for HH Sheikh Hamdan, the DIAR Committee, Shadwell Arabians, ARO and all concerned since its’ inception. It was a concept that started at Kempton to encourage the best Arabians to compete at the top level and that vision to this day has certainly not changed. For over 30 years it has continually improved, with the quality of Arabians, the competitive nature of participants and the high standard of delivery of the event. This raceday is recognised worldwide as the ‘pinnacle’ of Arabian racing and speaking on behalf of the ARO Board of Directors, it is one we are extremely proud to be associated with. This year we have champion horses and champion jockeys lining up to compete on our most important full fixture of the year. We also welcome a new award, that of DIAR leading trainer, sponsored by Baileys Horse Feeds which will recognise the trainer gaining the most points across the eight races today. Genny Haynes, ARO Commercial and Finance Director
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL ARABIAN RACES 2019 Order
Time
Racename
Value
1st Race
2.10pm
Emirates Premier Handicap Stakes 1m For Purebred Arabians, rated 50-90, 4yo and upwards
£12,000
2nd Race
2.40pm UAE Embassy in London International Stakes 1m2f For Purebred Arabians, 3yo and upwards
£10,000
3rd Race
3.10pm
DIAR International Stakes (Gr3PA) 7f For Purebred Arabians, 3yo only
£25,000
4th Race
3.45pm
Jebel Ali Za'abeel International Stakes (Gr1PA) 6f For Purebred Arabians, 4yo and upwards
£35,000
5th Race
4.20pm Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes (Gr1PA) 1m2f For Purebred Arabian fillies and mares, 4yo and upwards
£35,000
6th Race
4.55pm
Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Gr1PA) 1m2f For Purebred Arabians, 4yo and upwards
£58,000
7th Race
5.30pm
Dubai Developments Premier Handicap Stakes 1m4f For Purebred Arabians, rated 0-105, 4yo and upwards
£10,000
8th Race
6.00pm Emirates NBD Handicap Stakes 7f For Purebred Arabians, rated 40-75, 4yo and upwards Total
£8,000 GBP
£193,000
In addition to the prize money UP Next Digital will present a prize of £300 to the stable responsible for the Best Turned Out Horse in each race.
2019 Equine Creative Media in association with the Arabian Racing Organisation and The Arabian Racehorse magazine
A brief history of Arabian racing and DIAR Horse racing has existed ever since horses were first domesticated, around 7,000 years ago. The Arabian horse is one of the oldest breeds and was developed specifically for stamina and soundness over long distances by the Bedouin tribes of the Arabian Peninsula. During the late 17th and early 18th century, horse racing became popular in Britain and with races run in heats, over distances of up to four miles, stamina and soundness were of great importance. Breeders looked to the East for this quality and many oriental stallions and mares were imported to help create the Thoroughbred racehorse. The most famous of these foundation stallions were The Darley Arabian, The Godolphin Arabian and The Byerley Turk. Today, around 50% of Thoroughbred’s trace their ancestry to the Darley Arabian alone and with the emphasis now on breeding for speed, the modern Thoroughbred is approximately one second per furlong faster than an Arabian racehorse. Through genome testing, we know that Arabians carry the T:T variant, or stamina gene, as did Eclipse, the elite racehorse of his day, and an early descendent of the Darley Arabian. Arabian racing and breeding takes place in 32 countries, all year round. Countries such as France, America, Russia, Poland and the Gulf States have a full programme of Arabian racing integrated with Thoroughbred racing, whilst in Turkey it is almost 50-50 Thoroughbred to Arabian racing at their racecourses. Purebred Arabian racing began in the UK in 1978 and was established as the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) in 1999 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. ARO holds around 50 races per season, comprising of full fixtures and single races on Thoroughbred cards from spring through to autumn. Just like their Thoroughbred cousins, Arabian racehorses may compete in maidens, handicaps, conditions and Group (Pattern) races and there is an International Classification system to assist global competition. The Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) is a long-established fixture in the European pattern calendar for Purebred Arabian racing. It is the only meeting of its’ kind championing both the top level and the grassroots of the sport, with a combination of Group 1PA races for older horses and a Group 3PA for juveniles, supported by an international conditions race and a range of handicaps. Originally known as "Dubai Day', it was initially held at Kempton Park racecourse on the outskirts of London from 1984 to 1996, it transferred to its’ current home of Newbury racecourse in 1997. The feature race, the Dubai International Stakes, now a Group 1PA over 1m2f, did not become an international contest until 1985 and during the period of 1989 to 1993, was run over 1m4f. Since 2016, with the addition of the DIAR prep race series across Europe, the meeting has gained an even wider international audience, all part of the original vision of DIAR and ARO Patron, HH Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum has recorded an outstanding 52 winners at the fixture since 1998, which includes seven trebles [1998, 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018] and three four-timers, most recently in 2016 [1998,2008]. He has won every race at least once. As the most prestigious day of Purebred Arabian racing in the world, this year it has attracted a total of 153 entries across the eight races, which include three handicaps for UK trained horses only and an international conditions race. After final declarations on Wednesday July 24, 73 horses stood their ground, of which 34 were entered in the following PA Group races.
3 DIAR 2019
Shadwell Dubai International Stakes Gr1PA 1m2f Recent Winners, Owners,Trainers, Jockeys, Ground and Times: 2018
Nafees
Royal Cavalry of Oman
Charles Gourdain
Olivier Peslier
Good to Soft
2.21.03
2017
Lightning Bolt
Langoed Waterland
Karin Van Den Bos
Olivier Peslier
Soft/Heavy
2.24.55
2016
Muraaqib
HH Sh H Al Maktoum
Francois Rohaut
F-X Bertras
Good to Firm
2.19.65
2015
Gazwan
HH Sh M bin K Al Thani
Julian Smart
Harry Bentley
Soft
2.24.36
2014
Al Hibaab
HH Sh H Al Maktoum
Gill Duffield
Ted Durcan
Good
2.32.61
2013
Djet Taouy
Dr P Daverio
Diana Dorenberg
David Michaeux G to F (G pl)
2.18.06
2012
Mu'azzaz
HH Sh M bin K Al Thani
Julian Smart
Neil Callan
Good to Soft
2.20.32
2011
Asraa Min Albarq HH Sh M bin K Al Thani
Julian Smart
Tadhg O'Shea
Good to Soft
2.25.39
2010
Jaafer ASF
HH Sh M bin K Al Thani
Julian Smart
Alan Munro
Good
2.17.56
2009
Al Dahma
HH Sh A bin K Al Thani
Alban de Mieulle
David Bouland G to S (S pl)
The feature contest, the Dubai International Stakes, was first run at Kempton Park in 1984, though moved to Newbury in 1997. The first winner was Valino, ridden and trained by John Elliott and owned by Wishtrend Ltd. though the race did not become an international contest until the following year. The race has since been won by many of the major names in Arabian racing, most notably leading sires, and now broodmares sires, Dormane (1988) and Bengali D'Albret (1993, 1994) . No Risk Al Maury also won twice (2007, 2008), whilst Al Sakbe was the only horse to regain his title (1999, 2001). The last mare to win was Al Dahma (2009). The most succesful trainer with runners this year is Julian Smart, who has trained four of the last ten winners. He is represented by Gazwan, who won the race in 2015 when ridden by Harry Bentley, Olivier Peslier takes the ride this year.
2.20.03
July. He will get an age allowances of four pounds. There are two five-year-olds, Ayman and Shabih Alreeh, though both will need to produce career best performances to win. The most successful sire of recent times is Amer, who has got five out of the last ten winners. He is represented this year by Gazwan, who is bidding to be the first horse since Al Sakbe to win back his title, though he was only half a length away from achieveing that feat in 2017, when he was second to Lightning Bolt. Amer is also the sire of Mehdaaf Athbah, a horse who has already been Group 1 PA placed over this trip in France and showed his well being with a comfortable win in one of the prep races held over this distance at Newbury last month. In this renewal, there are two previous winning jockeys, Tadhg O'Shea (2011 Asra Min Albarq) and Olivier Peslier (2018 Nafees, 2017 Lightning Bolt).
Four-year-olds have a strong record, winning 15 times since 1984, the next winning-most age group are five-year-olds, with 8 wins. They are represented this year by Melabi, an unexposed four year old making his first attempt in Group 1PA company having been a very close third in the Shadwell Coupe de Sud-Ouest des Pur-Sang Arabes (Gr3PA), one of the French DIAR prep races at La Teste de Buch in France at the beginning of 4 DIAR 2019
Shadwell Dubai International Stakes Group 1 PA
soft either. He showed such a liking for the dirt in Saudi Arabia, but here on turf, he probably doesn’t let himself down fully on really quick ground."
GAZWAN (8 H Amer x Arc De Ciel) OR 126 HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani Julian Smart, Doha/Chantilly 6 x Gr1PA: Dubai International Stakes 2015, HH The Amir's Sword 2016, 2018; Qatar Gold Sword 2017, 2018; Qatar Arabian World Cup 2017 Leading horse in Qatar 2017/2018 (prize money won)
Following their prep race win, Tadhg O'Shea who had previously won on Mehdaaaf Athbah at Chepstow and Mons [Belgium] said:"He's a lovely big horse. I had to play my cards little bit early as Martin Dwyer on Awzaan made his move on my outside and I wanted to keep it simple, as it's obviously a prep race for him for HH Sheikh Hamdan's big day here at the end of the month. He's pricked his ears and waited on them, but thankfully he had enough in reserve. He's going to improve as that was his first run in Europe this season."
One of the most successful Purebred Arabians of recent times, Gazwan began his racing career finishing fourth in a maiden at Newbury over 6f on his only start at three years. He has never finished worse than fourth in his entire 29 race career, campaigned primarily at Group level in the UK, France and Qatar. He has won 8,759,750 Qatari Rials, equivalent to nearly £2 million pounds in prize money. Julian Smart commented: "Gazwan is in good order thankfully, as it's taken a while to get him going this summer. He probably needs the run, but of course he will be competitive." MELABI (4 C Dahess x Quinquinna) OR 109 Al Shaqab Racing Thomas Fourcy, France 3rdd Gr3PA: Shadwell Coup de Sud-Ouest 2019
MEHDAAF ATHBAH (7 H Amer x Keen Game) OR 120 Athbah Racing KSA Philip Collington, Newmarket 2nd Gr1PA: Qatar Arabian World Cup 2016 Medhaaf Athbah has been campaigned throughout Europe and Saudi Arabia and was a ready winner of one of the two prep races held over course and distance this month. Having finished third in this race last year on ground that would be softer than ideal, connections will be hoping it stays dry. However his trainer Philip Collington sounded a word of caution last week saying: "He’s trapped with not wanting it too quick, but not too
Melabi fits the profile of the unexposed four-year-old who could take advantage of his age allowance, however it is a big ask for him to take on a horse of Gazwan's experience and class after only four runs. His trainer Thomas Fourcy was very positive saying: "Melabi is very good and he has worked very well. Now there is the opposition. It's strong. In England, he will have blinkers on, it can be interesting. I do not say it will be a penalty kick, but he will not be far from winning."
5 DIAR 2019
Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes Gr1PA 1m2f Recent Winners,Trainers, Jockeys, Ground and Times: 2018
Joudh
2017
Yas Horse Racing Mgmt.
Didier Guillemin
Olivier Peslier
Good to Soft
2.25.49
Sylvine Al Maury Royal Cavalry of Oman
Elisabeth Bernard
J-B Eyquem
Soft/Heavy
2.24.55
2016
Sylvine Al Maury Royal Cavalry of Oman
Elisabeth Bernard
J-B Eyquem
Good to Firm
2.16.33
2015
Djainka Des Forges
HH Sh M bin K Al Thani
Julian Smart
Harry Bentley
Soft
2.25.79
2014
Djainka Des Forges
HH Sh M bin K Al Thani
Julian Smart
Harry Bentley
Good
2.23.43
2013
Shararah
M bin Ali Al Attiyah
J-F Bernard
J-B Eyquem
G to F (gd pl)
2.21.52
2012
Mkeefa
HH Sh M bin K Al Thani
Julian Smart
Neil Callan
Good to Soft
2.22.26
2011
Sanagham
Mrs Robert Litt
Robert Litt
Philip Sogorb
Good to Soft
2.27.56
2010
Nokomys
Athbah Stud Ltd.
William Smith
Mr S Walker
Good
2.19.46
2009
Quesche Du Paon Prince K bin Sultan Al Saud
J-F Bernard
Gerald AvrancheG to S (S pl)
As you would expect, the feature race for fillies and mares has also been won by some really top class horses, such as Mizzna in 2006, who went on to win the Dubai Kahayla Classic Gr1PA - one of only two mares to do so. There have been two dual winners, Sylvine Al Maury (2016, 2017) and Djainka Des Forges (2014, 2105). Both Djainka Des Forges and Mkeefa (2012) went on to win the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1PA) France's most valuable contest for older Arabian horses run on the same day as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. In recent years, the most successful trainer has been Jean-Francois Bernard, and after he passed away, his wife Elizabeth who took over the licence; they are followed by Julian Smart who trains in Qatar and brings a small team to Europe for the summer, however neither trainer has a runner this year.
2.29.08
also trained in France, in Pau by Charles Gourdain. He has a superb winners to runners strike rate in the UK of 4 from 6. Gourdain also runs Vivabaina. She is still a maiden, but is a half-sister to Nafees, who won the 2018 Dubai International Stakes (Gr1PA) for Gourdain and their owner-breeders the Royal Cavalry of Oman. She will be ridden, like Nafees (and Joudh), by Olivier Peslier. Amer is also the leading sire with three of the last ten winners, however, thanks to the dual scorers, Djainka Des Forges and Sylvine Al Maury, their sires, Kerbella and Munjiz, have two wins respectively. Vivabaina represents Kerbella, whilst Bayan is by Munjiz. Both are four-olds who can claim an age allowance, which has helped nine other fillies to win since 1998, with fiveyear-olds being the next most successful age group.
French trained horses have dominated this race winning 6 of the last 10 renewals (13 of the last 19 in total), including last year's running when Joudh, a preprace runner-up, took the spoils and claimed one of the DIAR bonus awards in the process. Jean-Bernard Eyquem is the most successful jockey and he takes the ride on the favourite, Al Shamoos. She is
6 DIAR 2019
SHOMOOS ATHBAH (5 M Burning Sand x Djanet Monlau) OR 105 Athbah Racing KSA Philip Collington, Newmarket 4th Gr1PA: President of the UAE Cup (UK Arabian Derby) 2018; Qatar Total Arabian Trophy des Juments 2018
Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes - Group 1 PA
Shomoos Athbah made an excellent start last season with a Group 3 PA win over a mile and then impressed in of one of the prep races held over course and distance on her favoured good to firm winning in an exceptionally fast time of 2.16.89. However it all went wrong in this race on DIAR when heavy rain changed the ground to good to soft and she finished seventh.
AL SHAMOOS (5 M No Risk Al Maury x Hamiya) OR 119 HH Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Charles Gourdain, Pau 2 x Gr1PA: Qatar Total Arabian Trophy des Juments 2018, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan Jewel Crown Highest rated Purebred Arabian Filly/Mare of 2018
She then placed in a Group 3 PA sprint here, was fourth in the UK Arabian Derby and then filled the same position behind Al Shomoos at Longchamp in October. A winner on the dirt in Saudi Arabia, she was again found out by easy ground in the prep race here last month. Her trainer Philip Collington said:"Shomoos Athbah shows speed, but she also stays, she’s quirky, but so talented. In Saudi with the change of routine and tracks and so on, so got very, very strong so we're keeping to the hood and net muzzle. She’s definitely more effective on quicker ground too."
Bred and initially raced by Dr Al Nujaifi, she is a product of his Iraqi – French bloodlines, from his exceptional broodmare Hamiya, who had already produced Group 1PA winner Muneera. A Listed winner in France, she was only narrowly beaten in her next race before being bought by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, for whom she was an impressive winner of the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy des Juments (Gr1PA). Still with Charles Gourdain, she travelled to Abu Dhabi for the Jewel Crown, where facing stiff international allaged competition, she led from 500m out, staying on well, and was a length clear at the finish. Second in another Abu Dhabi Group 1, the continual to and fro from France to the Gulf took it's toll and she was unplaced in the Dubai Kahayla Classic (Gr1PA) in March. Gourdain said of Al Shamoos: “She is only a little filly, but she has a big heart. She is not easy, but she is brilliant in the morning. Fortunately, she is maturing well and that's what makes good horses. We knew she had the quality, but it she has exceeded our expectations.”
7 DIAR 2019
Jebel Ali Racecourse Za'abeel International Stakes Gr1PA 6f Recent Winners,Trainers, Jockeys, Ground and Times: 2018
Al Chammy
Royal Cavalry of Oman
Said Al Badi
Olivier Peslier
Good to Soft
1.22.94
2017
Lwsail
Al Shaqab Racing
Thomas Fourcy
Julien Auge
Soft/Heavy
1.24.92
2016
Radames
HH Sh H Al Maktoum
Mr P Collington
Dane O'Neill
Good to Firm
1.21.39
2015
Al Mouhannad Royal Cavalry of Oman
Christian Baillet
T Henderson
Soft
1.21.21
2014
Al Mouhannad Royal Cavalry of Oman
Christian Baillet
J-B Hamel
Good
1.25.45
2013
Al Mouhannad Royal Cavalry of Oman
Christian Baillet
R-C Montenegro G to F (G pl)
1.20.04
2012
Hilal Al Zaman Dr M Al Nujaifi
D de Watrigant
J-B Hamel
Good to Soft
1.20.70
2011
Aziz ASF
HH Sh M bin K Al Thani
Julian Smart
Alan Munro
Good to Soft
1.24.63
2010
Nashwan Al Khalediah
Al Khalediah Stables
J-F Bernard
J-B Hamel
Good
1.18.88
2009
Dariya
HH Sh M bin Z Al Nahyan
Robert Litt
Philip Sogorb
G to S (S pl)
1.23.49
The Jebel Ali Racecourse Za'abeel International Stakes has become something of a specialists' race, with so few Arabian sprint races run over six furlongs. There have been two three-time winners, Dahess (2005-2007) and Al Mouhannad (2013-2015). Dahess is now one of the most successful Arabian sires in the world, whilst Al Mouhannad was following in her sire Nizam's hoofprints, as he won the event in 2004. Thanks to Al Mouhannad, Nizam has had the most success in the last ten years, and he was also responsible for the 2018 winner, Al Chammy - a full brother to Al Mouhannad. This year that sire's sole representative is Poloniz, however no nine-year-old has won this race to date. Four and five-year-olds do best in this with six wins apiece. Maravilla Al Maury falls into that categeory as does Conchita DA and El Zarka DA, though a win for either of the last named would mark a historic victory for Belgium as they are yet to produce a DIAR winner in any race.
successful with Joudh in the Hatta International Stakes last year, which was only his second runner at DIAR. Whilst six furlongs is a specialist distance for Arabians, this year there are three winners of the UK's only other Pattern class sprint race, the Royal Cavalry of Oman Clarendon Stakes (Gr3PA), which is run over 5f at Newbury in the middle of August. These are Mith'haf Athbah, Macallan and Kao Kat MHF. The only previous race winning jockey with a ride in this year's race is Olivier Peslier, successful on Al Chammy in 2018, who takes the ride on Maravilla Al Maury. The four-time thoroughbred French champion jockey, also has an excellent record on Arabians, winning 21 times from 28 rides in France last season. His UK record is also very respectable, winning ten times, with five placings from 18 rides and also won on all four of his mounts at DIAR 2018.
This is another contest in which the French do well, winning 14 of the last 17 runnings, however this year there's only one French trained challenger, Maravilla Al Maury. She is trained by Didier Guillemin, who was
8 DIAR 2019
Jebel Ali Racecourse Za'abeel International Stakes - Group 1 PA KAO KAT MHF (10 H Kaolino x Here Kitty Kitty) OR 95 Pharitz Arabians Beverley Deutrom, East Sussex 1x Gr2PA: Royal Cavalry of Oman Clarendon Stakes 2016 The American import Kao Kat MHF, has a remarkable record at Newbury having finished in the first two in five out of his seven starts here. The best of those was when winning the Gr2PA 5f sprint in 2016, but he also won the 40-75 handicap at DIAR the year before, and won the prep race for this last month, leaving Mith'has Athbah trailing behind in third place. However he was then somewhat disappointing in a handicap at Lingfield and needs to bounce back to form at DIAR, though the forecast quick ground would be a concern, as though that Group win over the minimum came on quick ground, he suffered from splints subsequently and was off for a year.
MITH'HAF ATHBAH (7 H Amer x Karouj) OR 115 Athbah Racing KSA Philip Collington, Newmarket 1x Gr1PA: HH Sheihk Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan Cup 2017
His trainer Beverley Deutrom commented:" I’m not sure what happened at Lingfield as he is proven over the distance and likes the surface, so it was a bit of a surprise. However, he is in good form and I’m praying for rain, as he definitely needs cut in the ground."
Mith'haf Athbah has the strongest pattern form in the race, having won a Group 1PA contest over a mile on the Polytrack at Chelmsford City, and a Group 2PA sprint over 7f on Good ground in Toulouse, in addition to his 5f Gr3PA course win. Discussing his chances, trainer Philip Collington said:"When you look at his run last year, on ground he’s doesn’t like, he was only beaten three lengths. We have had a few issues with him which we hope we've ironed out now. We know he’s a top horse, who has proved he’s got speed, so we definitely think it’s the right decision to go to the Za’abeel, though he’s a Gr1PA winner at a mile, he doesn’t get the extra quarter of a mile at the highest grade, so we had to rule out the Dubai International for him."
9 DIAR 2019
DIAR International Stakes Gr3PA 7f Recent Winners,Trainers, Jockeys, Ground and Times: 2018
Tahirwah
Royal Cavalry of Oman
Said Al Badi
Olivier Peslier
2017
Riyam
Royal Cavalry of Oman
Said Al Badi
Miss E Mackenzie Soft/Heavy
1.43.78
2016
Urge Di Gallura Razza Latina SAS
Endo Bott1
Antonio Fresu
Good to Firm
1.35.96
2015
Rasaasy
HH Sh H Al Maktoum
Gill Duffield
Paul Hanagan
Soft
1.38.54
2014
Salaama
HH Sh H Al Maktoum
Gill Duffield
Ted Durcan
Good
1.41.95
2013
Aden
HH Sh M bin K Al Thani
Julian Smart
Richie Mullen
G to F (G pl)
1.35.89
2012
Manark
HH Sh H Al Maktoum
D de Watrigant
Paul Hanagan
Good to Soft
1.33.59
2011 2010
Usimir De Montegut
Salaamah
HH Sh H Al Maktoum Sh M bin Zayed
Thierry Lemer B de Watrigant
Richard Hills J-B Hamel
Good to Soft Good
1.41.44 1.38.63
2009
Altobello
Athbah Stud Ltd
William Smith
Mr S Walker
G to S (S pl)
1.39.60
First run in 2001, the DIAR International is confined to three-year-olds only. HH Sheikh Hamdan has won the race eight times, four of which have been in the last ten years. One owner-breeder who has really been making their mark recently is The Royal Cavalry of Oman, who have a base nearby at Wargrave, where they keep a small band of broodmares and train during the summer months. They have provided the winner for the last two years, with the homebred colts, Riyam and Tahirwah. This year they have another strong hand headed by Almuataz, winner of the prep race over course and distance at the start of this month. He will be ridden by Ellie Mackenzie, who rode Riyam to win in 2017 when she was still an amateur. That year she was also crowned ARO champion novice jockey and at the end of last season, she turned professional, riding her first thoroughbred winner within a few weeks of taking out her apprentice licence. Almuataz is by Munjiz, a sire that has already got one winner of this race in Rasaasy. Also with one winner is the stallion Burning Sand who is represented by Jamrah Athbah, a full-sister to the 2017 second, Shomoos Athbah.
Good to Soft
1.39.38
Urge DI Gallura was a remarkable in that he was already on a four-time winning streak and having won the DIAR prep race in Rome, romped clear for a decisive threelength win at Newbury. Trained by Endo Botti, part of Italy's famous horseracing dynasty, he was ridden by Antonio Fresu. Botti had to settle for second last year, but he is back again with another unbeaten colt, Avez De Pine, who will also be ridden by Fresu. 2018 winner Tahirwah was ridden by Olivier Peslier who takes the ride on Methgal this year for HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalif Al Thani and trainer Julian Smart. Smart is not renown for juvenile winners, though his horses always imprive for an outing. He won this race with Aden ( a daughter of Burning Sand) in 2013. Methgal is one of two runners by the second season sire TM Fred Texas, who has made an excellent start to his stallion career with his first runners including a dual Group 1PA winner. The other is Freddy PY, trained by Gerard Zoetelief in Holland, who has been successful in the international conditions race earlier run in the DIAR card. Both those colts and the only filly in this years's race, Traynah, met in a juvenile Group 2 PA last month in France and all should improve for that experience.
Since joining the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing, Italy has enjoyed a succesful relationship with DIAR, and in 2016 they were the first recipients of a DIAR Bonus Award, when Urge Di Gallura became the first Italian, bred, owned, trained and ridden winner of a UK Arabian race, and indeed a Pattern race at DIAR.
10 DIAR 2019
DIAR International Stakes - Group 3 PA
ALMUATAZ (3 c Munjiz x Karte D'Or) OR Royal Cavalry of Oman Said Al Badi, Wargrave Appears to be the pick of the three Royal Cavalry runners, with Ellie Mackenzie abandoning Zeman, on whom she won on at Windsor and opting for Almuataz, who will wear a visor for the first time. He is out of Karte D'Or who twice won over a mile.
METHGAL (3 c TM Fred Texas x Theeba) OR HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani Julian Smart, Chantilly/Doha Methgal is the from the second crop of Dubai Kahayla Classic (Gr1PA) winner TM Fed Texas and is the first foal of Theeba. Whilst only a minor winner for these connections in the UK, she is a full sister to Ebraz, a three-time Group 1 PA winner and currently the joint highest rated Arabian in training this year. Julian Smart commented: "Methgal is a horse I hold in high esteem and was very disappointed with his first outing, but probably had him undercooked for it, he should be better this time. Inshallah!"
Mackenzie said: "Almuataz is a beautiful horse and he gives you a real feel of class when you sit on him, so I’m really looking forward to riding him again. Hopefully he will follow in Riyam’s hoofprints with another win for the Royal Cavalry in the juvenile Group 3."
MUSTAFEED (3 c Muniz x Kaarine) OR HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Phil Collington, Newmarket One of the more experienced runners, he improved significantly on his debut over 6f when fifth behind Zeman at Windsor, when loosing by a head to Almuataz in the prep race over course and distance at the start of this month.
AVEZ DE PINE (3 c AF Albahar x Razza Di Gallura) OR Mohammed Alfalasi Endo Botti, Pisa
Certain to get this 7f having won over half furlong further and 1m1f on Good or softer, the only chink in this attractive colt's armour could be that he is untried on quick ground. Bred by Razza De Pine, whose Mattia Cadrobi raced across the carpark to see his Eiman Du Loup finish third in last year's Hatta having been delayed in traffic, he will be hoping his colt maintains his unbeaten record and becomes a second Italian winner at DIAR.
Trainer Phil Collington commented:"He’s a lovely strong colt, who's had a great attitude from day one really, he just loves his work and he’ll lead everywhere. The blinkers are just to help him concentrate with him being a colt. We were taken with how well he jumped at Windsor and he just over raced, then Martin Dwyer gave him a lovely ride at Newbury, again he sprung so well , but Martin just managed to settle him in front, he looks like he’s going the right way. He’s always shown a lot of speed, so longer term, we’ll definitely try and focus on that."
11 DIAR 2019
DIAR Leading Trainer Award sponsored by Baileys Horse Feeds Baileys Horse Feeds are supporting DIAR 2019 and the Arabian Racing Organisation by sponsoring the leading trainer across the eight races at DIAR on July 28th. Points are allocated to each trainer as follows: - 10 points for a win - 3 points for fourth
- 5 points for second - 2 points for fifth
- 4 points for third - 1 point for sixth
The trainer with the most points will receive a cheque for £1000 presented by Baileys Horse Feeds representative Mark Buchan following the last race.
DIAR PREP RACE SERIES & BONUS SCHEME Now in it's fourth year, for 2019 the DIAR Prep Race series encompassed 14 races across four countries in Europe and has played a hugely important role in promoting Arabian racing in general, as well as Dubai International Arabian Races themselves. The winner and placed horses in all the DIAR prep races qualify for additional prize money (see below), should they go on and win one of the four bonus races at DIAR 2019. At least one bonus has been won at the last three DIAR events and is an important factor in attracting participants, both in the international races and in the 1m4f Premier Handicap, open to domestic horses. - Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Gr.1 PA 4yo+): £3,000 - Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes (Gr.1 PA for 4yo+ fillies and mares): £2,000 - Jebel Ali Racecourse Za’abeel International Stakes (Gr.1 PA 4yo+) : £2,000 - DIAR International Stakes (Gr.3 PA for 3yos only): £1,000 - Premier Handicap Stakes (UK domestic horses only): £500
Previous bonus winners: Year
Horse
Owner
Race and Prep race result
2016
Urge Di Gallura
Razza Latina SAS
DIAR International Stakes Gr2PA* winner DIAR 3yo prep race, Capanelle, Italy
2017
Lightning Bolt
Langoed Waterland
Shadwell Dubai International Stakes Gr1PA second DIAR Listed PA prep, Duindigt, Holland
2018
Al Chammy
Royal Cavalry of Oman
Joudh
YAS Horseracing Mgmt.
Jebel Ali Racecourse Za'abeeel International Gr1PA Winner - DIAR Sprint prep, Newbury, UK Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta InternationalGr1PA second DIAR Gr2PA prep, La Teste de Buch, France
12 DIAR 2019
DIAR PREP RACE SERIES & BONUS SCHEME Video form for all the horses who qualify for the DIAR Prep Race Bonus at DIAR 2019.
DIAR International Stakes (Gr3PA) 7f: ALMUATAZ, Mustafeed, Jamrah Athbah : DIAR 2019 Juvenile Stakes 7f watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHctcc35xWk AVEZ DE PINE: Premio Shadwell Arabian Stallions 1500m watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQEbCJ6HK84
Jebel Ali Racecourse Za'abeel International Stakes (Gr1PA) 6f: KAO KAT MHF, Mith'haf Athbah: DIAR Sprint Stakes 6f watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkrjRn7CYug Poloniz: UAE Embassy Trophy 1200m watch: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=320397525575154
DIAR Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes (Gr1PA) 1m2f: BAYAN: Premio Taajer - UAE Embassy 2000m watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek8dC-xfdL8
DIAR Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Gr1PA) 1m2f: AYMAN, Jaldi Karo: DIAR Stockholm Arabian Cup Gr3PA 1800m watch: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3117157574962853 MEDHAAF ATHBAH: DIAR 2019 International Stakes 1m2f watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5LLmlwgFkg&list=PLwscpRWMD3rTk_YA71Obc5Fx9DLKB0DLB Melabi: Shadwell Coupe de Sud-Ouest des Pur-Sang Arabes Gr3PA 1900m watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9zTJICsltw
Dubai Developments Premier Handicap Stakes (0-105) 1m4f: Awzaan: DIAR 2019 International Stakes 1m2f watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5LLmlwgFkg&list=PLwscpRWMD3rTk_YA71Obc5Fx9DLKB0DLB RAFEEF, Saleemah, Hau Kola: DIAR 2019 Premier Handicap Stakes 1m4f watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNInFMJDDFM
13 DIAR 2019
DIAR 2019 - Trainer Quotes: 2.10pm
Emirates Premier Handicap Stakes 1m
Phil Collington: TAQDEERAAT This is a race that’s been really good to me, having won it every year since I started training. It’s been very lucky, but all things change and this year we’re very light on milers in that bracket. So it’s just last year's winner, Taqdeeraat for us in there. Peter Hammersley: ABIYAH ATHBAH we're really pleased with her, she’s been going from strength to strength all year. She’s pretty straightforward and I think she’s probably a bit better than her handicap mark, so we hope she’ll give a good account of herself.
Delyth Thomas: PARAMER ANGEL He's a lovely horse who had a few problems when he was younger, but he's been brilliant this year winning twice for me and he gets on with Charlie [Price] really well. James Owen: FARHAA was progressive last season, won in Belgium, the plan was to go to the ARO Cup which unfortunately was postponed. So we ran at Wolverhampton and she won nicely again. She had her first run on Turf a month ago in one of the prep races at Newbury, finishing second, running really well and as it was a conditions race, her mark stays the same.
So she will have top weight, but if she is as good as she has shown us at home, she should hopefully be hard to beat. Richard Hills came and rode a bit of work on her a month ago and said she’s a mile, mile and quarter filly. She wants top of the ground and is a nice filly who should go well.
AL AZEEZA was in training in France with Francois Rohaut. She ran some nice races out there without getting her head in front and she was fit when she came here. We ran her in a maiden at Lingfield over 7f , she won it easy and Dane O'Neill said she felt speedy that day, so we gave her a try in the Za’abeel prep and to be fair she got stuck in the mud and never really got going.
MAYZOONAH she’s not the biggest but she’s as tough as anything. After she won a mares’ conditions last season, I always thought we’d go the 1m4f route with her, but she showed a lot of speed in her last two runs and she’s been unlucky. We thought she’d win last time out at Lingfield, she had a bad draw, she popped out well in front, then got a little bit keen and got trapped wide and just did far too much on the outside, but stayed on really well. We’ve always run her in a hood and she exercises in it at home, but race days she’s as good as gold. So she’ll run without it this time, but have it on in the paddock, as it's such a big occasion.
14 DIAR 2019
2.40pm UAE Embassy in London International Stakes 1m2f Phil Collington: ANFAAS ran in the mile last year. This year she’s shaped as though she will get the extra quarter fo a mile. She won at Wolverhampton on debut, so she’s won first time out, every year she’s been in training from three to five years old. I was very pleased with her run at Lingfield where she gave a lot of weight away, but by the way she’s running this year, she should get the trip well at Newbury.
though we ran him in the prep race and put some visors on him and he won beating Farhaa with some nice horses behind him. I don’t know how tuned up they were but he did it well, galloped through the line and the time wasn’t too bad considering it was slow pace early on. He’s got to improve to win, but this is the right race for him I think. EMIRAATY is a tough campaigner who always runs a solid race. We took him to Belgium as a companion to Farhaa at the start of the season. where he ran well finishing third over a mile, which is far too short for him and we’ll travel again with him after DIAR. He then went to Chepstow and on a slow pace they quickened away from him. The handicapper’s been a little bit kind to him, dropped him a couple of pounds and he ran very well in the prep race just behind Medhaaf Athbah, running above his mark in my eyes. He was second in this last year, he’ll cope with soft, but he's a better horse on the top of the ground, which hopefully he’ll get. He’ll run a solid race, Al Kaaser would be my first choice, but Emiraaty always turns up and tries.
Thomas Fourcy: KAIR AL CHAM is very good, he's progressing every time he runs, but he's not a champion, he's a level below, so he is in his category.
James Owen: AL KAASER is a lovley horse, though was a bit of a handful as a colt, especially last year when DIAR got to him, the buzz of the day and so on, but he's been gelded over the winter and has thrived ever since. We ran him over 2m at Doncaster and he only just won it, I thought a bit laboured winning, but he learnt a lot.
3.10pm
DIAR International Stakes (Gr3PA) 7f
Phil Collington: JAMRAH ATHBAH has come on a lot for her debut run when she was third behind Mustafeed. She's a bit like her sister and she looks like she will only improve from run to run and from three to four as well. I think she will stay further going into next year.
The plan after that was to go for the 1m4f handicap,
15 DIAR 2019
Peter Hammersley: AL-TABARI It’s unfortunate he had to miss the prep race as it means he will have to make his racecourse debut on our busiest day and in Group 3 PA company, which of course is not ideal. However, he seems to take most things in his stride, is well behaved under saddle and has had no issues with the stalls at home, so we’ll just have to take our chance with him.
James Owen: ALAMEEN We haven’t got many three-year-olds and we ran him in the prep race ewhere he ran ok, when the penny started to drop, he was staying on at the end. He’s needs to improve a lot, he’s already improved 7lb from the run, but he probably needs to improve another 7lb to win, he’s a nice horse though.
James Owen: TIJAARY is improving all the time. He’s got a high cruising speed, but last year he was never finishing his races, I think he’s strengthened up and got a bit of confidence from those wins and he’s finishing a lot better. I don’t think a straight mile is his bag, he’s better off a bend at that trip. The last race he won, he actually did some quite quick times in the middle section, so because he’s a racing club horse we’re going to run him in the Za’abeel.
We’ll be outclassed and we’ve got everything to prove, but he’ll go ok. It’s a great experience for the club members to have a Group 1 runner, and if we can pick a bit of prize money up it will be fantastic for them. Alex Chadwick will ride him, after all, how many times do these amateurs get a chance to ride in a Group 1? 4.20pm Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes (Gr1PA) 1m2f Thierry Delegue, YAS Horse Racing Manager : BAYAN After this filly won in the DIAR race at Capanelle, we hoped to go to Newbury, like we did with Joudh last year. She is a good filly who was second in a Group 1 last year.
3.45pm Jebel Ali Za'abeel International Stakes (Gr1PA) 6f Didier Guillemin: MARAVILLA AL MAURY has just won over 7f and now she is going to run 6f in Newbury. The course will please her and she has just beaten a good horse, so I hope it's going to be okay, especially because it's a good race which will increase her value, her owner bred her too, so it's worth trying, I think 6f will suit her perfectly.
16 DIAR 2019
4.55pm 1m2f
Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Gr1PA)
Maria Hagman-Eriksson: AYMAN is a really nice horse, I got him when he just turned four last season and he then won five races for me. He has won twice for me this year and this was the best option for him at DIAR.
Thomas Fourcy: SHABIH ALREEH I do not know him well as I have not had him for long. If he wants to, he certainly has the ability to do well. In the morning, he has good action, but he has a little bit of character. The Newbury meeting is a big deadline for him, though it's always nice to go abroad and run in these great races.
5.30pm Dubai Developments Premier Handicap Stakes 1m4f Phil Collington:
HALIB DES FORGES he has a big chance off the back of last year’s second place. He’s much better at the weights than Saleemah, who prefers slower ground than Halib.
SALEEMAH has had the same preparations as last year, with one run before this race and I was pleased with her second at Chepstow. You can never write her off, she’s so genuine and very adaptable. She’s just that bit stronger on the easier ground.
THAMARAAT is in fantastic form since Bath, I think if there’s one horse, she could be the one. She has taken a while though, she really confused us with her best distance and her headgear, but I went back to blinkers with her win at Bath.
She’s won in cheek pieces twice and we thought we were spot on there, but then when you look back to when she was second to Tahirwah at Chelmsford last year, you think well that was very good run and over a shorter distance. She just looked like she was going a little bit stale in cheek pieces and Steve Harrison gave her a very positive ride at Bath and it paid off.
17 DIAR 2019
Peter Hammersley: HAU KOLA he has been so unlucky, losing by narrow margins in many of his races, so if he gets the run of the race he must surely go close. Hopefully there will be a decent pace and it will stay dry, he’s not so effective on soft.
James Owen: AWZAAN had a few little issues at the start of the season, so we were easier on him and he needed that run at Chepstow, the handicapper dropped him a little bit, which he needs to because he’s just not quite Group level, he’s Listed class and there aren’t the opportunities for him here. He has grown up a lot this year, running really well at Newbury last time and handled the prelims so much better. We’ve just got to let him show us what he needs, Tim Bryce my assistant has been great with him and he’s thrived since that race.
RAFEEF won really well at Chepstow in the prep, it was a step up in trip and the last two runs in the visors, she’s been strong. I just hope the ground won't be too quick for her as she likes a bit of cut.
JADAAYIL is a really tough little filly. We took her to Belgium with Rafeef to a track called Waragem where she was fourth, she skidded on the bend, but learnt a lot. We then ran her at Chepstow over a mile and she ran ok, staying on, but didn’t really handle the track that well. She stepped up to 1m1.5f at Wolves where she won nicely, though there was a lot of trouble in running, but just getting there in the end. I was going to run her again at Bath, but she’s well in on her mark , so we’ve waited with her and she’s at the bottom of the weights in this and she should go well.
6.00pm Emirates NBD Handicap Stakes 7f Phil Collington: AL MUTHANA is all speed, he’s seems like he won’t stay further than a mile, but it was the only race we could start him off in when he ran at Wolverhampton on his debut this year and Simon Walker said he didn’t stay. He shows a lot of speed at home, I think the straight course doesn’t pose any problems for him, but I think he’ll need a smooth passage.
18 DIAR 2019
Beverely Deutrom: CRAHCK– Any rain would be great for him too! He also needs cut, he’s a good honest horse who is very easy to train.
Peter Hammersley: ZAYIN ZACHILLES When it’s quick ground at Newbury he’s either been placed (over 1m2f) or won (this race in 2016). He has had an easier year than usual, and hopefully he shouldn’t be too far away, he’ll run in a visor.
BIN AL REEH would prefer a bit of cut in the ground, which doesn’t seem likely at this stage. Ellie Mackenzie will ride as she’s got the best tune out of him so far, but we’ll put cheek pieces on him to help her. James Owen: AMEED is a tough as they come, to be fair all the family are tough out of Horkidee, like Al Kaaser and Naishaan, I can’t get to the bottom of him!
He ran well at Bath, staying on and he’s learning all the time, he’s putting his mind on the job more now and Alex has done a great job on the horse. He had a few issues with the stalls and that’s all sorted out now. He ran well last time out, it was only three days after his last run and he galloped all the way to the line, despite looking at all the flowers and things and he took it well. MAWARID is our main hope in this race. I thought he was disappointing last season, as he used to gallop really well, but gelding him over the winter was a good job and he’s thrived for that. I’m not staying he’s a star, but he’s probably fairly well treated. He went up 7lb for his win at Chelmsford, but I don’t think many win on the far side, he came right across the course under an inexperienced rider and once he hit that rail he started galloping again. He does have a tendency to do that, he’s done it in a couple of his runs, but he doesn’t do it at home so we’re going to put some visors on him and hope that will help him concentrate. Alex can claim but he's had plenty of experience, they should go well.
ARWEN FORTA runs for the Racing Club in this with Antonia who rides her at home and can claim three pounds. Whatever she does this year she'll be better next season, she's a nice filly.
19 DIAR 2019
DIAR 2019 - New Jockeys At this year's fixture it is not just Champion Conditional National Hunt Jockey Bryony Frost who will be experiencing DIAR for the first time. Two more young riders attached to James Owen's Green Ridge Stables will also get their first experience of the ARO season highlight. Alex Chadwick, 24 Previoulsy based in Scotland with Sandy Thompson where he had a brief spell as a conditional jockey, he has since returned to the amateur ranks, with the intention of progressing his riding career in that sphere. He explains: "I'd had about 100 rides, but only 3 winners, so I came here just to ride out, I just wanted a job really. I was more focussed on point-to-pointing as it’s easier to get winners than when riding under rules. The aim was to get more winners to sell myself to outside owners and its just spiralled from there, I had six winners pointing this season, plus another under rules as an amateur and now three Arabian winners, it's hard to believe I'm currently second in the ARO jockeys championship!"
He started off in pony racing aged eight, twice becoming the Midlands Champion, though he admits it was sibling rivalry that got him there saying: "The only reason I started riding was because of my sister, I saw her doing well and and I thought I want to be better than you! I think she's still a better rider now actually." He feels his jump racing experience has been beneficial commenting: "I’ve found that riding as a jump jockey has really helped me with the Arabians, as I’m used to getting in behind a horse to get it going, using my legs and having to drive them. When they put their head up it can be quite hard, but once they're going, they're going, its just getting there that can take a bit of time." Of DIAR he says: "I’m going in with an open mind really, it’s been my first season riding Arabians, so it’s very different to what I have done before. I was a conditional
jump jockey, so I’m used to going slowly! I’ve never ridden over 6f so riding Tijaary in the Za’abeel will be a new experience and I don’t really know what to expect, but James has been very loyal to me and I’m grateful for that." Ben Bromley, 16 Also a graduate of pony racing, his father Anthony is better known in thoroughbred circles as part of Highflyer Bloodstock sourcing many of the UK's leading National Hunt horses, including the afforementioned Bryony Frost's Grade 1 winning mount Frodon. He started pony racing when he was 12, where he gained five winners from 60 rides, of this experience he says: "I think pony racing is a really good way to start. I started pointing this season with James and had seven rides and three winners, unfortunatley I then broke both my thumbs so was off for quite a long time, but I was still coming into the yard and watching all the lots."
He made his ARO debut in June in a single race on a thoroughbred card at Lingfield Park, he explains: "James gave me a lovely ride on Al Faaris. It was a great experience from being in the weighing room with all the valets, to coming out of stalls in a race for the first time, it was all a big learning curve from point-to-pointing." His next outing for the Owen team will be on Karlos Du Cayrou for James's wife Jenny in the last race at DIAR. This will only be his second ride in public on an Arabian but he is not fazed saying: "I’ve been riding out here for about a year and a half so I’ve ridden the Arabians at home quite a lot and ridden lots of work on them. "The size of them I think is the main concern for a lot of jockeys, they do remind me of my ponies a little bit, they have a high head carriage, so it is hard when you’re quite tall. They’ve taught me a lot though. I led up at DIAR last year, so to have the opportunity to ride at such a big day will be brilliant."
20 DIAR 2019
ARO Championships 2019 The season mid-point has already been passed and once again ARO and DIAR Patron, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum is having another excellent year. His Highness is easily on course to retain the owners title and record his eighteenth championship.
Amateur Jockeys
Owners Owner
The amateur jockeys' championship is always a close run affair, with 2017 champion David Turner just ahead of Alex Chadwick having his first season riding under ARO rules. At this stage Antonia Peck leads three-time defending champion Joanna Mason in the ladies title, by 1 win, though is well clear on placings, with three seconds and three thirds to Mason's sole third place.
1st
2nd
3rd
HH Sheikh H Al Maktoum 11
12
11
Mrs D Thomas
3
1
0
Royal Cavalry of Oman
2
2
2
James Owen Racing Club
2
0
1
Dilmun Racing
1
2
0
Dual champion trainer James Owen, made a superb start to the season and looks to be in a strong position to reclaim the title from last year's winner, Phil Collington. Collington made a slow start to his UK campaign after a productive winter in Saudi Arabia, however he has a strong record at DIAR, whilst Owen is still awaiting his first winner at the highlight fixture.
Jockey
1st
2nd
3rd
Mr David Turner
3
4
0
Mr Alex Chadwick
3
2
2
Miss Antonia Peck
2
3
3
Mr Stephen Harrison
2
1
3
Mr Simon Walker
1
2
0
Tadgh O'Shea has some ground to make up to retain the professional jockeys title for a fourth year running. It is hugely encouraging to see apprentice jockey Ellie Mackenzie and conditional jockey Charlie Price heading the professional championship as they both turned professional at the end of the 2018 ARO season, having been the champion ARO novice riders in 2017 and 2016 respectively.
Professional Jockeys
Trainers
Jockey
1st
2nd
3rd
Ellie Mackenzie
3
1
1
Charlie Price
2
1
1
0
Dane O'Neill
2
1
1
3
2
Martin Dwyer
1
2
0
2
2
Tadhg O'Shea
1
0
2
Trainer
1st
2nd
3rd
James Owen
11
6
9
Philip Collington
3
7
6
Mrs D Thomas
3
1
Mr Peter Hammersley
2
Said Al Badi
2
Dubai International Arabian Races #DIAR2019
Sunday 28th July 2019 Newbury Racecourse