Tayf and Khataab in rematch

September 6, 2016, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England ~ The Arabian Racing Organization (ARO) confirms eight declarations for the President of the UAE Cup (UK Arabian Derby) Group 1 PA, to be run at Doncaster as part of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival on Thursday, 8 September. The mile and a quarter race for four-year-old Purebred Arabians sponsored by Abu Dhabi Sports Council boasts an increased prize fund of £80,000.

This Group 1 PA will be an exciting contest and rematch between Tayf, for Alban De Mieulle and HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani and Khataab for Thomas Fourcy and Al Shaqab. That pair were separated by a nose when filling the places in the French equivalent at Chantilly in June. Tayf has subsequently won a Group 3 PA in at La Teste in July, whilst Khataab appears to have been saved for this. Heading the ratings is Lightning Bolt from Holland,collecting good Group placed form against older horses and is the most experienced of the eight contenders.

The home challengers have all looked progressive though Difaa, Dossar Athbah and Jamaayil are trying Pattern company for the first time. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Jamaayil scored impressively in a Premier handicap and is deserving of a chance in this grade. She runs for Phil Collington, who also trains Dossar Athbah for Athbah Stud. Difaa looks potentially smart and is trained by 2015 ARO Newcomer award winner, James Owen for Nicola Thorne. Leading Endurance GB rider Thorne has previously tasted top level success with Tidarbret, winner of another of the President of the UAE Cup series races back in 2012 at the Curragh. Lou Raynal was placed in a Group 3 PA at Newbury and his trainer, Beverly Deutrom is having a strong season with her horses running well worldwide – including a Group 1 PA third at the international meeting at Istanbul last Sunday.

Jamaayil

ARO Racing Manager, Amanda Smith commented.  “This is the final Group race of the ARO season and it will be interesting to see how our UK horses compare to the more experienced overseas runners. The President of the UAE Cup series last sponsored the UK Arabian Derby in 2013, when it was run at Newmarket as part of the July Festival and the race often produces future champions.”

ARO Director Genny Haynes was pleased with the quality of the field and said. “This marks a welcome return to UK Arabian racing for the President of the UAE Cup and we are extremely grateful to the Abu Dhabi Sports Council for their generous support of this race.  We are also excited to be bringing top class Arabian racing back to the prestigious St Leger Festival meeting as the racecourse team and the Doncaster public are always very supportive of our races.”

Editor: Doncaster is one of the oldest (and in terms of physical capacity – largest) established centres for horse racing in Britain, with records of regular race meetings going back to the 16th century. In 1600 the corporation tried to put an end to the races because of the number of ruffians they attracted, but by 1614 it acknowledged failure and instead marked out a racecourse. Doncaster is a left-handed, pear-shaped track of around 1 mile 7½ which is mostly flat.

Photo: Top rated UK challenger Jamaayil winning the Emirates Premier Handicap Stakes under Dane O’Neill (c) Debbie Burt Equine Creative Media

~ end supplied report