17 March 2016, Australia ~ A 30 year association between His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and South Australia took a new turn when his Shadwell Stud Australasia sponsored the first Arabian races at Morphettville Racecourse on 12 March 2016.
The entire Thoroughbred race meeting was sponsored by Shadwell with all the races being named after HH Sheikh Hamdan’s past Group One winners. The two Arabian races were conducted under the umbrella of Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR). The National Arabian Racehorse Association (NARA) and the South Australian Jockey Club (SAJC) combined forces with Shadwell Australasia to ensure a great day of racing.
The runners in the two Arabian races came from as far away as Victoria, Far North Queensland, and NSW, and entailed a journey of many days on the road for their connections. It is hoped that with more racing on offer, South Australian breeders and owners will be encouraged to participate.
DIAR UAE Arabian Plate
The $20,000 DIAR UAE Arabian Plate over 1450 metres was run on a track rated a slow 6, a result of very welcome rain over the preceding days. This Weight for Age race was won
convincingly by the handsome grey gelding Justice For All MI (WH Justice (US) x Mulawa
Anastazia) in a time of 1:46:95. Owners Scott and Fiona Green were on hand to witness his second win of the season. Second in was Aloha Thee Desperado under Josh Cartwright. Both these horses were trained by Anthony Mountney from New South Wales. In third place was Prince Charming FF ridden by Jamie Lee Kah.
The mares Ethereal Park Solette and Jupiter Samira were 4th and 5th respectively. Interestingly, the runners placed in the exact order of their saddlecloths, 1 to 5.
DIAR Shadwell Arabian Stallions Plate
The $30,000 DIAR Shadwell Arabian Stallions Plate over 1800 metres was a fiercely contested thriller with the evergreen Warrawee Naaziq (Trystan Bobbi Dazzlah x Warrawee Naadiq) saluting in a time of 2:16:94.
This bay gelding has 5 wins to his credit, the most recent being the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Championship (IFAHR) 1600 metres at Caulfield last January. It was a hard- fought finish in the straight with Warrawee Naaziq coming from behind under owner/trainer Kim Noble to snatch first place from Katie Spalding aboard the Noni Seagrim trained gelding Turingal Park Vassili owned by
Vanessa Richardson. Third was Coolinda Park Winston ridden by Annelise King and owned by
Scott and Fiona Green. The Noni Seagrim owned and trained Cromarty Park Zataal with Josh Cartwright up was hot on their heels in fourth place.
It was a real family day and the many attractions on offer swelled the normal attendance of 900
to over 3,000 enthusiastic race-goers. The Arabian Rainbow Horses competition where 6 local Primary schools painted life-sized fibreglass horses to be in the running to win cash prizes for their schools was a hit with all. A Cultural Marquee with henna tattoos, face painting and delicious Middle
Eastern food plus pony rides gave the patrons a view of the Middle East in their own back yard.
After the Arabian races His Excellency Mirza Al Sayegh and the Shadwell delegation from
Dubai, Shadwell Australasia Director Mr Mark Kelly, the UAE Ambassador to Australia, His
Excellency Dr Obaid Al Ketbi, representatives from the South Australian Government and
Adelaide City Council, local and interstate Thoroughbred and Arabian breeders and owners all
adjourned for a Shadwell hosted luncheon for 100 guests in the Leilani Room. The afternoon’s
proceedings were hosted by the knowledgeable Victoria Shaw, who also called
the Arabian races and presided over the post race presentations.