Six Declared for the First of Four UK DIAR Prep Races

Brand Avenue Manual PAGE 18 June 2016, UK ~ Six runners were declared this morning for the Shadwell Arabian Stallions International Stakes to be run at Newbury on Thursday, 9 June. They are headed by recent course winner Aghsaan, rookie trainer Phil Collington’s first Pattern triumph when winning the ARO Cup (Gr3PA) last month.

Collington is hoping to follow up with HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s homebred, Tawaazun, winner of the 2015 race. However they are doubled handed in the event, as Tawaazun’s half sister Naar has also been declared. The remainder of the field includes the unexposed Shaama for Beverley Deutrom in the colors of HE Sheikh Nasser Al-Hashar. The five year old mare is a half sister to Karar, winner of ARO’s longest race, the Royal Cavalry of Oman Premier Handicap over two miles run at Doncaster Friday, 3 June.

The Newbury race is the first of four UK preparatory races leading up to the Arabian Racing Organization’s (ARO) season highlight, Dubai International Arabian Races, also staged at Newbury on 24 July. The race will be run over the same mile and a quarter as the Dubai Duty Free Hatta Stakes (Gr1PA) a race run exclusively for fillies and mares.

The DIAR committee inaugurated a bonus scheme last year, which has been extended this season to reward any horse that finishes in the first three of a designated warm-up race, that then goes on to win one of the bonus races on 24 July. The bonus races are headed by the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Gr1PA), the Dubai Duty Free Hatta International Stakes (Gr1 PA), the Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes (Gr2PA) and the Rotana Resorts and Hotels Premier Handicap Stakes (UK domestic horses only).

ARO Racing Manager Amanda Smith said. “The DIAR prep races and the bonus scheme are an excellent way of supporting our flagship event, which includes four Group races routinely contested by some of the best Arabian racehorses in the world. In addition, it raises public awareness of the meeting and racegoers on Thursday are invited to enter into a draw to win a VIP lunch at Newbury as part of DIAR on 24 July.”
~ end supplied report