Entries include many of the top Arabians racing today for the five international contests for the DIAR Flagship event
9 June 2016, UK ~ The Arabian Racing Organisation has announced an exciting list of possible runners that include many of the top Arabians racing today for the five international contests on the Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) card on 24 July, 2016 at Newbury race course. DIAR promotes Purebred Arabian racing worldwide from the grass-roots to the highest level, with the flagship event organized under the generous patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Thanks to His Highness’s passion and enthusiasm for the Arabian racehorse, the DIAR International Day has gone from strength to strength since its’ inception over 30 years ago. Always looking to the future and the promotion of the sport, the DIAR committee has boosted the prize fund for the three Group 1 PA contests by £20,000 for 2016. In addition, a travel allowance has been granted to encourage greater participation from overseas runners.
The DIAR committee have also added a series of preparatory races to the DIAR calendar, which now include races in Italy, France, Holland and Sweden, bringing the entire 2016 DIAR program to 24 races, including 10 at Group or Listed level. This supports a bonus scheme, inaugurated in 2015, to ensure that any horse finishing in the first three of the designated warm-up races that goes on to win one of the bonus races on 24 July, will receive additional prize money.
One entry to catch the eye is The Royal Cavalry of Oman’s Al Mouhannad. The popular Christian Baillet trained mare is bidding for a record fourth consecutive win in the Jebel Ali Racecourse Za’abeel International Stakes (Gr1PA). The Royal Cavalry’s other leading filly is Sylvine Al Maury, entered in the Dubai Duty Free Hatta International Stakes (Gr1PA). She rounded off an excellent 2015 campaign, which included four Group 3 successes, with a win in the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy des Juments (Gr1PA) at Longchamp. She is the joint top rated Arabian mare in the 2015 International Classifications and is trained by Madame Bernard.
Another international highlight amongst the eighty-five entries is Gazwan for Julian Smart and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, winner of the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Gr1PA) last season. He may face Al Mouwaffak, trained by Thomas Fourcy for Al Shaqab, the world’s second top rated Purebred Arabian of 2015.
Four of the 14 overseas entries for the Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes (Gr2PA) are from Alban de Mieulle, trainer for HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani. They include Yazeed, the first foal of Al Dahma, winner of numerous Group 1’s including the 2009 Shadwell Dubai International.
ARO Racing Manager Amanda Smith commented. “Thanks to the continued support of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the DIAR committee, we are once again looking forward to a truly international raceday at Newbury. More than half of the early closing entries are from overseas, including seven individual Group 1 winners.”
“In particular we are delighted to welcome entries from Italy, who only recently joined the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR). Urge Di Gallura won the first ever Listed PA contest to be run in Italy (sponsored DIAR earlier this year) and is now eligible for a bonus, should he win on 24 July.”
Supplementary entries for the international races and the handicaps confined to UK runners all close on Wednesday 13 July, according to Smith.
Possible Entries:
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