Classy field for Premier Handicap Arabian racing at Doncaster Racecourse Saturday, 2 June 2018

31 May 2018, Doncaster, UK ~ The 11 runner field looks like a competitive renewal and includes the 2017 winner Saleemah trained by Philip Collington, one of three HH Sheikh Hamdan horses in the trainers care that can do no wrong at present having collected a trio of wins at the last Arabian meeting at Chepstow.

Halib Des Forges, a winner last season and second in his seasonal debut at Taunton in May, Munawwar and Thamaraat, will also represent the Royal stable.

Peter Hammersley comes to Doncaster with a triple hand, buoyed by Zayin Angkor Centurion’s excellent 2nd in the Group 3 Royal Cavalry of Oman ARO Cup on Bank Holiday Monday. His runners include Juvenile conditions winner Forta Stud’s Asraa Min Al-Taqa, the recalcitrant Majid Bin Krayaan for HH Sheikha Maryam Bint M Al Maktoum, and long-term campaigner Zayin Zachilles for owner Paul Simmons.

Premier handicap specialist and with three wins to his name Kamikaze trained by Adam Newey and owned by long-term ARO supporters The Almost All Partnership, is better off in the weights since his last win in 2016.

Jayme Plumb aims the Blue Star Racing-owned Elyassat from some way out of the handicap whilst at the other end of the scale Taunton winner Al Faaris, the mount of Jim Crowley, has a chance for ARO champion trainer James Owen who also represents Sheikh Hamdan with Tatbeeq the winner of a Huntingdon Maiden, and Crahck racing for the James Owen Racing Club.

Declarations:

[pdf-embedder url=”https://horsereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/DoncasterDeclarations-0206.pdf”]

A wide open race with many possible options – the soft ground at Chepstow for ARO’s latest meeting certainly made a difference, faster conditions at Doncaster is likely to favour some more than others if the going stays good to firm, it will certainly be an interesting renewal and should offer some pointers for the Dubai International Prep races that will begin on the 14th June at Newbury.

Racing Operations Manager Willie McFarland commented: “ARO is very pleased to see such a great response to this race our participants have strong ties to Doncaster who always look after us very well – we are very excited to be back here later in the year when we will be running the President of the UAE Cup (the UK Arabian Derby, Group 1 PA) on St Leger day, Saturday 15th September.”

The next ARO meeting will be held at Wolverhampton Racecourse on Sunday 10th June where a seven race card has attracted bumper entries.

Arabian racing and breeding takes place in 32 countries around the world. Arabian racehorses in the majority of countries do not race until they are three years old, so foals tend to be born later in the year. Unlike Thoroughbreds artificial insemination is permitted, allowing breeders all over the world to access top stallions, no matter where their mares are. Countries such as France, America, Russia, Poland and the Gulf States have a full program of Arabian racing integrated with Thoroughbred racing, while in Turkey it is almost 50-50 Thoroughbred to Arabian racing at their racecourses. 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. Most races range in distance from five furlongs to two miles.

Image: ©equinecreativemedia.com
~ end