The flagship event is on 29 July at Newbury race course
4 July 2018, France ~ The Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) sponsored three of the nine races at the La Teste de Buch race course in France on 3 July 2018. Al Ryma Monlau faced off in the first race of the day to win the 1400 metre Shadwell Prix Bengali d’Albret under jockey Julien Auge. Trained by O. Trigodet, the filly owned by Robert Bourdette finished a neck in front of Neef with Sahmara coming in third. The three-year-old is by the stallion Runner x Bidaya by Nez d’Or.
In the Shadwell Critérium des Pouliches, a Group 2 PA contest for fillies and mares, jockey Ioritz Mendizabal brought the filly Belquees to the lead early on and they fought to win by a short neck ahead of Joudh. Karaboose De Ghazal finished third.
After a promising first season in 2017, Belquees‘ (Mahabb x Aleefa by KESBEROY) win confirmed that she is one of the best four-year-old fillies in the country. Mr Thierry Delègue, YAS Horse Racing Management racing manager, commented: “We are very happy with her victory today and with the way she won: she jumped in front and managed her effort really well. The jockey was very pleased. We are looking forward to going to Newbury for the Group 1 PA at the end of July.”
The final Arabian race of the day was the Shadwell Coupe du Sud-Ouest des Pur-Sang Arabes, a Group 3 PA contest for four-year-olds +. It was the lightly raced Taymour under jockey Roberto-Carlos Montenegro that won the 1900 metre race by a short neck in front of Muraaqib and Hajres. Taking the the lead a hundred meters from the finish, the Mahabb colt resisted the late charge by Muraaqib.The connections have high hopes for this promising four-year-old colt and are discussing coming to Newbury to compete for the bonus awarded to winners on the day who have been placed first, second or third in one of the Prep races.
DIAR travelled further North a couple of weeks ago to Bro Park racecourse in Sweden to sponsor three Arabian races. The races were very well supported by Swedish owners and trainers and attracted horses from as far as Poland. The handicap race, The UAE Embassy Trophy, was won by Suhaim after a great finish. Wictor and Maghazi finished second and third. It was a great success for trainer Charlotte Goss who saddled the first and second.
The DIAR International Fillies & Mares Turf attracted five top class fillies for this condition race over a mile. The remarkable AL Raha won in a very professional way, in front of Cleopathreand Top Medina.
The feature race of the day was the DIAR Stockholm Arabian Cup, a Group 3 PA contest over 1750m won by another Haras de Monlau colt, Al Mounteze Monlau, adding a new stakes victory to his record for trainer Camilla Nilsson. Burkan Al Khalediah and Shadwan Al Khalediah finished second and third for trainer Maciej Kacprzyk.