Run up to DIAR day 30 July

Anfaas

14 June 2017, Newbury, UK ~ Anfaas (No Risk Al Maury) ridden by Timmy Murphy for Trainer Phil Collington and HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum came with a late run to snatch victory on the line in the Dubai International Arabian Races International Stakes run at Newbury on 15 July. His Highness’s homebred filly denied  fellow debutant, Bariq by a neck, with recent winner Shomoos Athbah a further neck away in third. Both of these horses were by Burning Sand.

This was the fourth of five Preparatory Races held in the run up to the highlight of the UK Arabian racing season, the Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) which will be held at Newbury Racecourse on 30 July. Run over seven furlongs, the race today supports the Group 2 International Stakes for three-year-olds to be run over the same distance.

Collington was delighted with his fillies’ performance saying: “I thought she’d run a nice race today, but came on for the run. I rode both her dam and her sire and she has similar qualities to both of them. On her work at home, she’s definitely a lot better on this ground, so onwards to Dubai Day now.”

Gemma Cobb, Arabian Racing Organisation Racing Operations Executive said: “That was a thrilling finish and great to see former Grand National winning jockey Timmy Murphy gain his first win on an Arabian in the colors of ARO Patron HH Sheikh Hamdan.”

“The Group 2 race supported by this race on DIAR day had the largest field on the card last year which was very encouraging for the sport, particularly in the UK. With the early closing deadline passing yesterday, that race already has 18 entries at the first stage, which continues the trend of higher entries across the board this season.

“Thanks to the DIAR Preparatory Race Series Bonus Scheme, any of the first three home in this prep race that subsequently win one of the bonus races on DIAR will receive additional prize money. This is a very welcome incentive and a bonus was won by a juvenile last year when the Italian colt, Urge Di Gallura, completed the double for Endo Botti.

She continued: “The final race in the DIAR prep series will be the 1m2f, Dubai International Arabian Races also to be run at Newbury on Thursday, 29 June. This contest is for four-year-olds and upwards and takes place over the same distance as the race it supports, the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes, Group 1 PA, the feature race of the DIAR meeting.”

~end supplied report