Difaa wins Arabian Races (DIAR) Premier Handicap
Difaa & Will Pettis
10 June 2017, Chepstow, UK ~ Following their success last Saturday at Doncaster, amateur jockey Will Pettis and trainer Phil Collington took Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) Premier Handicap with Difaa, owned by leading British Endurance rider Nicola Thorne.
Coming with a late run the pair pulled almost two lengths clear of Man Of Dreams, with Katonahotinroof MHF and Emiraaty dead-heating for third place in the mile and a half distance.
Collington was delighted with Difaa’s win saying: “It’s obviously nice to progress from the Taunton win and Will taking the 3lb off today had him almost on the same mark. Difaa will now go straight to Dubai Day in July.”
The race is the third of five DIAR Preparatory Races, held in the run up to the highlight of the UK Arabian racing season, the Dubai International Arabian Races at Newbury Racecourse, which this year will be on 30 July. Run over a mile and a half, it supports the DIAR premier handicap run over the same distance.
Gemma Cobb, ARO Racing Operations Executive said: “That was a great performance by Difaa who is clearly going the right way. It is also a great to see an amateur jockey making good use of the allowance we brought in this year to encourage trainers to use them in races that are also open to professionals. Thanks to the DIAR Prep Race Series Bonus Scheme, Difaa and any of the first three home in each prep race that subsequently win one of the bonus races on DIAR, will receive additional prize money, which is a very welcome incentive.
“ARO is very grateful to all the team at Chepstow, and the crowds who have given us such a good reception. We look forward to racing here again on Monday, 26 June. The next race in the DIAR series will be The DIAR International Stakes at Newbury on 30 July. Restricted to three-year-olds it is run over the same distance as the race is supports, next Thursday, at Newbury. The seven furlong race has attracted 9 entries and with some well- bred juveniles, it promises to be an informative contest. It also includes two entries from trainer Peter Hammersley, looking to record a hat-trick of wins in that Prep Race, having won it previously with Cheikh Roque and Khattaf Athbah.”
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