30 April 2018, Rome, Italy ~ It was a beautiful sunny day in Rome on the 29th April, the perfect setting for the triumph of Endo Botti, the Italian trainer won the three Arabian races staged under the Dubai International Arabian Races banner.
The first race of the day was the Premio Taajer at Besnate, a conditions race for fillies and mares. EIMAN DU LOUP took the lead from the start and stretched easily in the final straight to win by a comfortable margin. Ridden by Antonio Fresu, the four-year-old daughter of Kerbella carries the colors of Razza de Pine.
The second race was a conditions race for three-year-olds over 1500m, the Shadwell Arabian Stallions Stakes. ZOE DI GALLURA, ridden by Carlo Fiocchi, won by three lengths. His half-brother URGE DI GALLURA won this race in 2016 before traveling to the UK and winning the Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes (Gr. 2 PA) at Newbury. Their breeder, Giovanna Picconi, said: “URGE DI GALLURA used to do everything easily. ZOE DI GALLURA is a little bit different: he has a stronger temperament and conformation. We would be very happy to go to Dubai Day at Newbury again, we will discuss it with the trainer.”
The third Arabian race was the Listed PA Premio Dubai International Arabian Races 2018 over 2000m, which attracted several foreign runners. But it was a horse trained in Italy who won in a thrilling finish: RAMIZ AL AZIZ fought bravely to win by a nose in front of NO AND NO AL MAURY. DJEBEL DE LA ROQUE completed the podium.
The winning owner, Mr. Paul Daverio, commented: “We are very happy about the progress of this horse who has changed completely since last year. His first run this season was on very heavy ground and he won there by ten lengths. We have a few other stakes races in mind in Italy this year but we will also consider going to Newbury to compete over the same distance.”
The trainer of the three winners, Endo Botti, was delighted with the performances of his runners through the whole card and is looking forward to the rest of the racing season, in Italy as well as abroad.
Mirza Al Sayegh, chairman of Shadwell, commented: “We are very grateful to the racecourse, ANICA, the ministry, and all who have worked hard to make this day possible. We added a third Arabian race this year and we are very happy to see the support from Italian owners and trainers. We hope to see many of them at Newbury on the 29th July.”
~ supplied report