DIAR winners Include Sylvine Al Maury, Riyam, Lwsail, Pronto T, Cheik Roque, Kayote and Unity Belle
30 July 2017, Newbury, UK ~ At another thoroughly successful DIAR day at Newbury on 30 July 2017, the Arabian Racing Organization congratulated Lighting Bolt (Munjiz x Oleya du Loup), winner of the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Group 1 PA). The winner of the 2017 UK Arabian Derby triumphed over 2016 winner, Gazwan.
Trainer and breeder Karin Van Den Bos was overcome with emotion following his victory saying: “It’s wonderful to be here and to have Olivier Peslier in the saddle, as he is one of the top jockeys in the world. I know the track at Newbury and it suited my horse very well. He fell on his nose in the prep race when he was beaten by Jaldi Karo, but I knew he was better than that. Maybe he will go to Chelmsford City next.”
There was double joy for the Royal Cavalry of Oman as they won both the Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes with Sylvine Al Maury (Munjiz x Savavit Al Maury), pinning another gold star on trainer Mme JM Bernard, and the Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes (Group 2 PA) with Riyam (General x Djenna).
In a repeat of her 2016 victory, the Royal Cavalry’s superstar mare was making her seasonal reappearance, her jockey Jean-Bernard Eyquem commented: “She’s a very good filly, I am very lucky to be her jockey. The pace was slow, and she was a little fresh, so though I know I arrive too early with her, I wasn’t worried. However in the last furlong, just as I thought I was going to win easily, I see Olivier [Peslier on Karimah] coming, but she did just enough.”
Riyam was more of a surprise, in another close finish he got up to win by half a length from Shomoos Athbah. A recent winner on his UK debut for Ellie Mackenzie, she kept the ride and started her first DIAR on a high with a win, and her first at Group level. Commenting on both wins Brigadier General AbdulRazak Al Shahwarzi said: “Sylvine is back from injury and has proven today that she is the best Arabian race mare in the world. Riyam was a fighter and the young lady rode him very well.”
The Jebel Ali Racecourse Za’abeel International (Group 1PA) produced the most impressive win of the day when Lwsail (Amer x Kerra) under Julian Auge’ romped home by 10 lengths over Barnamaj. This was a first Group 1 win for the Al Shaqab owned, Thomas Fourcy-trained colt, proven on easy ground in France over a furlong further.
The Emirates NBD International Stakes was won by the Dutch raider Pronto T (Murhib x Porta T) with Pat Dobbs in the saddle, finishing with half a length over last years’ winner Foaad. Gerard Zoetelief owns and bred the four-year-old colt, trained on the beach in Holland with this being his third winner in a week.
The domestic handicaps also had an international flavor as the winner of the Emirates Premier Handicap, Cheik Roque (Dahess x Fanny De Faust) under Tadhg O’Shea, was bred in France, raced in the UK and UAE, and is owned by Athbah Stud of Saudi Arabia. Whilst the Roda Hotels and Resorts Premier Handicap went to the bottom weight Kayote (Kayeed x Khute). Keira Clarke’s mare relished the rain softened ground and gave leading lady amateur rider Serena Brotherton her first win on an Arabian racehorse.
The closing event, the UAE Embassy Handicap produced a repeat result for trainer Peter Hammersley with the French-bred Heather Phillpott-owned Unity Belle (Kerbella x Escada). Hammersley had trained the winner last year, when Unity Belle finished fourth. The filly has clearly progressed well over the winter as this was her third win of the 2017 season.
Finish Results:[googlepdf url=”https://horsereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/RESULTS-4-2.pdf” download=”Download” ]
Despite heavy rain leading up to the event and the ground changing to soft and heavy in places, there were only two non-runners, bringing the total number of runners to 84, an increase over 2016.
Gemma Cobb, ARO Racing Operations Executive said of the day: “ARO is thrilled with how the day has gone. Our declarations were up again over last year despite the showers, and the crowd was over 8,000 strong. It was very pleasing to see the bonus get claimed in the feature race as Lightning Bolt had been placed in one of the DIAR Prep races in Holland. This has been a great initiative and Dubai International Arabian Races continue to go from strength to strength. The winners of todays’ races, either through owning, breeding, training or riding encompass France, Saudi Arabia, Holland, Qatar, Oman and Great Britain which supports DIAR’s aim of top level international competition.”
Photo credit Debbie Burt
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