DIAR International Day at Newbury 29 July
28 June 2018, Newbury, UK ~ On 26 June 2018, Shomoos Athbah under Tadhg O’Shea took the lead in the last furlong to win the 29th July International Stakes at Newbury Racecourse, one of the DIAR Prep series races.
In the select field of six fillies lined up for the ten furlong race, trainer Phil Collington looked the man to beat with two runners, including his Windsor Group 3 PA winner Shomoos Athbah for owners Athbah Stud. Forta Stud’s Shammat Al Hosn took the lead at the start and after the first five furlongs she had the field well spread out. Holding a clear advantage with a good 15 lengths from top to tail, she turned into the home straight with a five lengths advantage over the chasing pack. At the four furlong marker the pack began closing in on the early leaders and the field started to come back together. With two furlongs to go, Royal Cavalry of Oman’s Rehab took control of the race until Shomoos Athbah was asked to quicken. She did not disappoint and ran out an impressive winner under a hands and heels ride, with Rehab showing improved form in second. Anfaas finished third, followed by Naishaan, Vindetta, representing the Almost All Partnership, and Shammat Al Hosn.
A total of five UK preparatory races have been generously sponsored in the lead up to the Arabian Racing Organization’s (ARO) season highlight, the Dubai International Arabian Races, at Newbury racecourse on 29th July that includes four Group PA races which will be contested by some of the best Arabian racehorses in the world.
The next European DIAR Prep races will be held at La Teste de Buch Racecourse, in France on 3 July, and Duindigt Racecourse, in the Netherlands, on 8 July. DIAR will be back at Newbury Racecourse on 5 July with a seven furlong race for three year-olds, and on 12 July with a ten furlong race for four year-olds and up.
Willie McFarland ARO Operations Manager said: “A cracking performance from the winner and an excellent race in all and will certainly give us clues for The showcase event The Dubai International Arabian Races at Newbury on 29th July – we are ramping up now and the countdown has begun, we have already has some excellent entries at the early closing stages and it’s all getting very exciting now.”
Richard Lancaster, Director of Shadwell, commented: “Shomoos Athbah put up a taking performance and she has clearly improved this year. She heads to DIAR Day with a live chance of not only Group 1 PA success, but picking up the bonus. I wish her connections the best of luck.
“The DIAR Prep races continue to be well supported both in the UK and abroad and it should hopefully culminate with high-class fields at Newbury for DIAR Day.”