(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Shadwell Stud Dubai International Stakes is the feature event of the day Mu’azzaz wins the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes Group 1 race at Newbury. — Supplied photo
The Dubai International Arabian Race celebrates its 33rd anniversary as the prestigious event gets underway at the home of Arabian racing The Course Newbury on Sunday. The competition is held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance.
Racing action will be of the highest quality with £158000 in prize money on offer. Sunday’s programme features some of the world’s best Arabians set to contest no fewer than three Group 1 events in one of the most important dates in the calendar of the international Arabian racing community.
The feature race of the day is the Shadwell Stud Dubai International Stakes (Gr-1). Defending champion Djet Taouy who has won this race last year returns to the track to maintain his crown for new owners the Royal Cavalry of Oman.
The five-year-old son of Dahes is trained in France by M JF Bernard and will be steered home by David Michaux. Djet Taouy is a top class horse that has also won the 10-furlong Group-1 Arabian Derby at Newmarket and finished second in the Harwood International at Doncaster. Thereafter he was relegated to finish fourth in the Qatar World Cup at Longchamp in October. Both races are Group-1events. He showed signs of returning to his best when winning Shaikh Zayed Cup (Listed) race at Newbury in May conceding weight then took the Group-1 Coupe d’Europe at Saint-Cloud over a mile and a quarter in June. He won twice over course and distance and will take all the beating in the 10-furlong trip.
The immediate threat would be poised by the brilliant Qatari mare Alanga which has been priced at 2-1to emerge a surpassingly clear cut favourite in front of defending champion Djet Taouy (9-4). Trainer Julian Smart has secured the services of the leading jockey Harry Bentley to ride his runners.
Most recently the mare has won a Group-3 race at Bath and the 10-furlong Qatar Gold Trophy race in February. She has finished excellent second to stable-mate Assy in Group-1 Emirs Sword over a mile in Qatar and was beaten by four lengths by Aden over 5-furlong in Newbury last month on her UK debut. She’s very effective over a wide range of distances and likely to prove a different.
Al Hibaab (Gillian Duffield/Ted Durcan) carries the hopes of the patron of the race Shaikh Hamdan and Nernah (Al Hakami/Steve Drowne) complete the lineup of the four-runner small quality field but they are not without claims.
The race kicks off early in the afternoon with the Emirates Airline Premier Handicap Stakes which has attracted a good field of ten runners going to post. The 9-2 French-bred gelding Vent De Faust (Gillian Duffield/ Ted Durcan) heads the odds in the distinguished blue colours of Shaikh Hamdan. He finished second to stable companion Djakbar des Forges on his sole start at the end of last season at Hereford in a Maiden race. He went one better when taking a one mile Maiden race at Taunton in May first time out this season defeating Jabal Aly by a neck. Al Hibaab is a kind of Improving and a strong contender although lacks experience for his Handicap debut. But he will be facing a fierce challenge by the Salem Al Hakamani-trained pair Djent and Marif.
The seven-furlong Gr-2 Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes restricted to 3-year olds Purebred Arabians was won last year by Aden which has been declared in a Gr-1 Sprint on Sunday’s card leaving the door wide open for the appearance of a new champion. Salaama Gillian Duffield/Ted Durcan) could be the one to beat in this race. The three-year-old home-bred filly by Shadwell the UK operation arm of Shaikh Hamdan has sound claims in this race. She has won a 7-furlong Maiden race at Hereford on her debut last month despite running green beating Jumeirah Palm who has won since by 1.5l. Looks potentially very useful and seems sure to improve.
Five contenders have been declared to battle it to the wire in the Emirates NBD International Conditions Stakes. The Qatari-bred Taraf holds the ace to win this race for trainer Julian Smart and jockey Harry Bentley.
Showed very useful form in Qatar in the early part of the year winning twice and placed 2nd twice in competitive events including in the Emir Trophy to Khabbab over 12-furlong. She was unplaced in the French Arabian Derby at Chantilly in June but bounced back to win a Conditions race by a neck from Tawaazun at Newmarket last month on her UK debut stays well and looks the one to beat.
The Jebel Ali Racecourse Zaabeel International Stakes (Group 1 PA) is the premier sprint contest of the UK racing calendar. The 2013 winner Al Mouhannad representing the Royal Cavalry of Oman ran with great credit when third in the QREC Harwood International Stakes over a mile but will be more suited to a return to this shorter trip.
Top class mare Djainka Des Forges will be hard to beat in the Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes (Group 1 PA). The five-year-old Kerbella daughter has won the Group-1 Qatar Arabian Trophy at Saint-Cloud in 2012 and the Group 2 Qatar Derby in Doha in 2013. Djainka ran a fine second beaten 0.75l in the Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic at Meydan in March and was 4th to Djet Taouy in the Group-1 Coupe d’Europe in June.
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