DIARD - Dubai International Arabian Race Day
Three-year-old chestnut filly Salaamah FR struts her stuff in Newbury Racecourse's
Winner's Circle after winning the Emirates Equestrian Federation International
Stakes (Group 2) for owner Sheikh Monsoor Bin Zayed. Photo Racing International
A record of over 16,000 enthusiastic racegoers attended the Dubai International Arabian Race Day at Newbury Racecourse July 18 in perfect weather.
Dubai Summer Festival organisers provided wonderful carnival-type play facilities for children of every age and extensive food and beverage selections for the happy, relaxed crowd.
It was an informal raceday with many forming picnic groups in front of the stands as they did at Dubai's old Nad Al Sheba racecourse.
Many are repeat guests who know the Arabian horses well and availed themselves of the Tote betting windows for a record turnover.
Missing this year was the sponsors' corporate marquee and the Arab skin painting specialists who served delicious Middle Eastern coffee to their 'free' clients.
The 'Colourful Camels' and 'Horses', designed by children at nine local schools was one of the most popular attractions of the day followed by the 'Best Dressed Ladies' and 'Best Child's Hat'.
Every attendee had a chance to win the Toyota and other prizes awarded after each of the eight Arabian races.
The races themselves were of the first order with a quality card equal to any at Ascot or Newmarket. The horses race under Rules. The only difference from predominant UK racing is that the horses are Arabians not thoroughbred.
The Darley and Godolphin Arabians were the orginal horses bred to create the modern thoroughbred.
Arabian horses start racing at three as they mature later than thoroughbreds. They tend to be smaller than thoroughbreds and are not quite as fast, but are probably smarter. They certainly have more character and are more independent than most thoroughbreds.
Despite first-class entires from all over Europe and the Middle East, British trainers won six of the eight races with French trainers winning both Group sprints (photo of Salaamah above).
The Emirates Airline Premier Handicap Stakes was won by Jamaahir (Makzan FR) by a neck to Dakaran (Kamah UY) in a killer jockey battle with popular Sarah Doyle prevailing over Rachel Kneller.
Welsh owner-trainer Delyth Thomas was thrilled saying "He's such a lovely horse and tries so hard. I can't quite believe he's won, but I think it would have broken my heart if he had been second yet again; it's a dream come true to win here and Sophie rode a superb race."
Jamaahir was bred by Shadwell Estate Company Ltd owned by DIARD's Patron Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The Meydan International Stakes produced the first of trainer Julian Smart's two victories with jockey Alan Munro.
Smart regularly trains Arabians for Qatar's HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani and campaigns them worldwide.
Six-year-old grey Mu'azzaz (Amer) seemed to tire in the final stages of the 1m 2f race, but was galvanised by Munro to win by 2-1/4 lengths.
The Emirates NBD Hatta International Stakes (Group 1 PA) brought the first Group 1 success for Nokomys' breeder Jane Haddock.
Trainer William Smith was happy to share the spotlight with Ms Haddock for what was probably the most popular victory of the day.
Owner HRH Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Ahmed Al Saud was so confident he attended the race and accepted the trophy himself for his Athbah Stud Limited.
Nokomys (Amer) is very well known and loved in Britain. It seemed that almost everyone there wanted her to win.
The plucky mare had the 1m 2f race in hand and was overtaken by Al Anqa (Amer).
There were gasps and the strangest feeling came over the stands. As if we were of one mind, the crowd willed her to fight back and willed her home to her success.
Plucky eight-year-old Nakomys with her proud British trainer William Smith, jockey
Sam Walker and breeder Jane Haddock. Photo Racing International
HRH Prince Abdu Aziz Bin Ahmed Al Saud of Saudi Arabia accepted victory for his
Nokomys with Gary Dugan, Sulaiman Al Mazroui and Saif Al Mansoor (left to right).
The Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Group 1 PA), second Group 1 of the day, was won by another smashing grey Jaafer (Amer) trained by Julian Smart and ridden by Alan Munro.
The handsome six-year old demonstrated his extraordinary turn of foot to stalk and devastate the second and third, Adjinn D'Aroco and Jalab Al Khalidiah, by three lengths in the 1m 2f race.
This is a horse with great style and charisma who impressed me at the Dubai World Cup day when he won the Dubai Kahayla Classic (Group 1).
Jaafer takes his winning lap round the Dubai World Cup paddock after winning the
Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic 2010. Photo Racing International
The Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes (Group 2) for three-year olds only over 7f was won by chestnut filly Salaamah (Njewman FR) who was trained by France's Damian De Watrigant for owner-breeder HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nayyan from Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The ten were an impressive group of juveniles with Salaamah's two victories and a place out of three starts setting the standard. Jockey Jean-Baptiste Hamel gave her a flawless ride for a winning purse of £7,500.
(Her photo heads the article above.)
The Jebel Ali Racecourse Premier Handicap Stakes, 1m 5f, brought the first of two victories to British trainer Gillian Duffield and her owner-trainer HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Shadwell France SNC).
Jockey Sarah Doyle won her first race for Sheikh Hamdan on the youngest horse in the race, four-year-old chestnut gelding Takaamul (Djebbel FR) by a 1/2 length.
Duffield was "pleased he's lost his maiden tag after being consistently second."
The Al Hai Group Zaabeel International Stakes (Group 1 PA) was France' second sprint victory of the day.
Awesome Nashwan Al Khalidiah KSA (Tiwaiq KSA) led the race from the start and won easily by three lengths.
He is trained by Jean-Francois Bernard for Al Khalediah Farm and was ridden by Jean-Baptiste Hamel for £9,000 winning prize money.
Jean-Pierre de Gaste, President of the Association Francaise du cheval Arabe de Course, attended to cheer on the French contingent.
The Jumeirah Group Handicap Stakes, 1 mile, brought the Duffield-Sheikh Hamdan combination back to the Winner's Circle with the four-year-old bay stallion Menwaal (Chndaka) outracing the favourite - his stablemate Laqataat (Bengali D'Albret FR) by 1/2 length.
Ever-honest Duffield commented "He's a very nice colt and won that well especially on only his second start and should have further improvement in him. Laqataat is a very nice mare but threw her chance away in the final furlong by drifting across the track."
In the end, Arabians race the same way thoroughbreds do enhancing and messing their chances in the same ways. Laqataat should have won.
Many thanks to Paul Simmons for both pre-and-post analysis.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Age Of Aquarius Saved For Stud
After stall rest, the son of Galileo IRE will be put out to pasture for further recovery and then take up his stud career at Coolmore.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Illustrious Blue
Favourite Age Of Aquarius IRE (Galileo IRE) led the race at a ferocious pace across the demanding, undulating course until his leg gave way.
I promptly burst into tears (considering how raw my feelings were after the death of Godolphin's three-year-old Film Story on Tuesday).
Age Of Aquarius has ruptured his off-fore (right-front) ligaments and may not race again. Just so he survives.
Tactic (Sadler's Wells USA) also suffered unspecified injuries on the very dry and fast ground.
Trainer William Knight will aim Illustrious Blue at the Melbourne Cup.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Borderlescott
Borderlescott, the oldest winner of the Stakes, was injured in the race and will be out for the season.
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Eastern Anthem
The six-year old is trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni for Godolphin and was given a perfect ride by Richard Hills.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
It's Official: Harbinger World's Top Horse
Harbinger, with France's leading jockey Olivier Peslier on board, is led into
Ascot's Winner's Circle by jubilent Highclare Thoroughbred Racing manager
Harry Herbert (left). Photo David Hastings
For once I am not seething at the Racing Post handicapper Sam Walker (see Goldikova article: Females Just Cannot Win) who sometimes makes the oddest, convoluted decisions.
He and the British Horseracing Authority agreed to give Harbinger (Dansili) the Top Of The Class rating of 135 for his awesome 11-length victory in Ascot's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1).
It was the same rating I proposed just after the race in my column.
Not only does the RP rate him as Europe's top Turf horse, it rates him as the world's top horse with USA colt Quality Road (Elusive Quality USA) on 130 for Dirt.
Workforce retains his Epsom Derby 129 on Turf, Paco Boy gets the 128 Turf credit for the race Goldikova won - the Queen Anne Stakes - and Fame And Glory was dropped a point to 127 on Turf for the Epsom Coronation Cup.
After Canford Cliffs Group 1 Sussex Stakes victory over Rip Van Winkle on Tuesday, one would expect CC to be raised from 126 on Turf.
Kinsale King, Rachel Alexandra, Super Saver and Zenyatta are the next highest US horses at 124.
In complete contrast to the RI and BHA, Timeform has rated Harbinger at 142 - two points higher than Sea The Stars.
No comment. It would not be polite.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Japanese Duo For Breeders' Cup
Her outstanding record has been marred in her last two races - one in Tokyo and the Dubai World Cup - due to bleeding.
Her trainer Mikio Matsunaga thinks she will overcome her problems in the States.
Espoir City JPN (Gold Allure JPN), winner of six of his eight starts, will compete in the Breeders' Cup Classic November 6 at Churchill Downs.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Canford Cliffs
Trainer Richard Hannon said CC is the finest horse he has ever trained.
His star will race in either the Prix Moulin at Longchamp or the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
Unfortunately, Ballydoyle's Beethoven made sure Premio Loco USA ((Prized USA) could not get closer than 3 lengths to the leaders.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Japanese Horses Targeted For Arc
Victoire Pisa will compete in the Arc prep Prix Niel on September 12 and will be ridden by jockey Yutaka Take.
Hope they will have better luck with Take than connections of Deep Impact and White Muzzle had.
They would be wise to hire a French jockey.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Harbinger: World's Top Horse
Harbinger won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Group 1 at
Ascot by 11 awesome lengths. Photo David Hastings
Harbinger (Dansili) showed great promise last year at three until he sustained a niggling injury at the end of the season.
Fortunately, he was in the patient and gentle hands of England's leading trainer Sir Michael Stoute who has earned the trust of the horse's owners Highclare Thoroughbred Racing owners.
His stunning victory in Royal Ascot's Hardwicke Stakes indicated that the colt was on his way to the big career his talent had promised. See Royal Ascot
Yet no one could have anticipated his blowout in his first Group 1 race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, 1m 4f, on Turf.
Sir Michael's seven-length Investec Derby winner Workforce (King's Best USA) was favourite with a strong supporting cast of Ballydoyle's Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco IRE (Galileo IRE), Youmzain IRE (Sinndar IRE) and chestnut filly Daryakana FR (Selkirk USA) for HH Aga Khan.
For most of the race on fast ground, Colm O'Donoghue kept control of the race for second favourite Cape Blanco from the front.
Workforce, with Stoute stable jockey Ryan Moore on board, was well positioned to challenge at any time.
Both Youmzain and Daryakana dawdled in the rear leaving them with too much ground to make up at the finish.
French master jockey, Olivier Peslier, was thrilled that Moore chose Workforce; he kept his mount Harbinger handy throughout.
Both Cape Blanco and Harbinger travelled better than the others all through the race.
Harbinger just seemed to be waiting for a signal and, when Peslier moved forward in the saddle, the horse raised his knees, dug in and took off.
In one of those mind-blowing hands-and-heels performances, Harbinger outdistanced Cape Blanco by 11 lengths and broke the course time record at 2'26"78s.
Youmzain was 3/4 lengths behind impressive Cape Blanco, Daryakana a length behind and finally Workforce another length behind.
Workforce was in trouble early on and did well to be so close to the others.
His connections have found nothing wrong with him so far, but are convinced something was wrong with the colt.
He did not look as strong as he did at Epsom in June. It is possible that the big colt is going through a growing stage leaving him a bit weaker than usual.
The world's "perennial critics" took advantage of his flop to insist that his Derby victory in record time was a fluke or one-off.
They said the same of Harbinger last year and, bless them, they are suggesting that he cannot duplicate his King George form again.
Meanwhile Harbinger is 2.1 or 7.4 favourite for the Arc de Triomphe overtaking the very worthy Fame And Glory (Montjeu IRE).
Harbinger is the best horse in Europe and any rating less than 135 would be an insult.
Is he another Sea The Stars? No, but he is damn good and has not peaked yet.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com