Dubai International Arabian Race Day
Thrilling finish to The Shadwell Dubai International
Stakes with 11-Group 1-winning mare Al Dahma defeating
No Risk Al Maury, Fryvoulous (nearly hidden with white
noseband) and Al Fatih (from left to right) before a
record Newbury crowd.
Photo from GJ Multimedia
Well over 15,000 dignitaries, children and racegoers enjoyed a full card of Arab horse races on Sunday at Newbury Racecourse.
The event was held during Newbury's three-day Dubai Summer Festival 2009 under the auspices of the Arabian Racing Organisation and organised by The Office of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance.
Not to be outdone by humans, some of the world's finest Arabian horses traveled from the United States, Europe and the Middle East to compete in the world's premiere and richest Arabian competition which is in its 27th year.
Leave it to a frisky five-year-old mare Balladore (Domane Fr) to start the day by tossing her California-born trainer and jockey Dennis Batteate before the race and the winning The Emirates Arline Premier Handicap Stakes, 7f, with ease.
Batteate rode the tricky mare as he thought he had a better chance of staying
on her than her other luckless jockeys.
Another son or Domane, Dariya Fr, took the first Group 1 for Pure Arabians, The Al Hai Group Zaabeel International Stakes at 6f, for respected French trainer Robert Litt and jockey Phillipe Sogorb.
He was bred by HH Sheikh Monsoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who owns the famous Al Reef stables, for his brother Sheikh Mohammed of the UAE.
Saudi Arabian Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Al Saud's Quesche Du Paon Fr (Akbar Fr) had it her own way in The Emirates NBD Hatta International, Group1 PA, 1m 2f, for fillies and mares.
This is another training victory for France's Jean-Francois Bernard and perfect riding from Gerald Avranche.
The feature race of the day is always eagerly anticipated it did not disappoint with its ferocious finishing battle.
The Shadwell Dubai International Stakes (Group 1 PA), 1m 2f, went to the betting favourite Al Dahma (Amer QA). This is the grey mare's 11th Group 1 and reinforces her reputation as the greatest Arabian horse of her sex.
Sheikh Hamdan's local champion No Risk Al Maury Fr (Kesberoy), twice winner of the race, was denied his hat trick by an amazing competitor when he idled in front. He fought back valiantly to close Al Dahma down, when rewound by world-class jockey Richard Hills, after she slid by him.
Al Fatih (Amer QA) at 25.1 surprised everyone when dead heating with Fryvoulous Fr (Domane Fr) for third.
The press room erupted with disgust with the ride the world's highest-rated Arabian Fryvoulous was given.
The proud little bay gelding was full of the running, but his jockey held him back too long and then steered him all over the course before trying to squeeze him in almost no space between No Risk and Al Fatih.
The latter's jockey Thierry Jarnet showed his professionalism and generosity in making space for the thrilling finish.
He could have won.
Fryvoulous had his extraordinary speed blunted. It was not the course or the ground. When horses reach this level, they must have riders to do them justice.
A perfect example of what a very experienced jockey can do for a 20.1 Iraqui horse, Al Harith (IQ) (Asad Saif IQ), was to almost carry the horse into an unexpected third. Steve Drowne did just that in the second race.
Altobello Fr (Kerbella Fr), a four-race veteran in France, ran away with The Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes (Group 2 PA), 7f, for three-year olds--equivalent to thoroughbred juveniles.
Arabians are smaller, develop slower and start training a year later than thoroughbreds.
Jaady Fr (Prince D'Orient Fr), Shadwell France SNC bred, made an astonishing debut in chasing and nearly closing down the winner to four lengths in the hands of Richard Hills. This young horse has a big future as does the winner.
Both horses are trained by two of Britain's best: Bill Smith and Gillian Duffield respectively.
The host sponsor of the day, Sheikh Hamdan, had better luck in the two final races when his Al Mannsoub Fr (Akbar Fr) and Riko Fr (Domane Fr) won the final two handicap races at 1m 5f and 1m for sponsors The Jebel Ali Racecourse and The Jumeirah Group respectively.
Both winners were trained by Mrs Duffield.
Dominant winning sire Domane led the way for French breeding to triumph at this annual race meet.
Three French and three British trainers joined the one American trainer in the Winners' Circle.
France, Britain and America kept the Arab breed alive during the disruptions of the World Wars.
It is to the credit of the Arab owners and breeders who want to reclaim their heritage and share these magnificent race horses with the world.
The Dubai International Arabian Race Day is a precious gift to those of us who love horses.
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 7/20/2009 9:39 PM 
Categories: Dubai International Arabian Race Day 2009
Tags: Dubai International Arabian Race Day 2009
Categories: Dubai International Arabian Race Day 2009
Tags: Dubai International Arabian Race Day 2009
Very well written! Not too common to see arabian racing portraid in this way in UK media or bloggs!
I have posted a link to this on ifahr's page on Facebook!
/Mats Genberg
Secretary - IFAHR
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Thank you so much for the compliment and for posting on Facebook.
Please consider becoming a FAN or having the organisation become a FAN on Facebook's Racing International page. It could give you good exposure and give us support for our thinking that Arabian races are proper races (along with Endurance which we cover as well).
We can also be found at racingint on both Twitter and MySpace.
If you run into problems in accessing any of the three, try my name and let me know if problems persist.
I shall add http://www.ifahr.net to our website links page and perhaps you can link to us as well--http://www.racingint.com.
The blog started 2-1/2 years ago and functions as our archive. We have over 20,000 readers and will promote it more in the coming months as we expand our international marketing plan.
On the website, we have a page for PB Arabians (Navigator Bar) so do send your press releases to info@racingint.com. Whatever we publish on the website is copied onto the blog.
We want to do more for Arabian racing.
Regards
Susan Trevelyan-Syke
P.S. Say hello to Neil Abrams for me.
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