Dubai International Arabian Races - UK Stable Tours

T H E A R A B I A N R A C E H O R S E

DIAR UK Stable Tour Round-up

Prior to DIAR The Arabian Racehorse spoke with current leading ARO trainer Phil Collington, two-time ARO champion trainer James Owen, dual Emirates NBD Handicap winning trainer Pete Hammersley and 2017 ARO champion newcomer and DIAR International Stakes winning trainer Said Al Badi, for a preview of some of their chances.

Phil CollingtonBrickfield Stud, Newmarket

Anfaas (GB) and Phil Collington return to the yard from cantering on Hamilton Hill. Anfaas had a variety of entries for DIAR, but goes for the opening race, the Emirates Premier Handicap. Rated 90 and with Tadhg O'Sha on board, she carries top weight, but it's a race Collington has won for the last two years

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

Jebel Ali Racecourse Za’abeel International Gr1PA 6f

“Mith'ahf Athbah, it would be great to have another Za’abeel horse, [Collington trained the 2016 winner Radames] Though for me a mile is his perfect trip, I think Mith’haf Athbah should be competitive, as he showed enough speed to win the Gr2PA in France andhe ran that 7f in 1.31.15 which is a good time. He probably would need a bit of a give, Toulouse was good ground, if he ran that sort of time sectionaly, he’d be right there in the Za’abeel."

Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Gr1PA 1m2f

"Shomoos Athbah has had the most perfect preparation. Her plan has been the ARO Cup (which she won), the Hatta prep (which she won) which then gave her a month until DIAR. She’s going to have everything going for her.

Shom oos Athbah (GB) and regular partner Ria Tillet work on the Cambridge Road Polytrack

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

"Sharesa can shave seconds off of that run, but so can Shomoos. Obviously we know that Shomoos is not going to bolt to the front two furlongs out, but the stronger the pace she gets, the better she’ll run. Sharesa has not been here that long, it’s soon enough from the prep race, to be running on DIAR."

Dubai International Stakes Gr1PA 1m2f

"Mehdaaf Athbah wants a strongly run 1m2f. He came out the Chepstow race really well. He could have run at Newbury, but with the ground so firm we were concerned about jarring him up before the big day. He’s fit and he’s a very clean winded horse."

Rotana Hotels and Resorts Premier Handicap (0-105) 1m4f

"Halib Des Forges has had a great season, he’s only lost once, to Al Faaris who is also progressive. I think he could be competitive over 1m2f in the International Conditons, especially in the form he’s in, but the 1m4f should suit him as well. Last year in that race Jim Crowley said he didn’t get home over 1m4f on that testing ground.

Halib Des Forges (FR) and Josh Millar work on the Cambridge Road Polytrack

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

"Saleemah, I think she is a good bit better on the soft and obviously she loves the surface at Chelmsford City, but I wouldn’t discount her on quick ground. She gives her all, she’s all heart. Easy ground does bring about another 7 or 8 pounds improvement though so any rain would help her.

Emirates Premier Handicap hopeful J Force (GB) takes it easy. Collington thinks dropping down to a a mile will suit him

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

James Owen Green Ridge Stables, Newmarket

Emirates Premier Handicap (50-90) 1m

"Alazeez is in off top weight, Antonia finished third on him in Holland in a Listed race and she can ride in this and claim 5lb so that will help him.

Alazeez (GB) [nearest] who carries top weight in the opening race

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

"Al Kaaser, he hasn’t done a lot wrong, he’s on an upward curve which it looks like is what you need to win this race, a progressive horse. He’s ran twice, won at Chelmsford and Wolves, his works been good, he’s worked on the grass and he went up 9lb for his last win which puts him on 87, so he’ll have plenty of weight but he’s learning all the time.

"Rafeef is on a mark of 80, she was second first time out last year as a three-year-old and that was a good race, over 1m2f which is probably about her trip. You have to get that mile at Newbury, and they go hard, she should run quite a big race, she’s on quite a good mark I think. She got beat at Chepstow - I don’t think she liked the undulating course - but her work since has been good."

UAE Embassy in London International Stakes 1m2f

"Emiraaty, he’s been in great form, he tries, he's a good work horse and he’s a good line for all our others, I think he’ll run a big race. The trip and conditions suit him, there might be one or two too good for him, but he’s a good each way chance. He's a course and distance winner, and very straightforward."

DIAR International Stakes Gr3PA 7f

"Some of my three-year-olds have been a bit slow to come to hand, however we have two. Ameed didn’t go in the stalls at Newbury for the DIAR prep, he’s since passed a stalls test, which the BHA have been very good about, we did that at Newmarket.

"Marawid had been working well before the prep, but he was a bit starstruck that day. He worked amazingly with Richard Hills recently and he was pleased with him. He's the most forward of my three-year-olds."

Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Stakes Gr1PA 1m2f

"Naishaan, she’s got all the ability in the world, but she can just be quite tricky."

Rotana Hotels and Resorts Premier Handicap (0-105) 1m4f

"Awzaan, he’s off a good mark, even though he’s got top weight. He needs a good rider, so we’ve booked Simon Walker, who has won this before. He’ll run a big race if it’s quick ground.

Awzaan (FR) and Tadhg O'Shea prior to wining the DIAR 1m4f prep in 2016

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

"Al Faaris, is a dual winner this year, he beat Halib Des Forges first-time-out who has since won twice - he beat him quite well over a trip that was probably too short for him. He was second in this race last year and goes on any ground. Jim [Crowley]really enjoyed riding him at Doncaster when he won over 2 miles, he’s so straightforward, he won nicely at Doncaster. I think you need plenty of stamina for this race,

Al Faaris (GB) [right] gets the better of Halib Des Forges (FR) at Taunton

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

"Tatbeeeq, has come on a lot, he’s been a very hard

Emirates NBD Handicap Stakes (40-75) 7f

"Delishess who won first-time-out at Chelmsford, has had a break, we hope she's in-foal, but we're waiting to have that confirmed. She's in great form, stronger than at Chelmsford, I think if it's good ground, she'll take a bit of beating. This looks a very strong renewal, there's a lot of horses who have dropped down the handicap.

"Karlos Du Cayrou, he's very well handicapped, but he's had a few issues, he’ll run well for the Club and we run Crahck for them too."

Peter Hammersley Jubilee Racing Stables, Appleby Magna,

UAE Embassy in London International Stakes 1m2f

"Shammat Al Hosn, Pat Cosgrave rides her. She will find it easier than recent starts as she’s been highly tried in Group company. She ran really well in the Gold Final at Huntingdon last year, just short of this trip, which she won at Windsor on quick ground the meeting before. She's a lovley mare."

Rotana Hotels and Resorts Premier Handicap (0-105) 1m4f

"Asraa Min Al-Talqa, the trip is ideal, at Chelmsford they went too fast for him so you can write that performance off. At Doncaster over 2m he travelled really well, but I think the lack of a run and the ground changing to soft was against him, but that’s defintely the best he’s travelled in a race to date."

Asra Min Al-Talqa at Chelmsford City

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

Dubai International Stakes Gr1PA 1m2f

"Zayin Angkor Centurion, he’s a different horse to last year. He ran well at Windsor the Group 3 over a mile, exceeding all expectations. The six furlongs was too sharp last time. He’s run over this trip once before at Chelmsford, but was too keen and ran out of steam when it mattered last year. He’s much more settled at home these days and we’re hopeful he’ll run well."

Zayin Angkor Centurion (GB) and David Turner go to post at Windsor in May for the Gr3PA Royal Cavalry of Oman ARO Cup International Stakes over a mile

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

Emirates NBD Handicap Stakes (40-75) 7f

"Zayin Zachilles, it's the perfect ground for him, if it stays quick and he won last time out with Will Pettis who keeps the ride. I’ve been riding him myself at home and he’s felt really good in his recent work, the same sort of shape as when he won two years ago. He goes into the race a pound lower than that winning mark.

Zayin Zachilles (GB) and Will Pettis after winning at Chelmsford last month

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

"Bin Al Reeh, we’ve brought him along steadily with a view that perhaps he would only run once this year and gain a bit of experience, but he’s surprised us with every run. He’s sure to want a bit further than this in time and we may well put him away after this race, but we’ll see what Jenny [Lees] suggests, the dam was very good and he’s an exciting horse for the future.

Maiden Bin Al Reeh (GB) and Ellie Mackenzie going to post at Chelmsford where they were a close second to Zayin Zachilles

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

"Ultimate Force, he’s been going really well at home, Laura Pearson, Heather's daughter will ride him, it will be her first ride at DIAR. He’s probably not quite fast enough, but the light weight will help."

Said Al Badi - Royal Cavalry of Oman, Berkshire

UAE Embassy in London International Stakes 1m2f

Laheeb, his dam Karte D'Or won three times over a mile, including at Newbury and he has won three times in Oman on the dirt, including over this trip.

DIAR International Stakes Gr3PA 7f

"We have the fillies Ensiab and Hadiyah and the colt Tahirawah.

Ensiab (FR)

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

"Ensiab won the DIAR prep race at Newbury, the conditions will suit her if they stay the same, though she surprised me, as I thought Hadiyah would win.

Hadiyah (FR) at exercise

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

"Tahirwah won well at Chelsmford on his first run. He has a good pedigree, his dam Kerim, was second in the Hatta at Newbury."

Tahirwah (FR) who won his maiden at Chelmsford City in June

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

Jebel Ali Racecourse Za’abeel International Gr1PA 6f

"Al Chammy goes to the Za'abeel, I hope he will be the same as his sister! He surprised me, as I though he needed further, we ran in the UAE Derby which is over 1m3f but he didn't quite stay. Pat Dobbs had suggested the blinkers as at Windsor, where he felt he was not keen to pass horses. We were pleased with the DIAR sprint prep win so we hope he will go well."

Al Chammy (FR) and Anas Al Siyabi

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

Shadwell Arabian Stallions Hatta International Gr1PA 1m2f

'Rehab, she won over a mile when we arrived in the UK in May on softer ground, but she ran well in the prep for this behind Shomoos Athbah.

Rehab (OM) and Anas Al Siyabi who rides her in the Hatta International

(C) Debbie Burt - Equine Creative Media

'It has been a good season for the Royal Cavlary in UK, we're second in the ARO owners championship and we hope to bring more horses to the UK next year. Racing in Oman is going well, it is getting bigger now, they buy horses from all over the world."