NEWBURY, England // It is billed as Dubai International Arabian race day but if trainers Jean-Francois Bernard and Julian Smart have their way Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s jewel in the British Purebred Arabian crown may well be hijacked by owners from Oman and Qatar today.
Three Group 1 races act as the cornerstone to the eight-race card with the £50,000 (Dh308,000) Dubai International Stakes over 2000 metres the feature sponsored by the Minister of Finance’s Shadwell Stud.
Bernard has crossed the English Channel with three gilt-edged chances in each of the Group 1 events, while Smart sends out a team of five from his base in Lambourn.
Leading Bernard’s three-pronged attack is Djet Taouy, a five-year-old bay who bids to defend the title he won 12 months ago in the International Stakes.
The Frenchman will also run Farh, a grey mare who takes her chance in the Hatta International Stakes, while No Problem Al Maury runs in the Zabeel International Stakes. Both horses are owned by Qatar’s Al Shaqab.
Smart is also represented in the three main races and all three of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s horses will be ridden by Harry Bentley. Al Anga will prove stiff opposition to Djet Taouy in the feature, while Djainka Des Forges goes in the Hatta International and Aden in the Zabeel International.
All eyes will be on Djet Taouy as he looks to augment his victory in the Group 1 Coupe d’Europe at Saint Cloud under David Michaux, who again takes the ride.
It looks a drop kick, with Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s Al Hibaab and Nerbah, who, like Djet Taouy, runs for the Royal Cavalry of Oman, the only other runners in the race.
“His last race was perfect at Saint Cloud, I don’t know of a horse that has such a finish,” Bernard said of his charge’s turn of foot.
“It is why I think it is actually an advantage to have so few runners in the race. Nerbah is likely to lead and we can sit in behind and wait to pounce with our pace.
“I think he has a first-class chance and the only concern I have is Al Anga.”
For his part, Smart could scarcely envisage a scenario in which Djet Taouy could be beaten.
“Jean-Francois would say that,” Smart said.
“He is a wily old fox. Everybody knows my filly needs a strong pace and there is no way she will make the running.
“If Harry can get her settled with so few runners then she may well have a chance, but I think they will race very slowly and it will be a sprint finish. It will be an extremely tactical race.”
Bernard’s record stands the closest inspection. The trainer has farmed Britain’s best races for the past few seasons and has only missed out striking at the top level here in 2012.
Last season Shararah won the Hatta International. In 2011 Kiss De Ghazal won the President Of The UAE Cup at Ascot. A year before that Nashwan Al Khalidiah won the Zabeel International and 12 months before that Nayef
Al Khalidiah won the President Of the UAE Cup at Ascot and Quesche Du Paon won the Hatta International.
It all adds up to a huge run from the highest rated horse in the race, and a win would be a handsome return for the Royal Cavalry of Oman, who bought the horse on the back of his exploits last season, which included a win in the Group 1 Arabian Derby at Newmarket.
Such a purchase only highlights, once again, that the Royal Cavalry Of Oman have huge ambition, but it is now tough at the summit of the sport as Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa have also been joined by the burgeoning Al Shaqab operation.
Al Shaqab may be better known for its exploits in the thoroughbred world but it is often forgotten that its owner, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad, won the Dubai Kahayla Classic at Meydan Racecourse with his own silks courtesy of TM Fred Texas in 2012 and Al Mamun Monlau last year.
Al Shaqab is set to expand on the 20 Purebred Arabians they have in training in Europe, eight of which are lodged with Bernard. It is a string of horses that includes leading Purebred Arabian World Cup hope Dahor de Brugere.
“Dubai day is an important day and it is Sheikh Hamdan’s day,” Harry Herbert, Al Shaqab’s racing manager, said.
“What’s more, big days like this are so few and far between in the Purebred Arabian calendar, which is why it becomes doubly important for everybody taking part.”
Sheikh Hamdan has enjoyed a glorious summer and tops the British owners’ championships for both thoroughbreds and Purebred Arabians, but the battle today may well be lost.
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