NEWBURY, ENGLAND // They came from throughout Europe but in the race that mattered most there was no stopping Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s Muraaqib in the Group 1 Dubai International Stakes sponsored by the Minister Of Finance’s Shadwell Stud.
There were 25 international runners spread among the eight races on the Dubai International Arabian race day card, which was an increase from 12 last season and 13 in 2014.
And how the international raiders performed. Urge Di Gallura became the first Italian horse to win at this fixture in the Group 2 Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes for Endo Botti and jockey Antonio Fresu. Sylvine Al Maury crossed the Channel from France for Elizabeth Bernard to take the Group 1 Hatta International Stakes under Jean-Bernard Eyquem.
Sheikh Hamdan may well be a generous patron, but his Radames provided his rookie trainer Philip Collington with his first Group 1 winner since taking over from Gillian Duffield in October in the Za’abeel International Stakes before Muraaqib underlined why he was the highest-rated juvenile colt of last season in the showpiece race.
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The Deputy Ruler of Dubai clearly understands that to win the best prizes could well dissuade further runners from travelling to run here, despite the travel allowance of £300 (Dh1,444) to come, and he highlighted that more must be done to attract the best not just on this British showcase of the sport but throughout the year.
“This day has grown for today but numbers for the other races in England are very poor,” Sheikh Hamdan said. “The Arabian Horse Committee must work harder to create greater interest.”
Queen Elizabeth is well known for her passion for thoroughbred racing, but two of her Purebred Arabian stallions paraded before racing on front of the 10,000 crowd and it is a wonder the sport has not traded more on her support.
“She is more interested in thoroughbred racing,” the Minister of Finance added. “And she is too old to ride them, too!”
Muraaqib finished two-and-a quarter lengths clear of Swedish raider Toutatix in the £55,000 feature. There was the same distance back to Lares De Pine, who was bidding to give Botti a double.
It was the manner, however, of Muraaqib’s win that mattered. He was held up by Bertras for the first 1,400 metres behind a pace set by Alcea Rosea, but coming in to the long straight it was clear who had the greater engine purring underneath them. Bertras could no longer hold on to his mount with 600 metres to go, and Muraaqib cruised to the front but with Toutatix urged on by Daniel Muscott, Bertras asked his partner to go on again. The four year old duly responded to grasp the third Group 1 race of his short career and a 13th victory in the International for his owner.
“He idled a bit but when they came to him he pulled away,” Shadwell Stud director Richard Lancaster said. “With a stronger pace he would have ben even better.”
Muraaqib was bred by Shadwell and is by Munjiz out of Tashreefat, a mare who raced nine times in Abu Dhabi and twice at Nad Al Sheba during the 2008/09 seasons. She was sired by the great Purebred Arabian Bengali D’Albret, who won 16 races and the European Triple Crown in the 1990s.
“Muraaqib is one of the most exciting horses that Shadwell have bred,” Lancaster said. “One day he may well rank up there with No Risk Al Maury,” comparing him to the UAE Champion Purebred Arabian in 2008.
“Obviously it is too early to make comparisons but he has the same characteristic as Bengali d’Albert in that when he picks up he can win in two strides. Arabians generally don’t have a turn of foot.”
Sheikh Hamdan cut a prominent figure on the day, overseeing myriad of extra-curricular activities that ranged from pony rides, falconry displays and henna tattoo artists to showcase the best of Dubai.
He was also on hand to congratulate Bernard in person after Silvine Al Maury powered six lengths clear of his Aghsaan on her first start since winning the fillies’ Group 1 at Longchamp in October.
“She was sick during January and April and is only at 80 per cent,” Bernard said. “I don’t know what she had. We had a virus in our stable but she never had a fever, she never coughed and every day I went to see her I saw bad skin – it was so sad for her. She has come back slowly and I was very patient.”
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