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Eight top Arabian horses to race

Top eight Arabian horses have been declared for the fourth round of the 1600m HH the President of the UAE Cup series Gr-1 at Newmarket Racecourse on Wednesday.

The race is organised by the Emirates Equestrian Federation and held in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi Media Identity Bureau under the directives of His Highness the President Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to promote the Arabian horse.

The Dubai Kahayla Classic Gr-1 champion and front runner Jaafer will lock horns against the Saudi contender Nashwan Al Khalidiah and the rest of the quality field in what is expected to be a bone crushing battle.

In the meantime, the Saudi Prince Khaled Al Abdullah has secured the services of Tom Queally to replace the French jockey Christophe Lemaire onboard dual Guineas winner Special Duty in the Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes Group-1. Lemaire has suffered a left leg fracture after falling from the saddle on Monday.

According to media reports, Lemaire was thrown from the Richard Gibson-trained Vallee Des Neiges when in the lead a furlong and a half out in a two-year-old fillies’ race at Campaiegne.

Special Duty will face seven rivals at Newmarket, including three Royal Ascot winners- Lillie Langtry, Rainfall and Straberrydaiquiri.Gile Na Greine, Lahaleeb, Spacious and Music Show complete the line-up.

Speaking about the chances of her filly to put her head first, trainer Head-Maarek said: “Special Duty looks fine at the moment. We decided to give Royal ascot a miss because she had two races in the space of 14 days and we thought that it would have been a little hard on her to go for the Coronation Stakes.

“She looks very relaxed in her work and it’s possible that we might step her up beyond a mile at some point. The July Course is a stiff mile and there will be plenty of pace, which will suit her.”

After storming to victory in the Group One Electrolux Cheveley Park Stakes in October, Special Duty returned to the Rowley Mile to give her trainer Criquette Head-Maarek a fourth win in the Group One StanJames.com 1000 Guineas on May 2, when she was awarded the race in the stewards’ room after suffering interference when a nose behind Jacqueline Quest.

She created history in the French equivalent, the Group One Poule d’Essai des Pouliches, at Longchamp two weeks later as she again went by the post in second but was promoted following the disqualification of Liliside.

hisham@khaleejtimes.com