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Fryvolous
tries his luck on European soil
Newmarket will be the testing ground |
The Abu Dhabi International Stakes, a Group 2 race for
Purebred Arabians, will be run on July 8, 2009 at the
Newmarket race course in Great Britain. The race is part of
the His Highness the President of the UAE Championship Cup
Series 2009, which is sponsored by the Emirates Equestrian
Federation.
Though horses from different countries including France, UK
and The Netherlands, will be vying for the ₤30,000 prize
money, all eyes will be focused on six-year-old Fryvolous, the
world's highest rated Pure-bred Arabian horse, which will be
seen in action for the first time on European soil.
Owned by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed
Al Nahyan and trained by Rod Simpson, French-bred Fryvolous
has been widely regarded as the best Arabian horse following
his stupendous victory in the Dubai Kahayla Classic, a Group I
race for Pure-bred Arabians run as part of the Dubai World
Cup, in March 2009, held in Dubai every year. Fryvolous will
be ridden by Daragh O'Donohe.
Fryvolous will take on seven other horses in the 1600-metre
race on a historical race day which is part of the July Racing
Festival called July Course in Newmarket. Two horses in the
seven-pack group, are owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and UAE Minister of Finance. They
are El Rigoletto, which will travel from France for trainer
Francois Rohaut to be ridden by Froncois-Xavier Bentras and
Marsak, trained by Ms. Gillian Duffield and to be ridden by
ace jockey Richard Hills.
Others in the field include Noble Athlete (France), Shuhood
(Great Britain), Skan Skan (The Netherlands), Tibabret (Great
Britain) and Aberfeldy (Great Britain).
Taleb Dhaher Al Muhairi, Secretary General of the Emirates
Equestrian Federation, is all excited about the inclusion of
Fryvolous in the Abu Dhabi International Stakes. He said:
"What else can one expect than a horse like Fryvolous to be
running in our series. This simply goes to prove the
significance the Pure-bred Arabian series is achieving."
The day also includes The Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes
(Class1) (Group 1) with eight Thoroughbred fillies in the
field.
Cosmopolitan owned by HRH Princess Haya bint Hussein of Jordan
and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al
Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler,
will lead seven other horses including Eva's Request,
Goldikova, heaven Sent, San Sicharia, Spacious, Penny's Gift
and Rainbow View. Cosmopolitan will be saddled by Frankie
Dettori.
Etihad Airways is running a free-to-enter competition on the
racing day with a grand prize of holiday for two to the UAE's
capital city Abu Dhabi with three nights at the luxurious
Shangri La hotel.
The Emirates Equestrian Federation has a longstanding
association with Newmarket Racecourses dating back to several
years. The races have played an integral role in helping the
EEF promote the purebred Arabian horse to a worldwide
audience.
In the past, Newmarket Racecourses has been a keen supporter
of the President of the UAE Cup Series for Purebred Arabian
horses, which takes place annually in European cities
throughout the summer. It is the first international series of
this kind and continues to be regarded as the premier series
for the breed. Newmarket itself has a rich racing history
dating back to hundreds of years.
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