An exciting field goes to post for the first Group race of the 2012 UK Arabian Racing season. Generously sponsored by The Arabian Horse Organization, The Hawthorn Hill International Stakes (Group 2 PA) is named after the location of the United Kingdom's first Arabian Racemeeting.
ABOUT THE SPONSOR
The Arabian Horse Organization (AHO) was created in 2010 and founded by its members whose country’s traditions and history are deeply attached to the Arabian horse. Its founding members are from the countries such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia to name but a few.
AHO aspire to encourage and assist breeders who dedicate their lives to the Arabian horse, by providing knowledge and skills developed for centuries by breeders from Arabian countries. This is actively supported by running seminars where professionals can help them in their breeding programmes together with organising cultural and scientific events devoted to the Arabian horse.
In order to bring better communication between the different partners and supporters AHO encourages, manages and promotes events by creating Breeders show competitions with new rules or supporting existing ones. Such a competition has already been held in Saint-Tropez in May and further shows for 2012 will be held in Berlin, Warsaw and Deauville.
The Arabian Horse Organization Hawthorn Hill International Stakes (Group 2 PA) is currently the only event under the banner of the AHO to involve horse racing. HRH Prince Abdulaziz, Chairman of AHO has a keen passion for racing, competing horses in the UK, France, Turkey, UAE and Saudi Arabia as Athbah Stud.
ABOUT THE RUNNERS
Julian Smart won this contest last year with ASRAA MIN ALBARQ who followed up by taking the Shadwell Dubai International Group 1 PA on Dubai Day. The pick of the Smart trained trio this year is AZIZ. He was unlucky not to be able to take his place in The President of The UAE Cup earlier this year at The Curragh Racecourse but has proven form on this track, albeit in over a shorter distance. His Qatar form however suggests that the step up in trip will be no problem.
Gill Duffield is well represented with four runners. Two for H.H Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum and two for Margreet De Ruiter-Floor. Sheikh Hamdan's newly retained jockey Paul Hanagan rides TZAR DU PAON suggesting he ought to be respected. On paper his best single piece of form was back in 2010 when he won a Group 1 for 3 year olds,
PERIANDER didn't manage better than second in his UAE campaign this winter but was a winner of The Group 2 International IFAHR Trophy in Turkey last September. This will be his first run in the UK and could be worth taking note of.
TIDARBRET put up a life time's best performance when winning a listed race at The Curragh in May, beating amongst others AREEJ - winner of the The Qatar Arabian World Cup in Longchamp last Autumn. Piloted on that occasion by Jonny Murtagh he made every bit of the running and kept fighting till the line. If he is given a soft lead then Kieran Fallon is guaranteed to give him an equally positive ride.
The Royal Cavalry of Oman have a lot of promising new recruits - many of which have been purchased from France. VIZIR DES CEDRES ran on encouragingly at Hereford earlier this month but was just denied by the tough & feisty Hidalgo conceding almost 1 stone in weight. If he improves for this run he could be in the shake up.
