Monday June 25, London ~ The Newbury racetrack is pleased to announce: 
PUREBRED ARABIAN RACE – NEWBURY RACECOURSE 26th June 2012 17.50
The Arabian Horse Organization Hawthorn Hill International Stakes (Group 2 PA) 10F
THE ARABIAN HORSE ORGANIZATION has kindly sponsored this race and will present a memento to the winning Owner. An additional prize of £100 will be awarded to the person responsible for the Best Turned Out Horse.
Prize Fund: £20,000.
CONDITIONS: For Purebred Arabians, 4yrs old and upwards. ONE MILE, TWO FURLONGS and SIX YARDS.
WEIGHTS: Weights: 5 year old and upwards Stallions & Geldings 9st 8lb. Mares 9st 3lb.
4 year old Colts & Geldings 9st 3lb. Fillies 8st 12lb.
PENALTIES: Winner of a Group 1 PA (or equivalent) since January 1st 2010, 5lb.
Winner of a Group 2 PA (or equivalent) since January 1st 2010, 3lb.
ALLOWANCES: Fillies & Mares, 5lbs.
OFFICIAL RATING
1 Form: 0)-(1) AZIZ Mr J Smart 6 9.13 Darren Williams 124
(Draw 9) EC HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani – ROYAL BLUE, WHITE stars, ROYAL BLUE cap, WHITE star.
2 Form: 4)-(3) JAAFER Mr J Smart 9 9.13 Ted Durcan 126
(Draw 8) BL HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Mohammed Al Thani – ROYAL BLUE, WHITE star & braces, WHITE star on cap.
3 Form: 411)– TZAR DU PAON (FR) Mrs G M Duffield 5 9.13 Paul Hanagan 115
(Draw 7) H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin R Al Maktoum – ROYAL BLUE, WHITE epaulettes, striped cap.
4Form: )-(25) PERIANDER (NL) Mrs G M Duffield 8 9.11 Richard Mullen NOR
(Draw 1) BL M. J. De Ruiter-Floor – YELLOW, GREEN spots, GREEN sleeves and cap.
5 Form: 663-56 AL JANOOB Mrs G M Duffield 7 9.8 Tadhg O’Shea 108
(Draw 5) H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin R Al Maktoum – ROYAL BLUE, WHITE epaulettes, BLACK cap.
6 Form: )-(42) MU’AZZAZ Mr J Smart 8 9.8 Daryll Holland 114
(Draw 10) VIS HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani – ROYAL BLUE, WHITE stars, WHITE cap, ROYAL BLUE star.
7 Form: 122)-3 SADIQ (NL) Mrs G M Duffield 7 9.8 Royston Ffrench 102
(Draw 11) VIS M. J. De Ruiter-Floor – YELLOW with GREEN spots, GREEN sleeves, YELLOW cap.
8 Form: 4-3(1) TIDARBRET Mr D Batteate 7 9.8 Kieren Fallon 106
(Draw 4) Miss N L Gilbert – BLUE with WHITE stars, WHITE sleeves with BLUE stars, BLUE cap with WHITE stars.
9 Form: (20)-2 VIZIR DES CEDRES (FR) Mr S Al Hakmani 6 9.8 Mr S A Walker 115
(Draw 3) Owner – GOLD, GREEN panel, logo front and back, RED sleeves, GREEN cap.
NON RUNNER 10 Form: -5023- SOPHIA Ms B Deutrom 6 9.3 Mr P Collington 79
(Draw 2) Ms B Deutrom –
11 Form: 650-50 WHISPER Mr A Newey 9 9.3 Frankie McDonald 67
(Draw 6) The Almost All Partnership – BLACK, RED chevron, armlets on sleeves. BLACK cap
Full Race Card PDF Downloadable: AROJune
AZIZ
Easily won the Zaabeel Stakes (Group 1) over 6f on Dubai Day last season as well as another Group race at Bath where both times he outclassed the opposition. Finished 2nd in the Qatar Arabian World Cup at Longchamp to Areej in October and has won 2 Group 1 races in Qatar since, including the prestigious Emirs Sword over 12f at Doha in March (although also beaten 3 times there as well). A top class horse and a leading contender at his best but was withdrawn at the Curragh in May. ARO Record: R4 W2 P1. (OR 124).
JAAFER
Has been one of the best Arabians around over the last 4 seasons. Finished 2nd to No Risk Al Maury in the Shadwell Dubai International in 2008, won the race in 2010 and was 3rd in it last year. Has been placed in several top races since, including 3rd in the Qatar World Cup at Longchamp and 3rd to Aziz in the Emirs Sword in Doha in March. Stays very well and this trip and track are ideal. He looks sure to go close although has often needed a run after a break. ARO Record: R8 W2 P5. (OR 126).
TZAR DU PAON (FR)
Formerly trained in France where he won a race at La Teste and the Group 1 Prix Kesberoy at Deauville over 10f in 2010. Now trained by the UK’s leading Arabian trainer and looks a very interesting UK debutante despite having to shoulder a Group 1 penalty. Respected. ARO Record: R0 W0 P0. (OR 115).
PERIANDER (NL)
High class horse. Much travelled and won a Listed race in Abu Dhabi in March 2011 and the International IFAHR Trophy (Group 2) in Turkey in September 2011. Has been unplaced in 2 Group 1 races in the Middle East this year and was 5th in a Listed race in Germany earlier in the month. Has been trained by Gill Duffield for some time but making his UK debut here. Cannot be dismissed. ARO Record: R0 W0 P0. (NOR).
AL JANOOB
Impressively won a Conditions race at Wolverhampton on his reappearance last season but has disappointed 5 times since including twice this season (unplaced both times). Useful at best but it would be surprising if he came back to form in this company and looks likely to be found wanting. ARO Record: R11 W3 P3. (OR 108).
MU’AZZAZ
Finished 3rd in the UAE Derby in 2008 and won twice in the UK in 2010. Has finished close behind his stable-companions Aziz and Jaafer in several high class races in France and Qatar within the last year, including 4th in the Emirs Sword in March. A very classy horse at best and stays 10f plus although tends to race lazily. Escapes a penalty and that gives him prospects of at least making the frame. ARO Record: R6 W3 P3 (OR 114).
SADIQ (NL)
Was placed in good company in France in 2009, including when a 3rd to the high class Dariya and Albar Lotois in the Prix Kann. Has since won races in Poland. Had his first run for new connections when finishing a close 3rd at Hereford in an Open Handicap (where Vizir Des Cedres finished 2nd conceding 13lbs). Has plenty to find on that running and looks up against it. ARO Record: R1 W0 P1. (OR 102).
TIDARBRET
Won the Breeders’ Cup in 2009 and a dual winner in 2010 but failed to score in 2011 when running in top company. Finished 3rd in a Conditions race at Wolverhampton in May over 9f behind Chinnaactic but caused a surprise when reversing that form and winning the Listed President of the UAE Cup at the Curragh later in May over 1m. Tries hard stays 10f and is very consistent but will need to raise his game yet further in this company. ARO Record: R29 W4 P14. (OR 106).
VIZIR DES CEDRES (FR)
Formerly trained in France. Won the Prix Flipper at Toulouse in 2009. Has been placed at Group 3 and Listed level in Morocco and Holland and was 2nd last year to Gharraa in a Listed race at Toulouse. Was well beaten behind Aktar Lotois when sent over to contest a Conditions event on Dubai Day but that was not his true running and ran very well when narrowly failing to concede plenty of weight to Hidalgo at Hereford first time out this season. Classy individual but has yet to win against this quality of opposition. ARO Record: R2 W0 P1. (OR 115).
SOPHIA NON RUNNER
Ex-Dutch trained mare. Won a 0-95 Handicap in the soft over 1m at Warwick on her final appearance in 2010. Was placed twice in 4 runs last season. Seasonal debut and a decent handicapper but on all known evidence is out of her depth here. ARO Record: R9 W1 P4. (OR 79).
WHISPER
Handicapper who last won over 12f at Fakenham in 2010. Failed to score in 6 attempts last season and has been unplaced twice this season and looks sure to struggle in this company. ARO Record: R30 W5 P14. (OR 67).
BETTING FORECAST
100-30 Fav Aziz, 4-1 Tzar Du Paon (FR), 5-1 Jaafer, 11-2 Mu’Azzaz, 8-1 Tidarbret, 9-1 Periander (NL), Vizir Des Cedres (FR), 10-1 Al Janoob, 16-1 Sadiq (NL), 20-1 Whisper
SPOTLIGHT
A Group One race in all but name with some top class Group One form on offer! Julian Smart saddles the highest rated three, who have all tasted success here in the past. Mu’azzaz stays well and is likely to make all, but could easily set this up for one of his other stable companions. The legend that is Jaafer has won here as well although the long straight at Newbury perhaps doesn’t suit him as much as it could do the one-eyed AZIZ who won the Emir’s Sword (Group 1) in Qatar. Darren Williams clearly gets on well with this horse and he is a token selection. Others with potential include Vizir Des Cedres who disappointed at Newbury on Dubai Day but had excuses (travel problems). He is better than that and so has each way claims. Tzar Du Paon is a fascinating acquisition to the Gill Duffield team and although hasn’t been seen for a while has any amount of improvement to come. Tidabret is up in grade but looks a better horse this year and likes it at Newbury. He won well at The Curragh and adds another dimension to this top class contest. (Gary Capewell)
JAAFER (117)
AZIZ (117)
TZAR DU PAON (682)
PERIANDER (16)
MU’AZZAZ (196)
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