Blackrock boys to have runner in UK Arabian Derby The Blackrock Racing Syndicate will have a runner, Awtaar, in Saturday's UAE President's Cup - UK Arabian Derby on the St Leger card at Doncaster. The horse which Pierce Dargan, racing manager of the Blackrock Racing Syndicate, has leased from one of the largest supporters of the sport Shadwell Stud will be the first horse to compete in the race in the colours of an Irish syndicate. Dargan explains the link-up: "I had known about Arabian racing for some time, as I have friends from the Middle East who race Arabian horses in the UK and across Europe. With the integration of Arabian racing into the British Horseracing Industry I wanted to explore and learn more about the breed. James Owen, a leading UK trainer of Arabian horses suggested the lease deal." Arabians take longer to mature than thoroughbreds, starting their racing at three, so their ‘classic’ season is a year later. Awtaar is a daughter of Mahabb, sire of last year’s Derby winner Hattal, and is also a half-sister to Loolwa, who finished third in the same contest. Seeking to confirm Awtaar’s Derby credential’s she was entered in the Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap at Chepstow against older horses. Making most of the running on her debut in Blackrock’s blue and white silks, Awtaar was headed on the line by Mazyoonah, a Shadwell homebred two years her senior. Arabian Group races feature on many of the major thoroughbred cards, not just the St Leger day at Doncaster, but as part of the Qatar Goodwood Festival and more recently at the Haydock Sprint Cup Celebration. With the average price of an Arabian at Arqana’s Arc PA sale being €27,000, more owners and syndicates might consider the opportunities offered by Arabian racing to be part of the UK’s largest race days. Currently there are no Arabian races run in Ireland, though for several years a leg of the international UAE President’s Cup series was run at the Curragh, as part of Guineas weekend.
