“This is so very exciting,” Deckers said. “She runs
so fast. It was very thrilling.”
The race had a very international result. Macallan
is based in Sweden, while third-place finisher El
Zarka D.A. is a five-year-old full-sister to
Conchita D.A.
Deckers has traveled outside of Belgium with
Conchita D.A. in the past. Last November, Conchita
D.A. was second in the minor Prix Caid at Toulouse,
France at 1,400 meters. There are not a lot of
top-prize races for sprinters in Europe, making
Conchita D.A.’s win at Newbury all the
more important.
Conchita D.A. was already having an excellent
summer, having won a minor race in Belgium
in June.
The Dubai International Arabian Racing Stakes for
three-year-olds had a slight American influence.
Methgal and third-place finisher Freddy Py are by
TM Fred Texas, who won the Darley Award as the
American Horse of the Year in 2011.
Methgal (TM Fred Texas x Theeba by Amer) had
only his second start at Newbury. He finished
seventh in the Group 2 Qatar Coupe de France Des
Chevaux Arabes, an important early season race for
three-year-old milers at Chantilly, France, in June.
Ridden by Peslier, Methgal was somewhat
overlooked in the DIAR Stakes, a 7-1 chance in a field
of ten. In the big field, Methgal had traffic issues.
Peslier was forced to alter course to gain space with
a quarter-mile remaining and took the lead with a
furlong to run. From there, Methgal dominated the
race, winning by six lengths over Traynah (Dahor de
Brugere x Siba by Al Yaboob).
“We were very disappointed after his race in
Chantilly,” Smart said. “He just wasn’t ready. He
really improved a lot since that race.”
Traynah, a filly, was ninth in the Coupe de France
for Al Shaqab Racing. The DIAR Stakes was her
fourth start. She won her debut in France in March.
Methgal is a name to remember. In morning
exercise for Smart, he works with Gazwan and
Ebraz, who won the Group 1 Qatar International
Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in England for
Sheikh Mohammed and Smart three days after the
DIAR Stakes.
“He is only a three-year-old and works with horses
like Ebraz and Gazwan, so I knew his level,” Smart
said. “I knew he would run well today, but like he did?
I am really happy.”
The program was sponsored by Sheikh Hamdan
bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai, who attended the
races. Two of his runners won minor handicaps on
the eight-race card.
Steve Andersen is a correspondent for Daily
Racing Form.
METHGAL (TM Fred Texas x Theeba
by Amer) won the Group 3 DIAR
International Stakes on July 28 at
Newbury for HH Sheikh Mohammed
bin Khalifa Al Thani. Methgal is
trained by Julian Smart and was
ridden by Olivier Peslier.
AHW > 111 < 08.19
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