07 Sept 2006

Dubai: The 2007 Dubai International Racing Carnival is expected to be bigger and better and exceed that of the first three years.

Last year's event saw an unprecedented number of international horses based in Dubai competing for a share of the $31 million (Dh114m) prize money on offer.

Although there has not been any significant changes made to the programme for 2007, due to the amendment to the quarantine protocols between Australia and the UAE, DRC officials are expecting a large representation from Australia.

Until this year, horses coming from Australia and New Zealand could only remain in the UAE for a total of 14 days if they wanted a direct return.

However, in June, that protocol was extended and Australian horses can now remain in the UAE for a total of 60 days.

"The amendment to the protocol is great news for both us and Australia as it will give Australian trainers an opportunity to compete at the world's richest racing carnival and gives horses based in Dubai the opportunity for direct routing to Australia," said International Department Manager, Martin Talty.

With this in mind, a new International Rated Stakes race has been added to the Carnival on January 25. The winner will receive an invitation together with travel subsidies to run in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on March 3.

The Futurity is the first leg of the 2007 Asian Mile Challenge. The DRC also confirmed their international representatives for 2007 with the well-respected International Racing Bureau representing the DRC in Great Britain and Europe. The DRC will also have a presence in South Africa for the first time with the appointment of Katrina Partridge.

"We are confident that the International Racing Bureau [IRB] will provide us with strong representation from the UK and Europe, while the addition of Katrina Partridge as our South African representative was imperative due to the support we have received from owners and trainers there," Talty said.

The Carnival will commence on January 18, at Nad Al Sheba, with the first rounds of the Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge and will climax with the UAE Oaks meeting on March 8.

Officials List of DRC Representatives worldwide:
Bruce Clark (Australasia)
Dr Michael Collins (Ireland)
Katrina Partridge (South Africa)
Dr. Thomas M. Tribolet (South America)
William Greely (USA)
Martin Panza (USA)
International Racing Bureau (Great Britain/Europe)

By Staff Reporter

Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.