Delyth double-handed at Chelmsford City on Saturday
The strong form of Welsh handler Delyth Thomas (pictured right) could continue in the
Wathba Stallions (0-60) Handicap Stakes
run over a mile at
Chelmsford City racecourse at 1.20pm
on
Saturday June 8th
. She sends Callymay and Kayclaire, both course winners at the Essex track to compete in the nine runner contest, held as part of the global Wathba Stallions Cup series that supports the grassroots of Arabian racing as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival.
They will be racing for a prize fund £4,500, the most valuable race run to date this season which naturally has produced a competitive field. Syrah Gris and Zayin Zamurai are trained by Adam Newey, handler of Vindetta, winner of the 2018 Wathba Stallions Handicap at the track in the same colours as Syrah Gris, the Almost All Partnership. Koline also makes her reappearance, she was a shock winner of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies race at Sandown for her owner-trainer Stephen Gregory, who will be in the saddle on Saturday.
Paul Simmons has three interests in the race, being the owner-trainer of dual course winner Kallista, owner-breeder of Zayin Zephyrella, trained by Pete Hammersley and the breeder of Zayin Zamurai, now owned by the enthusiastic sisters Nicola Buchan and Sarah Innes who despite living in Scotland, still maintain a strong interest in this southernly based sport. Last year Whitley Meadows Arabians fielded two homebred runners who finished just outside the top three, however this year Popsstar who was fourth, bids to improve on that position.
Heading the line-up is the James Owen trained Mawarid, the youngest and least experienced horse in the field who runs in the colours of ARO's patron and the UK's biggest supporter of the sport, HH Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. Mawarid, like Callymay and Kayclaire, is also engaged to run at Wolverhampton the following day. Owen is a two-time ARO Champion trainer, though is currently lying second place in the trainer's championship to Thomas, who is certainly making her presence felt with her small string of runners.
She will no doubt be hoping for a repeat of the Royal Cavalry of Oman Bronze Final of 2016, where Callymay and Kayclaire were first and second.
That the field comprises of entirely British bred horses, three of which are retained to race in the colours of their original breeders is a great credit to UK Arabian racing and the aims of the Wathba Stallions Cup series.
Continuing their support for the stable staff, Racing Welfare will be sponsoring the Best Turned Out Award at this race with a cash prize £20 and a Racing Welfare gilet to the winning groom.
