The Royal Cavalry of Oman (0-75) Handicap Stakes to be run over a mile and a half at Wolverhampton on Saturday 31 October, has been well supported by a field of eleven runners. Genny Haynes, Arabian Racing Organisation Commercial and Finance Director said: “We are delighted to warmly welcome back our long-term sponsors, the Royal Cavalry of Oman, who have been valued supporters of UK Arabian racing for over ten years now.”
The handicap is headed by four home-breds for ARO patron HH Sheikh Hamdan, two, Al Monther and Jinaan trained by Phil Collington and two, Alghally and Mawarid, trained by James Owen. However, they will face strong competition from another Owen runner in Arwen Forta, who comes into the race in great form having won at the track two weeks previously.
Local trainer Peter Hammersley also fields three runners, Bin Al Reeh, Jomanah Athbah and Al-Tabari. Al-Tabari was bred in partnership with Julie Kelway, out of Altesse Kossack, who Hammersley trained to win twice over this distance, so the step up in trip is expected to suit. The same applies to Jomanah Athbah who was running on strongly to be third to Arwen Forta on her seasonal reappearance at the track.
At the lower end of the weights is Jen Harris’s Kayack, who like Al-Tabari is racing from just out the handicap. Kayack ran above expectations in a much better race to be sixth on his reappearance, so a drop in company should help him. Also trained by Harris is Kaynoo, a lightly raced six-year-old who makes her seasonal debut, as does the Gavin Kelly trained Mulan. Mulan is a dual winner on the Polytrack at Chelmsford, and she is well suited to a stamina test, with one of those wins coming over a furlong further.
Haynes concluded: “The Royal Cavalry of Oman have supported UK Arabian racing from the grass-roots of our sport to Group level for many years. ARO is delighted that even in these challenging times, they, like all our sponsors in 2020, have helped us to maintain our presence as part of UK racing. In addition, we also thank the British Horseracing Authority and Wolverhampton racecourse for their continued assistance this season.”
