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| Superadmin |
The prestigious HH The Amir Trophy and Amir Sword Meeting at Al Rayyan faced an unprecedented disruption today when officials were forced to postpone the remainder of the card following a serious incident in the opening race. The decision came after consultation with horsemen following a concerning spill in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup over 1600 metres.
The incident occurred with 400 metres remaining when Surfers Paradise fell, affecting several runners including last year's winner Brave Emperor. While jockey Szczepan Mazur, who rode Surfers Paradise, was taken to hospital, he was reported to be conscious following the incident. Luke Morris, aboard Brave Emperor, was thankfully able to walk away from the fall.
"Horse and jockey safety is paramount so they couldn't take any risks," said Andrew Balding, who was present for The Foxes (Ire)'s intended run in the Trophy. "The ground is very loose and slippery. The track has been recently relaid and it just hasn't bedded in. Obviously the jockeys felt it was unsafe and, quite rightly, they didn't want to take any risks."
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The swift decision to relocate to Al Uqda Equestrian Complex demonstrates the organizers' commitment to both safety and ensuring the completion of this significant fixture. Sunday's rescheduled program at Al Uqda instead, with Balding adding that "we have been reassured that the racetrack at Al Uqda has been fully operational all winter and there are no concerns about the surface there."
Prior to the abandonment, General Panic captured the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup under Thomas Lukasek for trainer Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki and owner Mohammed Abdul Hadi S. Al Hajri, followed by Point Lynas and Make Me King in the placed positions.
Tom Palin of Middleham Park Racing provided an update on Brave Emperor: "Thankfully, Brave Emperor seems fine but, as we all know with horses, we don't know what might show up in the morning. Luke is also fine so that's the main thing. They are going to race at Al Uqda tomorrow."
The successful relocation of the card to Al Uqda ensures that the international competitors' journeys will not be in vain, while maintaining the integrity of this important fixture in the racing calendar.
General Panic's victory in the curtailed meeting adds to an impressive season for the Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki stable. The win marked a third success at pattern level for the progressive 5YO, who has now won five of his eight starts at Al Rayyan. His tactical speed and adaptability were on full display under Lukasek, who positioned him perfectly throughout the race before unleashing a decisive turn of foot that proved too much for his rivals in the testing conditions.
| RACE REPLAY |
Gr.2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup |