Schedule forces UK Arabian Derby out of Ascot

The Group 1 contest will now be staged at Newmarket.

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The UK Arabian Derby has been moved from Ascot to Newmarket after the Emirates Equestrian Federation could not find a suitable window to stage the race outside of Ramadan or the London 2012 Olympics.

The UK Arabian Derby, staged for four year olds over 10 furlongs, is usually run at Ascot on the same card as the prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which this year is held on July 21.

Ramadan starts around July 20, while the Olympics officially begin a week later and run through until August 12.

As such, the race will be transferred from Ascot to the headquarters of British racing and will be now held on July 13.

The Group 1 contest will share the same card as the Falmouth Stakes, sponsored by Etihad Airways, and will be run on Newmarket's July Course.

The race, worth £50,000, (Dh287,843) will transplant the Group 1 Abu Dhabi Harwood International Stakes, run over a mile, which has been shelved and will not be run this year.

"Although Arabian races are run in Britain during Ramadan, with respect to the President Of The UAE Cup, the race has been moved to Newmarket," Toni Newman, the racing manager for the Arabian Racing Organisation, said.

Last year Kiss de Ghazal won the UK Arabian Derby under Jean-Bernard Eyquem. The son of Dormane thrashed Divamer by seven lengths and used the race as a stepping stone to victory in Paris in October.

In France she won the Group 1 Qatar Arabian Trophy over 2,000 metres at Longchamp.

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