In this July 17, 2014, picture, Arod and Jamie Spencer win the At The Races Sky 415 Conditions Stakes in Leicester.

By Chris Hoover/London


The richest race day in the 110-year history of Newbury racecourse will be centred around the Group I Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes with a purse of £350,000 today. An outstanding seven-race card with total stake money of £750,000 will see some of the world’s finest Thoroughbreds go head-to-head on an action packed day, which promises to witness many thrilling finishes.
Last year Olympic Glory registered the third of his four career Group 1 victories when winning the Lockinge Stakes in the colours of Al Shaqab Racing. A top notch field of 18 has been declared to start for this year’s edition. Though Al Shaqab have no runners in the contest this year, Qatar Racing’s Arod and Trade Storm will carry Qatar’s hopes in the feature event of the day.
The four-year-old Arod, who is trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam won twice over 2,000 metres in 2014 and ran some excellent races in defeat, most notably when fourth to Australia in the 2,400 metres Investec Derby at Epsom Downs and runner-up to The Grey Gatsby in York’s Dante Stakes.
Arod’s only previous start over a mile was on his debut in November, 2013, when he finished third in a Polytrack maiden at Kempton Park. Trainer Chapple-Hyam said. “Arod is very well. It was a good comeback at Newmarket and obviously a mile is a new thing for him. We don’t really want to see any rain. We are going to give it a go over a mile and see what happens. He raced a bit keenly over further last season and so that is why we are giving it a go.”
“The Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes is sure to be a tough race and there will be no hiding place. Arod is in the Queen Anne Stakes and the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, so Newbury will give us a pointer as to where we go with him this season.”
The other Qatar Racing contender, Trade Storm has come back from Dubai in good form and its trainer David Simcock feels the Al Shaqab champion will be a good prospect in the race. “He has been a superstar for us, and, besides Dubai, this past eight months he has run in Toronto, California and Hong Kong, and I would envisage that after two runs in Britain this summer he will be back on his travels.”
Amongst the others in the fray, Richard Hannon, who sent out Olympic Glory to victory 12 months ago, is due to be represented by last year’s QIPCO 2,000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder and 2013 European champion two-year-old Toormore.
Dual Group One-winning mare Integral will aim to provide Sir Michael Stoute with an eighth success in the race, while Moohaarib, representing Marco Botti, is set to step up in class following an easy recent Listed win at Ascot.
Al Shaqab Lockinge Day also features three Listed contests, starting with the £100,000 Al Rayyan Stakes to be run over 12 furlongs, which feature Al Shaqab Racing’s Eltezam and Shalaa alongwith last year’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes runner-up Telescope. Al Rayyan Stakes race is associated with Educate A Child programme.
Qatar champion Thoroughbred Dubday and Peter Anders are in the fray in the £70,000 Toronado Carnarvon Stakes to be run over six furlongs for three-year-olds. Group II winners Baitha Alga, Beacon and Jungle Cat also feature among the eight contenders.  
Dubday is the apple of the eye of Qatar’s champion trainer Jassim al-Ghazali, who also has Izzthatright in the Carnarvon Stakes and Itorio in the Al Zubarah Gold Cup.
Assessing his chances, Ghazali said: “Dubday is the best horse we have had in Qatar for the last two years. He is unbeaten in six races, winning the Qatar Derby and Emirs Trophy, Qatar Gold Trophy twice.He ran a good race in the Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup night at Meydan, being beaten only six lengths by Brown Panther, but the trip of 3200 metres stretched him, and he’ll be much happier at Newbury back over 2400m.”
“We know that Dubday is number one in Qatar, but we are going into the unknown at Newbury. It looks very competitive, but provided the rain does not get into the ground I hope he will do Qatar justice. He has been tracking well, and we are now ready for the challenge.”
However, Qatar have a strong second-string in Peter Anders, who was only beaten three parts of a length by Dubday in the Emirs Trophy at Doha in February and now enjoys a  two kg pull.
Zuhair Mohsen, who trains Peter Anders, said: “Dubday has twice beaten us, but we are getting closer and if the rain stays away we’ll give him another tough race.”
The £70,000 Toronado Carnarvon Stakes for three year olds has attracted a field of 14 with Qatar being represented by Al Shaqab’s Baitha Alga, Injaaz Stud’s Izzthatright and Qatar Racing’s Wet Sail.
The £70,000 Al Zubarah London Gold Cup, an Open Handicap race for three year olds has two Qatari owned contenders in Crescent and Itorio.  
“I am happy with the condition of Crescent but the only thing that bothers me is that Crescent carries the top weight. He has a good chance but it is going to be tough race. We are looking forward to the race meeting tomorrow. I hope all goes well and make it a happy ending for Qatar,” Crescent trainer Ahmed Kobeissi said.
The £70,000 Haras De Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial Stakes for three year olds has a solitary runner in Bronze Maquette. The Mohammed Hussain saddled Bronze Maquette comes to Britain after clinching two wins in three starts in Qatar. However, she is tackling a 2,000 metres for the first time, which trainer Hussain feels is the only bother. “She has been tracking well here and is in good form. The only bother is Bronze Maquette has never run this distance before. But I still feel, she has the potential to spring a surprise.”
Qatar go into the Al Shaqab Lockinge Day with enough firepower and are capable of putting up a brave fight against top class Thoroughbred in Britain. They should come back triumphant in a couple of races at least.