Newbury, England: We all came to see some of the best Purebred Arabians in Europe flaunt their stuff at Newbury Racecourse as the Dubai International Arabian Races (DIAR) celebrated its 35th anniversary on Sunday, and we were certainly not disappointed.

Two of the best of the breed, the resilient Muraaqib and the graceful Sylvine Al Maury, demonstrated just why they were rated as the top three-year-old and Arabian mare of 2015, when posting imperious victories on a bright, sunny afternoon at the sports’s flagship event.

While Muraaqib provided the icing on the cake for a quartet of winners owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, under whose patronage the meeting was staged, Sylvine Al Maury brought tears to the eyes of French handler Madame Jean-Francois Bernard, who has taken over the reins following her husband’s death last year.

Muraaqib gifted Shaikh Hamdan with an unprecedented 13th victory in the Shadwell Dubai International Stakes, the showpiece event.

Ridden confidently by Francois Xavier Bertras, who was even able to steal a glance back at his straining rivals, the front-running Muraaqib ran out a comfortably winner over Toutaix.

Meanwhile, Sylvine Al Maury, last season’s top-rated Arabian mare, was all class as she battered her six rivals to win the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free International Stakes, one of three Group 1 contests that embellish a glitter eight-race programme.

Despite not having seen a racecourse in over eight months due to a mystery illness, the Royal Cavalry of Oman-owned mare, who is trained by the later Jean-Francois Bernad’s widow, showed no signs of lacking race fitness with a thumping six-length victory.

“She’s is so special, she showed that she is truly a champion,” said an emotional Bernad. “We couldn’t get a prep race out of her as she has been ill earlier this year. We don’t know what was wrong with her, but every time I saw her in the stables she had a dull coat and did not look well.

“I was obviously worried and decided to wait and wait, until I came to England. She’s only 80 per cent fit but you saw what she can do. She’s a real star.”

Sylvine Al Maury’s jockey Francois Xavier Bertras described the mare as perhaps the best he has ever ridden.

“We did not know how the race will be run as she likes a bit of cover and does not like to go to the front early,” said the French rider. “But she was always travelling well in the race and it gave me a lot of confidence.

“When we entered the final two furlongs I let her loose and she just picked up and took control of the race. I knew they would never catch us once she found her rhythm.

“Perhaps you will see her next in the big race at Longchamp on Arc day. She deserves to challenge for the biggest prizes. I’m confident she will run a big race.”

The meeting was organised by the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) and featured five international contests with prize money totalling a record 180,000 pounds

The DIAR has promoted Purebred Arabian racing worldwide from the grass-roots to the highest level since its’ inception 35 years ago.