AUSRACING
RACING AND BREEDING ON THE INTERNET SINCE 1996

19th September, 2001

North and South meet at Pearls of Dubai International Sale

A total of 57 Northern Hemisphere-bred two-year-olds and Southern Hemisphere-bred three-year-olds will form an extremely unique auction in Dubai when the Emirates Racing Association host the Pearls of Dubai International Sale at the Dubai World Cup Quarantine Centre on Saturday, October 13.

As an expansion from the inaugural Pearls of Dubai Auction in 2000 when 55 Southern Hemisphere-bred three-year-olds were sold, the 2001 renewal will offer Northern Hemisphere-bred horses also, graduates from which will be the only ones eligible for the Dhs500,000 Pearls of Dubai International Sales Graduate Stakes at Nad Al Sheba on March 2.

The Pearls of Dubai International Sales Graduate Stakes will be restricted to 16 runners however buyers will have a better than one in four chance of having a runner. The winner is also exempt from the ballot on the Group II U$2million UAE Derby on March 23.

As an added incentive, the major three-year-old races during 2001/2002 will be worth over $3.1million with three-year-olds also eligible to run in the US$2million Group I Dubai Golden Shaheen.

"The Pearls of Dubai International Sale promises to be the most successful held in the Emirates," said Emirates Racing Association Chief Executive Mr Les Benton.

"The chances of having a runner in the Pearls of Dubai International Sales Graduate Stakes is better than one in four, there is enormous prizemoney open to the three-year-olds and the cost of owning a racehorse in the Emirates is extremely cheap."

"Anyone can own a racehorse in the Emirates and this is the perfect opportunity to get into ownership either singularly or with a group as a syndicate."

The 57 lots which comprise the 2001 Pearls of Dubai International Sale come from America (34), France (6), Argentina (12) and New Zealand (5).

One of the many highlights is expected to be the Argentinean-bred Fueguino, whose brother Flirteador is a recent Grade I winner in Argentina. Amongst others are winners and placed horses, some of which are group placed, while three of the horses from America are already winners.

As an added attraction to this year's auction, all sale horses will breeze at Nad Al Sheba racecourse at 7pm on Thursday October 11 with ERA commentator Terry Spargo providing a full description. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The 2001/2002 season in the Emirates will be highlighted by an extensive three-year-old programme and aside from the Dhs500,000 Pearls of Dubai Sales Graduate Stakes and the US$2,000,000 Group II UAE Derby, other attractive events include the Group III US$250,000 UAE 2000 Guineas over 1,600m on dirt at Nad Al Sheba on February 28 and the US$200,000 Al Bastikiya over 1,800m on dirt at Nad Al Sheba on April 13.

The three-year-old fillies also have the US$200,000 Moonshell Mile and US$250,000 UAE 1000 Guineas, both over 1,600m on dirt at Nad Al Sheba, on February 21 and March 14 respectively as well as the US$250,000 UAE Oaks over 1,800m on dirt at Nad Al Sheba on April 14.

September 8th, 2001

Fin Powrie appointed Chairman of Stewards
From Emirates Racing Association

The Chief Executive of the Emirates Racing Association, Mr Les Benton, announced today that Mr Fin Powrie has been appointed as its new Chairman of Stipendiary Stewards.

Mr Powrie will take up his new role in time for the start of the 2001/2002 Emirates racing season at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday, November 1.

³Mr Powrie is one of the most respected figures in Australasian racing and he brings to the Emirates a wealth of racing experience and knowledge,² Mr Benton said.

³It is an enormous coup for the ERA to secure a person of Mr Powrie¹s
standing and his appointment continues our drive to ensure that racing in the Emirates retains its status as a world leader.²

Mr Powrie is currently the Chairman of Stipendiary Stewards at the Western Australian Turf Club, a position he acquired at the age of 31 in 1989.

Mr Powrie has been involved in horse racing since 1979 when he was employed by the Western Australian Turf Club as a Cadet Steward being promoted onto the Stewards¹ Panel as a full time member 16 months later.

In 1985 he was appointed as Steward/Handicapper for the North and North-West Districts Racing Association in New South Wales, a position he held for two years before returning to the Western Australian Turf Club as a Stipendiary Steward.

Two years later he was appointed as Deputy Chairman of Stewards before rising to Chairman in 1989.

Mr Powrie¹s experience also includes auctioneering, breaking in and
educating young horses and amateur riding. He has also acted as a Judge, Clerk of Scales and Starter at race meetings.

³I am extremely pleased to be given this opportunity to work in Emirates racing,² Mr Powrie said, ³Everyone in world racing has seen the remarkable growth racing has made in the Emirates and I look forward to being part of this growth and the challenge of keeping the Emirates in the position he currently holds.²

³My time at the Western Australian Turf Club has been thoroughly enjoyable and I wouldn¹t be where I am today without the help I have received there.²

³My new appointment emphasises the current strength of racing in Western Australia and it makes me particularly proud that the ERA appointed their new Chairman of Stipendiary Stewards from Perth.²