2007 Dubai International Racing Carnival Programme Unveiled and Summerhill's Katrina Partridge announced as SA Rep.

The programme for the 2007 Dubai International Racing Carnival (“DIRC”) has been released with international representation expected to exceed that of the first three years.
 
The 2006 DIRC saw an unprecedented number of international horses in one racing centre at one time, just on 200 horses in Dubai from January through to March competing for a share of the US$31,000,000 on offer.
 
With the popularity of the 2006 DIRC, there haven’t been any significant changes made to the programme for 2007 however, due to the amendment to the quarantine protocols between Australia and the UAE, DRC officials are expecting a representation from Australia.
 
Until this year horses coming from Australia and New Zealand could only remain in the UAE for a total of 14 days if they wanted a direct return.
 
However, in June that protocol was extended and Australian horses can now be in the UAE for a total of 60 days.
 
“The amendment to the protocol is great news for both us and Australia as it will give Australian trainers an opportunity to compete at the world’s richest racing carnival and horses based in Dubai the opportunity for direct routing to Australia,” said International Department Manager, Martin Talty.
 
With this in mind, there has been a new race added to the Carnival, a 95 and Above International Rated Stakes, on January 25 where the winner will receive an invitation - together with travel subsidies - to run in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on March 3, the first leg of the 2007 Asian Mile Challenge.
 
The DRC also confirmed their international representatives for 2007 with the well-respected International Racing Bureau representing the DRC in Great Britain and Europe while the DRC will have a presence in South Africa for the first time with the appointment of Katrina Partridge.
 
“We are confident that the International Racing Bureau will provide us with strong representation from the UK and Europe while the addition of Katrina Partridge as our South African representative was imperative due to the support we have received from owners and trainers there,” Talty said.
 
The list of DRC Representatives worldwide is;
 
Bruce Clark (Australasia)
Dr Michael Collins (Ireland)
Katrina Partridge (South Africa)
Dr. Thomas M. Tribolet (South America)
William Greely (USA)
Martin Panza (USA)
International Racing Bureau (Great Britain/Europe)

Source: Dubai Racing Club Media Release