Betway Winter Derby option for Al Zaraqaan after Newcastle win

Al Zaraqaan extended his unbeaten record on the All-Weather to four with an authoritative display in the 10-furlong Betway Conditions Stakes at Newcastle this afternoon, a Fast-Track Qualifier for the £200,000 Betway Easter Classic.

Previously trained by William Haggas, the former Shadwell runner was making his first appearance for Archie Watson since being sold at the sales in October.

Danny Tudhope kept things simple from the stalls and sent Al Zaraqaan straight into the lead, with Halimi and Sir Chauvelin following in Indian file.

The 4/6 favourite upped the ante turning into the straight and was never seriously threatened, pulling away from Halimi inside the final furlong to win by almost four lengths.

This was a second Fast-Track Qualifier win at Newcastle this year for Watson and Al Zaraqaan’s owners Hambleton Racing, who were also successful with Tempus in a mile qualifier on January 2.

Watson said: “That was a good performance from Al Zaraqaan, making his own running into a strong headwind in the straight and winning well. Danny was delighted with him.

“We will see how he comes out of the race but the Winter Derby Trial and Winter Derby itself would be nice options, I’m sure.”

Tudhope said: “Al Zaraqaan has good form on the All-Weather and has shown that again today.

“I spoke to Hollie [Doyle] and Archie beforehand and they both said, ‘whatever you do, don’t turn it into a sprint’. He stays well and has form over further than this.

“We made it a good test and there is a strong headwind in the straight, which makes it hard work, but he did it nicely.

“He is a big strapping horse and hopefully there is a bit more to come. Archie knows what he is doing and I’m sure he has a plan.”

Al Zaraqaan wins the Betway Conditions Stakes (credit: Grossick Photography)

About the All-Weather Championships

Season nine of the All-Weather Championships runs from Tuesday, October 19, 2021, and culminates with All-Weather Championships Finals Day on Good Friday, April 15, 2022.

Finals Day will take place at Newcastle for the first time while its previous home Lingfield Park will now stage the All-Weather Vase fixture for horses not rated high enough to run on Finals Day.

The six championship categories are:

Three-Year-Olds sponsored by Coral - 6f Final

Fillies & Mares sponsored by Coral - 7f Final

Mile sponsored by MansionBet - 1m Final

Sprint sponsored by Betway - 6f Final

Marathon sponsored by Betway - 2m Final

Middle Distance sponsored Betway - 10f Final

There are two ways for horses to qualify for one of the finals on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Newcastle:

* A horse can win a 'Fast-Track Qualifier' race which will ensure a FREE and GUARANTEED place in the corresponding final on Good Friday. There are four Fast-Track Qualifiers in each of the six championship categories hosted at racecourses in Great Britain, Ireland and France. If a filly wins any of the Fast-Track Qualifier races for either the Sprint or the Mile categories, the filly will be qualified for the final of that specific category, or for the Fillies and Mares Final.

or *

A horse must run a minimum of three times on the All-Weather surfaces in Great Britain, Ireland and France; or twice on the All-Weather surfaces in Great Britain, Ireland, France and once on dirt in Dubai or Saudi Arabia during the qualifying period between October 19, 2021 and the six-day entry stage for the finals (Saturday, April 9, 2022) and then be rated high enough to 'make the cut' in a final by order of its BHA Rating.

In addition, prizes will be awarded to each of the All-Weather Champions - the 'All Stars' - based on the number of winners at the end of the All-Weather Championships season:

Champion All-Weather Jockey (winner and runner up)

Champion All-Weather Apprentice Jockey (winner and runner up)

Champion All-Weather Trainer

Champion All-Weather Owner

Winning Most All-Weather Horse

For details of the 24 Fast-Track Qualifiers, please click here.

Fast-Track Qualifier winners so far:

1 - 3YO, October 19, Newcastle, 6f, SPACE COWBOY (Richard Spencer/Hollie Doyle)

2 - F&M, October 28, Lingfield Park, 1m, MAAMORA (Simon & Ed Crisford/James Doyle)

3 - F&M, November 5, Dundalk (IRE), 1m, FRIENDLY (Aidan O’Brien/Wayne Lordan)

4 - SPRINT, November 13, Lingfield Park, 6f, GOOD EFFORT (Ismail Mohammed/Jim Crowley)

5 - MD, November 13, Lingfield Park, 1m 2f, PYLEDRIVER (William Muir & Chris Grassick/Martin Dwyer)

6 - MD, November 23, Deauville (FR), 1m 1½f, INTEGRANT (Henri-Francois Devin/Maxime Guyon)

7 - MILE, November 24, Kempton Park, 1m, MADAME TANTZY (Eve Johnson Houghton/Georgia Dobie)

8 - 3YO, December 4, Wolverhampton, 6f, EL CABALLO (Karl Burke/Clifford Lee)

9 - MA, December 11, Newcastle, 2m, NICHOLAS T (Jim Goldie/Paul Mulrennan)

10 - F&M, January 1, Southwell, ARRIVISTE (Rae Guest/David Probert)

11 - SPRINT, January 2, Newcastle, VENTUROUS (David Barron/Connor Beasley)

12 - MILE, January 2, Newcastle, TEMPUS (Archie Watson/Hollie Doyle)

13 - MD, January 13, Newcastle, AL ZARAQAAN (Archie Watson/Danny Tudhope)

For more information on the All-Weather Championships, please visit: www.awchampionships.co.uk