All posts by ARO

MORE HOMEBRED SUCCESS FOR OWEN AS VICTORIA WINS AT SOUTHWELL

 

 

Victoria and Miss Teagan Padgett winning the ARO (0-70) Handicap at Southwell © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

ARO Leading trainer now leads the owner’s table too

 

Sunday 18 August 2024 –

ARO’s five-time leading trainer James Owen could add a new championship title, that of leading owner, to his collection as his Victoria ran out a comfortable winner of the ARO (0-70) Handicap at Southwell today. Fittingly on Southwell’s popular Ladies Day, his four-year-old homebred filly was ridden by stable amateur and current leading ockey Teagan Padgett, who rode a waiting race over the 1m6f test.

The early steady pace was set by another homebred mare, Sheila Collington’s Hattie Sparks. Ridden by Joey Haynes, she was very green in front, finally giving way to Victoria in the home straight, but was coming back at the winner on the line. She had looked useful on her debut, and though disappointing next time, has clearly improved and should come on again for this run. Gavin Kelly’s Assassen, had also made a promising debut over shorter, and though travelling smoothly throughout under Lewis Saunders, failed to respond when asked to challenge.

This was a second win for Owen’s Victoria which now puts him at the head of the ARO owner table and consolidates his leading trainer and breeder positions too. Though Al Asayl Bloodstock’s Marakeb failed to improve for the step up in trip, he is only a juvenile, and should be stronger next season. There was still a positive for the Al Asayl team as Victoria is a daughter of their multiple Group 1Pa winner RB Burn who is drawing clear in the ARO leading sire’s table.

 

 

Quotes:

Lissie Reeves, Arabian Assistant to James Owen, trainer, 1st“We’re delighted for Victoria, she’s been so consistent for us all season, she really deserved that. She’s run over a variety of trips for us, but she does stay on and has a little bit of a turn of foot to get her to the finish line. We’ll look at her mark on Tuesday and see where we can go from there, it would be nice to get a few more runs into her this season if we can.”

Peter Hammersley, trainer, 3rd“Lewis was happy with him until turning in, but he just didn’t pick up for him as he’d hoped. He doesn’t stay, so we’ll drop him back in trip next time.”

 

Miss Teagan Padgett with Victoria and Lissie Reeves after winning the ARO (0-70) Handicap at Southwell © Debbie Burt – Equine Creatie Media

 

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “ARO congratulates James, Lissie, Teagan and all the team at Green Ridge Stables winning again today with their homebred Victoria. We always get a warm welcome at Southwell and to run in front of such a large summer holiday crowd of over 9,000 can only be a positive for our sport.

“We also congratulate Jodie Hebberson for winning the Baker McVeigh Best Turned Out Award with Marakeb. We now look forward to our next race, which is at Chepstow on Monday 2 September.”

 

Lissie Reevs recives the trophy from Willie McFarland for Victoria’s win in the ARO Handicap (0-70) Handicap at Southwell © Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

 

1st: VICTORIA (GB)

2nd: Hattie Sparks (GB)

3rd: Assassen (GB)

4 ran – Non-runner 5

Distances: 1, 4.75 Time: 3.28.78

Going: Standard

LUWSAIL WINS BY A HEAD IN THE UAE PRESIDENT CUP – UK ARABIAN DERBY

Luwsail and Ioritz Mendizabal on the rail just get ahead of Extra Time and Tadhg O’Shea to win the 2024 UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Al Shaqab gain first UK Arabian Derby winner at Doncaster

 

Saturday 17 August 2024 –

There was a thrilling finish to this year’s £80,000 UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby Group 1PA held over 1m2f at Doncaster this afternoon with Luwsail and Ioritz Mendizabal winning by a head from Extra Time on the line. Reversing the French Arabian Derby form from Chantilly it was desperately close, with Molfit and Lukas Delozier having taken it up from long-time leader Amirat Al Zaman in the straight, leaving odds on favourite Extra Time and Tadhg O’Shea to steadily reel him in on their outside. However Mendizabal had played a waiting game with Lswail and squeezed up the rail to snatch victory in the final strides, with Molfit just half a length away in third.

This is a first UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby win for owner breeders Al Shaqab Racing, but a second for their super sire Al Mourtajez, who also sired last year’s winner, Al Doha. It was also a first win in the race for trainer Francois Rohaut, who handles the third, Molfit, however Mendizabal knows his way to the winners enclosure at Doncaster having been successful on Hayyan in 2019.

This is the seventh race out of 15 around the world for the UAE President Cup this year, whose race sponsorship started over thirty years ago and is the oldest Purebred Arabian Classic series. HE Faisal Al Rahmani, Event Manager for the UAE President Cup was on course to welcome the winners and present the trophies to Rohaut and Mendizabal.

 

Faisal Al Rahmani with Francois Rohaut, Luwsail, Yvanna Lacoste and Ioritz Mendizabal winners of the 2024 UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby © Debbie Burt – Equine Creatie Media

Quotes:

Ioritz Mendizabal, jockey, 1st: “The pace was slow and my horse doesn’t gallop relaxed, he was already pulling 500m after the start. The trainer asked me to wait because he has a very good finish. He’s a very good horse.”

Francois Rohaut, trainer, 1st: “Luwsail is a horse that loves to come through others, probably at Chantilly he came a bit to early and today I said to Ioritz to wait, wait, wait, he won like that in March in Toulouse beating older horses, so he can do that. He loves this way of riding him. It was difficult, but he’s a brave horse and he likes to fight. He’ll either go to Longchamp, for the World Cup, or that will be it for this year.”

Tadgh O’Shea, jockey, 2nd: “He ran a very good race, the pace was very slow, but he relaxed well, I think the winner got a very lucky run down the rail, the door opened late for him in the race, he was lucky. My horse ran very well, when he saw the winner, he battled back, but the line came too soon.”

Marco Ghiani, jockey, 5th: “Amirat Al Zaman has improved from Newbury, mentally and physically, she was quite settled in front today which was nice to see. She quickened well but the winner squeezed past me and she just lost her action a bit and never recovered to finish the race as I wanted to. She will improve again from this I’m sure.”

 

Francois Rohaut, Iortiz Mendizabal and Faisal Al Rahmani with the trophies for the UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby at Doncaster © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

HE Faisal Al Rahmani, Event Manager for the UAE President Cup: “We are delighted for the winners of the race today. I’m very pleased with the way the series is going, we started with just six races and now there are 15 around the world. The directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed lead our race agenda to the highest level of global success. The British stage represents the pinnacle of racing and reflects the fruitful partnership of this extraordinary event.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “ARO warmly congratulates the winners and I’m sure we will see Lwsail go on to further success, just as all our previous winners have done.

“We thank the HE Faisal Al Rahmani, the UAE President Cup and Doncaster racecourse for supporting our most valuable race for four-year-olds this season and congratulate Yvanna Lacoste who not only looked after the winner, but received the Best Turned Out award as well. We now look forward to our next race, which is at Southwell tomorrow.”

 

Best Turned Out winner was also Luwsail whose groom Yvanna Lacoste receives £100 from the UAE President Cup series

© Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

UAE President Cup UK Arabian Derby – Group 1 PA

1.LUWSAIL (FR)

2. Extra Time (US)

3. Molfit (FR)

Dist: head, 0.5 Time: 2.21.81

Going: Good to Firm

5 Ran

 

 

EXTRA TIME BIDS TO GO ONE BETTER IN UAE PRESIDENT CUP – UK ARABIAN DERBY

Extra Time, beaten a neck in the French Arabian Derby could go one better at Doncaster ©Debbie Burt

 

Second, third and fourth in French equivalent seek recompense at Doncaster

 

Wednesday 14 August 2024 – 

This year’s £80,000 UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby Group 1PA held at Doncaster on August 17 sees a rematch between the placed horses in Chantilly’s French Arabian Derby. The mile and a quarter contest has been run at Doncaster since 2016 under the sponsorship of the UAE President Cup, the world’s oldest Arabian race sponsorship series, which this year encompasses 15 races around the world.

Whilst winners of the Qatar Derby des Pur Sang Arabes de 4 Ans have an exceptional record at Doncaster winning every edition that they have contested, in recent years the runner-up has fared well too with Al Doha and Abbes both going one better in the UK. For the last four editions the Doncaster winner has gone on to even greater heights afterwards winning some of the best Arabian races in the world including the Dubai Kahayla Classic (Hayyan) and the HH The Amir Sword (Abbes), whilst last year’s winner Al Doha has already won two further top-level races this year.

This bodes well for Extra Time who came within a neck of claiming the French equivalent in June on Prix de Diane day. He will be partnered by twelve times UAE champion jockey Tadgh O’Shea who has already been successful twice before in this contest on Nafees (2017) and Hattal (2020). Also with winning form is Ioritz Mendizabal who partnered Hayyan to victory in 2019, he rides French Derby third Luwsail. 

The UK’s current leading owner, Al Nujaifi Racing, has a homebred filly Amirat Al Zaman lining up under regular partner Marco Ghiani. Imported from France earlier this year, she is unbeaten at a lower level in the UK and though this is a step up in class, she deserves her chance on pedigree, being a half-sister to two French Oaks winning fillies.

Quotes:

HE Faisal Al Rahmani, Event Manager for the UAE President Cup commented, “We hope that the success of these races will encourage people to spread the word and bring more new people into the sport. I’m very pleased with how the UAE President Cup series is going, as we have many followers all around the world. Every race produces a star, just like the last winner Al Doha. We need to keep this momentum going and to encourage more breeding of Arabian racehorses globally which is one of the series aims.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We’re delighted to welcome the runners from France, as well as a progressive looking filly from the UK to our most valuable race for four-year-olds. This race consistently crowns a horse that continues to improve at this level, with the last winner, Al Doha, securing her third Group 1PA contest, the Liwa Oasis in La Teste yesterday evening. 

“We thank the UAE President Cup and Doncaster racecourse for supporting our racing this season and look forward to welcoming their representatives, including UAE President Cup Event Manager, Faisal Al Rahmani on Saturday.”

 

 

UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby – Past winners

EMOTIONAL WIN FOR COLJANI IN THE WATHBA STALLIONS CUP AT LINGFIELD PARK

Coljani and Paddy Bradley winning the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield Park © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Deserved homebred success for the Raffles Partnership

 

Monday 5 August 2024 –

It was an emotional win for Coljani’s team at Lingfield this afternoon in the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield, with the five-year-old gelding gaining his first success in front of his owner breeders and with his regular groom Sue Wileman sidelined. Ridden by Paddy Bradley, the pair were soon in front, with recent winner Delicatesse trying to make headway to challenge, however Coljani held on, up the stands rail to win by a length and a quarter. Delicatesse and Miss Teagan Padgett were second, ahead of a staying on Pharitz Alanood and Charlie Price in third.

Coljani had been knocking on the door all season, finishing in the frame on his last three starts, including when second to Delicatesse at the same course last month over a furlong less on the Polytrack.

Quotes:

Pete Hammersley, trainer,1st: “That’s for Colin [Banks] and for Sue [Wileman]. I thought that on the straight turf track, where he can get into a rhythm and keep going, he’d be fine. On the All Weather, round the tight bends here he loses his impetus. Paddy said he got him into a nice rhythm and was cruisinig al the way, having the rail helped too.”

Paddy Bradley, jockey,1st: “Coljani was a chance ride that came out of the blue at Bath over a mile and six furlongs where he ran well finishing third and was second last time here and ran well. He had a good pull in the weights with the second and it seemed to make the difference. I think the downhill track and that he’s a real frontrunner, and he did it rather well in the end.”

Trevor Banks, Owner, breeder, 1st: “That was one for my brother Colin, who sadly passed before he could see him race. We bred Coljani from a mare that Colin had, Our Dream, she got injured and couldn’t race again so we put her in foal to Madjani and we got this boy. We named him for my brother so that’s one for him.”

The Raffles Partnership with Peter Hammersley, Coljani, Paddy Bradley winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield Park congratulated by Lara Sawaya

© Debbie Burt – Equine Creatie Media

 

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival commented, “It’s been a beautiful day at Lingfield Park for this edition of the Wathba Stallions Cup won by Coljani. We congratulate everyone involved with bringing him to the racecourse today, where we celebrate the joining of Emirati and British culture through His Highness Sheikh Mansoor’s generous sponsorship.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are thrilled for the win of Coljani and we congratulate Pete, Trevor and everyone involved with the Raffles partnership on their well-deserved success. We warmly welcome back Lara Sawaya to present the trophies alongside Arena Racing Company’s Managing Director of Racing Mark Spincer and are delighted to host another Wathba Stallions Cup sponsored race in the UK generously supported by HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nhyan Racing Festival. We also congratulate Sarah McLean who won the Baker McVeigh International Best Turned Out Award with Kayack.”

Paddy Bradley, Lara Sawaya, Mark Spincer and Peter Hammersley with the Raffles Partnership, winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield Park with Coljani

© Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

1st: COLJANI

2nd: Delicatesse

3rd: Pharitz Alanood

8 ran –

Distances: 1.25, 4

Time: 1.30.69

Going: Good

AL GHADEER SETS NEW RECORD IN THE QATAR INTERNATIONAL STAKES AT THE QATAR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL

Al Ghadeer and Christophe Soumillon winners of the 2024 Qatar International Stakes (Gr1PA) at the Qatar Goodwood Festival ©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Back-to-back wins sets him on the road to an historic second Doha Triple Crown

 

Wednesday 31 July 2024 –

The world’s top-rated Arabian, Al Ghadeer has confirmed once again his champion status with a second win in the Qatar International Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival breaking the record set by his sire Al Mourtajez in 2016. Christophe Soumillon produced a cool ride on the five-year-old’s European return, settling him in mid-division before smoothly taking the lead over a furlong out for an unchallenged win from Al Wakrah, owned, like the winner, by Al Shaqab Racing. They drew well clear of the remainder, with Mohammed bin Fahad Al-Attiyah’s Ska De L’Aigle keeping on for third place from the four-year-olds Afjan and Al Zeer.

This win in the £400,000 one mile contest, the UK’s most valuable Group 1PA race for Arabians, is the first stage in Doha’s Triple Crown series. The next stage is the Qatar Arabian World Cup run on Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe day at ParisLongchamp and culminates in the world’s richest Arabian race, the HH The Amir Sword in Doha in February.

Trained by Francois Rohaut, like Ska De L’Aigle, Afjan and Al Zeer, this the trainer’s third success in the event, which he first won in 2017 with Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Muraaqib. Al Ghadeer now joins an elite band of dual winners of the Qatar International Stakes in Ebraz and Lady Princess.  Having equalled Ebraz’s inaugural Triple Crown win this February, he now looks firmly set on the road to becoming the first horse to win a second Doha Triple Crown.

 

Al Ghadeer and Christophe Soumillon win the Qatar International Stakes (Gr1PA) in a record time of 1.42.85

Quotes:

Christophe Soumillon, jockey 1st: “I’m so happy to be able to ride such a good horse, it was a great opportunity for me to find him two years ago and since then we are a good fit together and I’m very proud of that. He is the best of the best.”

Francois Rohaut, trainer 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, : “We know he’s the best horse in the world, he just needed to have a good race to win. He’ll go straight to Paris for the Qatar Arabian World Cup of course and then we’ll see, it’s a long way between Longchamp and Doha [for the HH The Amir Sword] Sheikh Joaan is happy to run in Abu Dhabi, so we’ll try to go in December.

“Ska De L’Aigle is fantastic, he is always gives his best, I was disappointed by the four year olds, but we knew last year that it wasn’t a strong crop, they can’t fight against the older horses.”

Jean de Mieulle, trainer, 2nd: “ I’m super happy with Al Wakrah. She was not fast enough today, as she was a bit more excitable beforehand, but she got cover and she finished her race brilliantly. She’s twice been second in a Group 1PA now, hopefully she will get her own one day.”

 

 

 

Francois Rohaut, Christophe Soumillon, Al Ghadeer and HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani winners of the 2024 Qatar International Stakes (Gr1PA) at the Qatar Goodwood Festival ©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

The trophies were presented by HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Qatar Ambassador to the UK, HE Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Saoud Al Thani to HH Sheikh Hamad bin Joaan bin Khalifa Al Thani, Rohaut and Soumillon.

Later it was announced that Goodwood Racecourse have renewed their multi-year partnership with Qatar that will commence in 2025. The existing sponsorship with Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club which began in 2015, remains the biggest single sponsorship deal in British Horseracing and has enabled the Qatar Goodwood Festival to become one of the most prestigious meetings in the world. It also marks a transition from the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club to Visit Qatar as the main sponsor of the meeting, which includes the feature race on each day of the world-famous five-day festival. It also preserves the legacy of the Qatar International Stakes (Group 1PA) which is also the most valuable race for Arabians over a mile in Europe.

HE Mr Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chair of Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, said: “Building on the legacy of the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, we are pleased to announce the renewal of a multi-year partnership with Goodwood Racecourse. This milestone reflects our dedication to continue showcasing Qatar’s vibrant culture and distinctive offerings to a global audience. We look forward to the opportunities this partnership will bring, further solidifying Qatar’s positioning in the international sporting world.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are honoured to see a horse of the quality of Al Ghadeer travel to the UK to compete in our most valuable race and to be a part of history in the making, should he go on to complete a second Doha Triple Crown. We warmly congratulate Al Shaqab Racing, Francois Rohaut and his team on Al Ghadeer’s success, as well as Christophe Soumillon, winning his second British top-level race in less than a week. We are also delighted that Al Ghadeer’s breeder, Dr Mohammed Al Nujaifi is having a successful UK season, and is currently our leading owner by winners.

“We also thank Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club for supporting this race for the last ten years and we look forward to Goodwood’s exciting new partnership with Visit Qatar, which has ensured our race’s place in the global Arabian pattern calendar continues.

“We also congratulate Chloe Mignonneau for winning the £500 Best Turned Out Award for Al Wakrah, sponsored by Gain Equine Nutrition.”

 

HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Joaan bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Francois Rohaut, HE Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Saoud Al Thani and Christophe Soumillon ©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

1st: AL GHADEER (FR)

2nd: Al Wakrah (FR)

3rd: Ska De L’Aigle (FR)

9 ran

Distances: 1, 6,

Time: 1.42.85

Going: Good to Firm

EXCEPTIONAL AL GHADEER MAKES EUROPEAN RETURN IN THE QATAR INTERNATIONAL STAKES AT THE QATAR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL

Al Ghadeer and Christophe Soumillon winners of the 2023 Qatar International Stakes (Gr1PA) at the Qatar Goodwood Festival ©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

Last year’s winner bids for back to back success on road to a second Doha Triple Crown

 

Sunday 28 July 2024 –

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) is thrilled to see 2023 Qatar International Stakes winner Al Ghadeer declared for the 2024 running of the £400,000 Group 1PA contest. Held over a mile on Wednesday 31 July on the second day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, the race traditionally attracts some of the best Arabians in the world.

Trained by Francois Rohaut and partnered by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes winning jockey Christophe Soumillon, Al Ghadeer became only the second horse to secure the Doha Triple Crown, adding the Qatar Arabian World Cup in ParisLongchamp over 2000m and the HH The Amir Sword in Doha over 2400m to his Goodwood success in his next two outings. Owned by Al Shaqab Racing, the colt is the best produce to date of their champion racehorse and leading young sire Al Mourtajez, winner of the race in 2016 in record time. Both horses have achieved a rating of 130 – the highest mark ever given to an Arabian racehorse since classifications began in 2011.

Al Shaqab Racing could complete a one-two-three with their other declared runners, Afjan, a Group1PA winning juvenile last season and Al Wakrah who came within half a length of a fillies’ top-level success on her most recent start. She is the sole representative for Jean de Mieulle, whilst Rohaut has two other runners, along with Al Ghadeer and Afjan, in Ska De L’Aigle and Al Zeer. They are owned by the brothers Abdullah and Mohammed bin Fahad Al-Attiyah respectively, with Ska De L’Aigle winning a Group 2PA in Milan, and Al Zeer placing over this trip in the Group 3PA Qatar Arabian Derby for three-year-olds.

The domestic trained challengers include the Peter Hammersley trained Abiyah Athbah, a close fifth in this in 2020, she must have fast ground and comes here on the back of a recent Group 2PA success beating Fareedhat El Izz and Upstart Crow. Winds Of Fortune represents US owner breeder Deborah Mihaloff, whose First Classs came second to Al Ghadeer last year when leased by Noora Racing. He, along with Al Nujaifi Racing’s Fareedhat El Izz and Linda Reeves’ Upstart Crow are all handled by multipurpose trainer James Owen in Newmarket.

Quotes:

HE Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Chairman commented: “We are proud of our sponsorship of the Qatar International Stakes as one of our most valuable races and part of our commitment to promote Arabian racing, which has a tremendous heritage in Qatar. We are very pleased to see this race, once again, attracting some of the world’s best Arabians such as last year’s winner Al Ghadeer, who went on to complete the Doha Triple Crown. Thanks to the excellent cooperation with ARO and Goodwood, this 2024 edition promises to be very competitive and fans of all forms of racing will be fascinated by the spectacle of the Arabian horses at the Goodwood Festival.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are thrilled to see the world’s highest rated Arabian Al Ghadeer return to defend his crown in our most valuable race of the season, which is also the most valuable over a mile in Europe. This gives racegoers and those watching on television another opportunity to see an Arabian horse of this exceptional quality run in the UK.”

 

RICH PULLS PITCH GETS HUGO PALMER OFF THE MARK WITH HIS ARABIAN RUNNERS

 

Rich Pulls Pitch and David Egan winning the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes at Lingfield Park © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

Clear win for Al Asayl Bloodstock’s filly in the Emirates Breeders Maiden at Lingfield Park

 

Tuesday 23 July 2024 –

It was an historic first UK Arabian win for Classic winning thoroughbred trainer Hugo Palmer with Al Asayl Bloodstock’s homebred filly Rich Pulls Pitch coming clear of the field under David Egan in the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes. The £4,000 mile contest at Lingfield Park had attracted seven runners, most either making their debuts or their second starts, with the Palmer trained duo of Rich Pulls Pitch and Marakeb the most experienced in the line-up.

The three-year-old daughter of Al Asayl’s RB Burn, broke well and was soon leading, stretching out well. Newcomer Hibikinanda Du Mazet and Sean Dylan Bowen tried to mount a challenge in the home straight but it was not enough to get near the leader, who was always doing enough in front to win to by two and a quarter lengths. The Peter Hammersley trained Assassen, making his first appearance on the track for Gavin Kelly, was ridden into third by conditional, Lewis Saunders.

Palmer already trains thoroughbreds for Sheikha Alyazia bint Sultan Al Nayhan and her UAE based family with runners on the Flat and over jumps for them. The two Arabians joined his string at the Sheikha’s behest last December and have had two starts at Newbury and Yarmouth, with the filly placing both times. She has plenty of American speed on both sides of her pedigree, with her sire RB Burn winning Group 1PA races over six furlongs and a mile in the UAE, her win takes her sire to the top of the UK Arabian sires table.

 

 

Quotes:

David Egan, jockey, 1st“She’s a filly who only just does enough, she would probably show more of her ability in a race that’s higher in grade. The blinkers were there to keep her mind on the job as she’s a very laid back individual. She was first in the stalls and we were in there a long time waiting for the others to load and she as a quiet as a lamb, she’s got a very good temperament. She doesn’t know she’s had a race today, she’s not the biggest, but she tries hard and I think there’s a lot of improvement in her, she’s definitely taken a step forward today from Yarmouth.”

Hugo Palmer, trainer 1st, 4th, : “Obviously I’m delighted to have the support of Al Asayl both with the Thoroughbreds and Arabians, so I’m thrilled to get our fist Arabian winner for them. Right at the start I said I’d be very nervous watching them run and with only two it’s quite hard to compare their work, all I can find out at home is the filly is faster than the gelding! Rich Pulls Pitch has been frustratingly green on her first two starts, but the blinkers sharpened her up today and she travelled much better, David said her felt she was only really in second gear.”

“Marakeb will step up in trip next time.”

Lissie Reeves, Arabian Assistant to James Owen, 2nd“We’re really happy with Hibikinanda Du Mazet first time out. She’s been going really well at home, so we were hoping for a nice run and she’s done exactly what she needed to do.”

Peter Hammersley, trainer, 3rd, 5th“We’ve had few issues with Assassen, but the moment Lewis is on him, he just settles, we were only halfway down the walkway to the track and he’d chilled out. I’m pleased with the way both he and Another Angel ran today.”

 

David Egan and Rich Pulls Pitch, winners of the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes at Lingfield Park © Debbie Burt – Equine Creatie Media

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We’re delighted for Al Asayl Bloodstock and Hugo Palmer for this historic first UK win with Rich Pulls Pitch and we thank the Emirates Breeders series for their support of our racing. Our warmest congratulations go out to all our new and returning owners who had runners today, it’s a big positive for the sport in the UK.

“We also thank The Arabian Racehorse magazine who sponsored the Best Turned Out Award won by Maddie Plumb for Sally Sixpence and now look forward to our next race at Goodwood on Wednesday 31 July.”

 

Genny Haynes presents the trophy to Sarah Peacock on behalf of Al Asayl Bloodstock, winners of the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes at Lingfield Park with Rich Pulls PItch

© Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

 

1st: RICH PULLS PITCH (FR)

2nd: Hibikinanda du Mazet (FR)

3rd: Assassen (GB)

7 ran

Distances: 2.25, 1.5

Time: 1.50.04

Going: Standard

 

AMIRAT AL ZAMAN BOOKS DERBY TICKET WITH WIN IN WATHBA STALLIONS CUP

 

Amirat Al Zaman and Marco Ghiani winning the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-95) Handicap at Newbury © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

A one-two for Owen with new owners at Newbury

 

Friday 19 July 2024 –

Leading Iraqi owner breeder Dr Mohammed Al Nujaifi is making a fruitful return to UK Arabian racing following a second win for his Amirat Al Zaman in the £6,000 Wathba Stallions Cup (0-95) Handicap over a mile and a quarter at Newbury. All being well the four-year-old filly will have booked her place in the Group 1PA UK Arabian Derby next month.

Ridden again by Marco Ghiani, the pair led throughout and despite a late challenge from UK debutant Winds Of Fortune, their success was never in doubt. Both the first and second are trained in Newmarket by leading ARO trainer James Owen, who has taken both horses in for a UK summer campaign from their overseas based owners, Al Nujaifi Racing and Cre Run Farm. Course and distance winner Paramer Angel improved on his run last week to finish a gallant third under former ARO champion novice jockey, Charlie Price.

Amirat Al Zaman is a daughter of Dr Al Nujaifi’s dual Group 1PA winner Hilal Al Zaman and is a half-sister to two French Arabian Oaks winners in Muneera and Al Shomoos.

 

 

Quotes:

Marco Ghiani, jockey, 1st“She was great, she felt like she had sharpened up a lot from the last race. Obviously I knew her today so I could be more confident. She did really well as the race was a bit faster than Yarmouth and we had an extra couple of furlongs to go but she stayed on really well and she fought hard. I think she should be ok for the Derby.”

James Owen, Trainer, 1st, 2nd“Amirat Al Zaman pinged the gates and she led well like last time. She’s galloped all the way to the line and is very resolute for an Arabian, she wasn’t stopping at the end. If she comes out of this well, she’ll head to the Derby. It was a good performance for a filly.

“Winds Of Fortune is a nice horse, he carried top weight and I felt was a little bit ring rusty, I think he’ll come on massively for it. I learnt a lot about him today and speaking to Pat [Dobbs, jockey], he was happy with him. If he comes out of this fine, he’s got the experience of the better races run at higher speeds, so we’ll look to go to Goodwood for the Group 1. He needs cover and producing late, and we’ll probably put the blinkers back on, but he’s run well today.”

Charlie Price, jockey 3rd“That was a bit more like it. An improvement on Chester today.”

 

James Owen, Amirat Al Zaman, Lissie Reeves and Marco Ghiani winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-95) Handicap at Newbury © Debbie Burt – Equine Creatie Media

 

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festivalcommented, “We’re delighted for everyone at Al Nujaifi Racing for the win of Amirat Al Zaman. It will be a good compliment for the Festival if she can win this race and then go on and do well in the UK Arabian Derby next month.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We’re delighted for the Al Nujaifi Racing and James Owen teams for gaining a second win with Amirat Al Zaman and we thank the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival and the Wathba Stallions Cup for their support of our racing. Our warmest congratulations also go to America’s Cre Run Farm with their first UK runner in their own colours with Winds Of Fortune in second.

“We thank The Arabian Racehorse magazine who sponsored the Best Turned Out Award won by Rebecca Brady for Paramer Angel and now look forward to our next race at Lingfield on Tuesday 23 July.”

Genny Haynes with James Owen and Marco Ghiani winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-95) Handicap at Newbury with Al Nujaifi Racing’s  Amirat Al Zaman

© Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

 

1st: AMIRAT AL ZAMAN (FR)

2nd: WINDS OF FORTUNE (USA)

3rd: PARAMER ANGEL (GB)

4 ran – Non- Runner 1 MUTWAHHEJ ATHBAH

Distances: 1.25, 2.75

Time: 2.16.43

 

Going: GOOD

IZENTERISKY MAKES WINNING COMEBACK IN THE WATHBA STALLIONS CUP AT CHESTER

 

Izenterisky and John Fahy winning the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-70) Handicap at Chester © Alan Wright

 

Collington homebred defies 1791 day absence to score

 

Saturday 13 July 2024 –

It was an emotional success for the Collington family when their homebred gelding Izenterisky returned to the track after over four years away to produce a thrilling win by four lengths under John Fahy. Having been trapped behind the eventual second Victoria, and third Delicatesse, Fahy took advantage of the cutaway on the rail and smoothly took up the lead to win going away.

Izenterisky is the first foal trainer Phil Collington’s wife Sheila has bred and was led up by their daughter Sophie this afternoon. During his time as a leading amateur jockey on Arabians Collington rode the dam, Pinkie Tuscadero to two wins at a similar level and distance, plus he won on the sire, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s No Risk Al Maury on his debut. The family also continue to care for the world renown champion stallion in his retirement and this win puts the veteran sire back at the head of the UK leading sire’s table.

With a prize fund of £15,000 this was the most valuable handicap of the nine non-PA Group races sponsored by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival in the UK this season, who’s total runs to 150 globally, culminating in the Group 1PA HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown in Abu Dhabi in December.

 

 

Quotes:

John Fahy, jockey, 1st“A very pleasing performance, Phil said to me going out that he was fit. He’s a lovely big kind, caring horse and it’s been a great job by Phil and all the team at home to get him back.”

Lissie Reeves, Arabian Assistant to James Owen, trainer 2nd, 3rd“I’m really happy they both ran to form. Particularly pleased with Delicatesse considering she only ran earlier this week, she was still fresh at home so we were happy to bring her. Maybe if the ground had been a bit better, it might have been different, but I’m still really happy with them both.”

Charlie Price, jockey, Paramer Angel, 5th“He travelled ok, but the track was too sharp for him, he likes a galloping track and just found everything happening too quick.”

 

Sheila Collington, Izenterisky, John Fahy and Sophie Collington winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-70) Handicap at Chester © Alan Wright

 

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival commented, “It’s been a beautiful day at Chester, we’re delighted for the win of Sheila Collington’s Izenterisky, a brilliant training performance by her husband Philip to get the horse back to fitness to win so well today. It had been a beautiful day at historic Chester racecourse and we are delighted to bring the Sheikh Mansoor Festival to this city.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We warmly congratulate all of the Collington family on their win today with their homebred Izenterisky and we thank Lara Sawaya for making a second trip to the UK to support our racing this year on behalf of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival and the Wathba Stallions Cup who do so much for us. We’re also delighted to bring Arabian racing to a crowd of over 14,000 this afternoon at Chester, who have given us a warm welcome for a second successive year.

“We also thank Racing Welfare who sponsored the Best Turned Out Award won by Rebecca Brady for Paramer Angel and now look forward to our next race at Newbury on Friday 19 July.”

 

Genny Haynes, Sheila Collington, Lara Sawaya and John Fahy winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-70) Handicap © Alan Wright

 

1st: IZENTERISKY (GB)

2nd: Victoria (GB)

3rd: Delicatesse (FR)

7 ran –

Distances: 2.75, 2.50

Time: 1.20.60

Going: GOOD to SOFT

OWEN KEEPS ON TOP WITH HOMEBRED WIN IN EMIRATES BREEDERS HANDICAP

 

Delicatesse and Miss Teagan Padgett win the Emirates Breeders (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield Park

©John Hoy

Delicatesse off the mark at Lingfield Park

 

Tuesday 9 July 2024 –

Newmarket multipurpose trainer James Owen maintains his lead on the UK Arabian trainers’ championship with a win for Delicatesse who he bred in partnership with former ARO director Rachel Gowland, from a mare who’d he also trained to win twice. The four-year-old filly was having her first start at six furlongs, a trip her dam Delishess had won over at Grade 2 level when starting her career in the USA. Coljani and Paddy Bradley were second for Peter Hammersley and the Raffles Partnership, with Owen’s other runner, Zizania Du Mazet third under apprentice Fred Daly.

Partnered by stable amateur and current ARO Leading Jockey Teagan Padgett, Delicatesse relished the drop in trip and won quite easily in Owen’s colours by two-and three-quarter lengths.  She could make a quick reappearance on Saturday at Chester, shouldering a six pound penalty in the season’s most valuable handicap the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-70) Handicap, featuring a prize fund of £15,000, for which runners declare tomorrow.

 

Watch Delicatesse and Miss Teagan Padgett win the Emirates Breeders (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield Park

Quotes: 

Lissie Reeves, Arabian Assistant Trainer to James Owen, 1st, 3rd: “We’re really pleased with Delicatesse, she ran off a nice low weight which definitely helped her, along with the shorter trip which probably suited her and kept her interested.”

Miss Teagan Padgett, jockey, 1st: “Really happy with her run today, the drop in trip obviously helped and as home bred for James, it’s really great to get her off the mark at the eighth attempt.”

 

Delicatesse and Miss Teagan Padgett winners of the Emirates Breeders (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield Park ©John Hoy

 

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO: “We congratulate James, Teagan and everyone at Green Ridge Stables and are particularly pleased to see a win for a UK homebred.

“We thank Emirates Breeders for their continued sponsorship particularly supporting grassroots races such as this one. We thank with International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities Pattern and Handicapping Committee Chairman Neil Abrahams for presenting the winning trophy to Lissie Reeves on behalf of James Owen.”

 

Lissie Reeves receives the trophy for the Emirates Breeders (0-55) Handicap Stakes on behalf of James Owen from Neil Abrahams ©John Hoy

 

1st: DELICATESSE (GB)

2nd: Coljani (GB)

3rd: Zizania Du Mazet (FR)

6 ran – No 4 SASSY non-runner

Distances: 2.75, 2.50

Time: 1.20.60

Going: STANDARD