Jeewan and George Bass winning the ARO See You In 2025 (0-65) Handicap at Bath © Megan Dent Photography

Repays delighted owners’ faith in bringing him back to racing

Thursday 31 October 2024 –

Jeewan made a fairytale return to Arabian racing in the ARO See You In 2025

(0-65) Handicap at Bath today. Ridden by George Bass and sporting first time blinkers, the eight-year-old broke well and made all to win by an impressive seven and a half lengths, despite being off the track for two years. Jeewan had course form having won over 2m1f in June 2022 and Bass played to his strengths, despite Coljani and Jack Doughty keeping him honest in the early stages. Peter Hammersley’s charge was no match for the winner and after what has been a long but successful season for him, finished eased down, with Kayack and Kieran O’Neil finishing second and Sassy and Oliver Carmichael just under two lengths further adrift in third.

Bred by Shadwell Stud, the son of three-time Kahayla Classic winner Madjani was sold as part of their dispersal to Darren and Jayme Plumb giving Plumb her last Arabian winner, before she lost her life in a tragic accident several weeks later. The Plumb family later sold Jeewan for a second career outside of racing but when given the opportunity to buy him back in August this year, did so, sending him to Barry Brennan to train with this race in mind.

Quotes:

Darren Plumb, owner, 1^st: “We’re over the moon with Jeewan. George [Bass] gave him a lovely ride today and the plan is to look to see if there’s anything suitable for him in Belgium or France next.

“He’s given Barry Brennan his first Arabian winner, having trained plenty of thoroughbred winners. The horse has been galloping on his own as he didn’t have anything suitable to work with him, and he’s been swimming, and in great form at home, 

“When he stopped racing, Maddie had him jumping 80’s and 90’s so we sold him to a teenager as show jumper. They didn’t really get on, so we were given the opportunity to buy him back, we’re delighted.”

Maddie Plumb, George Bass, Jeewan and Darren Plumb, winners of the ARO See You In 2025 (0-65) Handicap Stakes © Megan Dent Photography

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We’re delighted for the Plumb’s to be able to bring back Jeewan so successfully to racing today, which underlines the versatility of the Arabian horse. We also congratulate Peter Hammersley and the Raffles Partnership who despite not making the frame with Coljani today, have secured the ARO Leading Horse title with him.

“This concludes our racing for the 2024 season and we look forward to returning in April 2025.”

Willie McFarland presents Maddie Plumb with the trophy for the ARO See You In 2025 (0-65) Handicap at Bath © Megan Dent Photography

1st: JEEWAN (FR)

2nd: Kayack (GB)

3rd: Sassy (GB)

4 ran Distances: 7.5, 1.75 Time: 3.24.84

Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)

Hibikinada Du Mazet and Jack Mitchell winning the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-75) Handicap at Bath from Paramer Angel and Dougie Costello and Sassy and Oliver Carmichael

© Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

New syndicate owners end their season on a high 

Monday 21 October 2024 –

New syndicate owners Okewood Bloodstock ended their first season of Arabian racing with another winner as Hibikinada Du Mazet dug deep for a three quarters of a length success at Bath on testing ground. She was the youngest runner in the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-75) Handicap, but still had plenty of weight to carry having finished second on her debut in July on the Polytrack at Lingfield. She faced a strong challenge from long-time leader Delyth Thomas’s Paramer Angel who had won over the same mile trip on heavy in May, who was sent off as favourite. Steve Blackwell’s Sassy, whom he bred as well as trains, filled the third position.

The three-year-old is one of two homebred fillies purchased by the syndicate from Mathieux Talleux’s Haras du Mazet in France that are now in the care of with leading ARO trainer James Owen. The other, Zizania Du Mazet won a similar handicap at Doncaster last month, also beating Paramer Angel in a close finish. Both fillies will be put away for the winter with a view to a possible Arabian Derby campaign next season.

Quotes:

Jack Mitchell, jockey,1^st: “The race went to plan, James just said to latch on to the back of Dougie’s horse and if she’s good enough and street wise enough, she should be there with a chance. That’s exactly how it went. She was green when she hit the front, but that’s just inexperience, she handled the ground ok, it’s very soft and it’s quite holding, drying ground. She seemed handle it, but she’ll be better on better ground as she feels like should quicken quite well. She could get a bit further, she was strong through the line and went right round the bend to pull up. She’s a nice prospect going forward.”

Lissie Reeves, Arabian assistant trainer to James Owen, 1st: “Delighted with her, she ran really well, especially considering the ground conditions and the weight she was carrying. She’ll be a really exciting horse next year for us.”

Jack Mitchell, Hibikinada Du Mazet and Lissie Reeves winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-75) Handicap at Bath

© Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival commented, “We are delighted to see new owners coming into Arabian racing so successfully and thrilled that the support of HH Sheikh Mansoor can make a difference to the grass roots of the sport.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We’re so pleased for new syndicate owners, Okewood Blooodstock to have had such success in their first season Arabian racing, having previously owned thoroughbreds. We congratulate them, Jack Mitchell and all the Owen team for their win today and Lissie Reeves who also won The Arabian Racehorse Best Turned Out Award with the filly.

“Our thanks also go to ARO associate sponsor’s Equine MediRecord whose Chief Operations Officer Finlay Dargan who joined us today and received the trophy on behalf of Okewood Bloodstock.

“We return to Bath on Thursday 31 October for another Wathba Stallions Cup handicap, run as the concluding race of our 2024 season.”

Genny Haynes with Lissie Reeves, Jack Mitchell and Finlay Dargan, winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-75) Handicap at Bath with Hibikinada Du Mazet

© Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

1st: HIBIKINADA DU MAZET (FR)

2nd: Paramer Angel (GB)

3rd: Sassy (GB)

4 ran – NR 6 Distances: 0.75, 1.75 Time: 2.03.38

Going: Soft (heavy in places)

Sassy and Oliver Carmichael winning the www.aroracing.co.uk (0-55) Handicap at Brighton © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Further Brighton homebred success for Blackwell

Tuesday 17 September 2024 –

Sassy gave owner-trainer-breeder Steve Blackwell further homebred success this afternoon in the  www.aroracing.co.uk (0-55) Handicap over an extended six furlongs at Brighton. The six-year-old daughter of Assy has struck up a great partnership with young apprentice Oliver Carmichael, winning by a short head from Kayack and George Rooke, with Delicatesse and Miss Teagan Padgett two lengths behind in third.

Brighton has proved a lucky track for all of the connections as Blackwell rode his first winner there as an apprentice, trained his first homebred winner there in Aloof, and has now scored again with her half-sister Sassy. Carmichael, who has only had 16 thoroughbred rides and now two Arabian rides, has also only won at Brighton, previously scoring twice on thoroughbreds.

Carmichael has not had a traditional grounding in horse racing, starting off on his mother Kerri’s horse aged 9, his first experience of racing was on an equiciser at Newbury, his local track. Given advice that day by ex-jockey Nick Bentley, he then started riding out at the yard of Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer Mark Bradstock. Deciding the Flat was the better option due to his size and weight, he visited Eve Johnson Houghton’s yard during National Racehorse week and has since joined her as an apprentice.

Quotes:

Oliver Carmichael, jockey,1^st: “I’ve had three winners here now! Sassy’s really learnt a lot from her last run at Chepstow, I hit the front a bit sooner than I would have liked, but she’s handled it really well, she kept her head in front and kept battling on.”

Steve Blackwell, trainer 1^st, 4^th, ^t: “I thought we were beaten. Every time I’ve been here, I’ve either ridden a winner or trained a winner. We had a meeting abandoned and I swore I’d never come again, but here we are with another winner. I thought Olly rode her well at Chepstow and he’s ridden her well this time. He’s let her get on with it and brought her to challenge at the right time.”

George Rooke, jockey, 2^nd: “ He’s ran an absolute blinder, I just got him in to a nice rhythm. We went an even gallop and he’s seen the hill out well. He’s enjoyed the ground, he’ll get further too.”

Steve Blackell, Kerri Carmichael, Oliver Carmichael, Sassy and Rachel Thomas after winning the www.aroracing.co.uk (0-55) Handicap at Brighton © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

The race was the concluding contest on the card run to support Autism in Racing, whose representative and Doncaster paddock commentator Bobby Beevers explained, “When my daughter was diagnosed with autism during the first lockdown, my wife said she’d love to make everything more accessible for people with autism across the board, and that’s when I though racing could really step up to the mark. 

“Since it’s launch on Racing League Night at Doncaster in August 2021 we’ve gone from strength to strength, with more racecourse signed up and more people with autism working within the sport, which is what I hoped to increase. There’s only 29% of autistic people in some kind of work, so we’re continuing to raise awareness and have held some very successful workshops, with more planned moving forward.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are delighted for Steve and his partner Rachael Thomas for their win with Sassy. She was the product of Al Shahania Stud’s generous worldwide offer of free nominations to their leading racehorse Assy and is one of several horses from that crop to race with us this year. We are also pleased for Oliver, who is a great example of how initiatives like racing taster days and National Racehorse week can encourage people from outside of the sport to get involved.

“We now have a short break before our next race at Royal Windsor on Monday 30^th September.”

Kerri Carmichael, Oliver Carmichael and Steve Blackwell with the trophy for the www.aroracing.co.uk (0-55) Handicap at Brighton © Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

1st: SASSY (GB)

2nd: Kayack (GB)

3rd: Delicatesse (GB)

6 ran

Distances: short head, 2 Time: 1.30.53

Going: Good

© racetech

Zizania Du Mazet (GB) and Silvestre de Sousa winning the ARO Series Finale (0-75) Handicap at Doncaster © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

First win for new syndicate owners in concluding race of the 2024 Doncaster St Leger Festival

Sunday 15 September 2024 –

There was a first Arabian win for Okewood Bloodstock this afternoon in the Arabian Racing Organisation Series Finale (0-75) Handicap over a mile a quarter at Doncaster. The second most valuable handicap of the season, with a prize fund of £10,000 went the way of French import Zizania Du Mazet, ridden by Silvestre de Sousa despite missing the break.

Entering the home straight they were all closly bunched with Paramer Angel and Charlie Price setting the pace on the rail. It looked as though Victoria and Miss Teagan Padgett would go clear for a third win this season, but Paramer Angel rallied as they were challenged by Al-Hatab and Mohammed Tabti who had been stuck in a pocket on the rail. However Al-Hatab hesitated in front, as Zizania Du Mazet and de Sousa were staying on strongly up their outside down the centre of the course. De Sousa just got the filly up by half a length on the line from Paramer Angel in second and Al-Hatab a further length away in third.

This was also a first European winner for the sire Rijm, who had been third, beaten a length over course and distance in the UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby in 2018. All being well this could be the target next year for the three-year-old Zizania Du Mazet.

Quotes:

Silvestre de Sousa, jockey,1^st: “James wanted me to be positive, I wanted to give her a chance to finish, she looked a bit green. When the penny dropped a furlong out, she stayed on strongly. It’s tough out there the conditions of the track now, being the last race, and it’s very wet and deep, made me struggle a little bit. I expected them to go hard, so I went a bit sooner than ideal and thought maybe I would get a place.  

“The trip is fine, she struggled a bit on the ground, but good to soft would be fine.”

Delyth Thomas, owner, trainer, 2^nd: “He’s a legend. To give that much weight to a young horse. He always sticks his head out and tries his best. I’m so proud of him.”

Peter Hammersley, trainer, 3^rd, 4^th: “Mohammed [Tabti] said when they hit the front, he thought Al-Hatab would go away from them like he did last year, but he put the brakes on, then when they came to him he went again. Maybe we’ll think about headgear next time.”

“Lewis [Saunders] thinks better ground and a true run race will suit Assassen better.

Silvestre de Sousa with Zizania Du Mazet (FR) after winning the ARO Series Finale (0-75) Handicap at Doncaster © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are delighted for new syndicate owners, Okewood Blooodstock having their first winner with an Arabian, having previously owned thoroughbreds. We congratulate them, Silvestre de Sousa and all the Owen team for their win today. We also congratulate Rebecca Brady who won the Racing Welfare Best Turned Out Award with Paramer Angel. 

“We now head to Brighton on Tuesday for the www.aroracng.co.uk handicap, run as the concluding race of their first Autism-Friendly raceday.”

Silvestre de Sousa receives the trophy on behalf of Okewood Bloodstock from ARO CEO Genny Haynes for win in the ARO Series Finale Handicap (0-75) Handicap at Doncaster

© Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

1st: ZIZANIA DU MAZET (FR)

2nd: Paramer Angel (GB)

3rd: Al-Hatab (GB)

5 ran

Distances: 0.5, 1 Time: 2.27.35

Going: Soft

Racing Welfare Best Turned Out winner Paramer Angel © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

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

Thrilling battle between British homebreds at Chepstow

Tuesday 3 September 2024 –

Coljani added a second win to his career this afternoon in the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Chepstow over 1m2f. This was hot on the heels of his previous success in another HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival sponsored race at Lingfield last month. Racing in front of an even bigger crowd of his supporters at the West Wales track, Coljani has struck up a great partnership with jockey Paddy Bradley to give his owners, the Raffles Partnership, their first back-to-back wins in their time as owners.

They were given a strong challenge from local runner Sassy, owned, bred and trained by Steve Blackwell and partnered by Oliver Carmichael on only his 17th ride, and his first on an Arabian. It took a photo to separate them at the line, whilst winning trainer Peter Hammersley was also responsible for the third placed Belle Angelique ridden by Mia Nicholls.

Quotes:

Paddy Bradley, jockey,1^st: “Coljani likes to get on with it, but he’s a dour stayer and I thought I’d done plenty early. He was carrying top weight, and I just wanted to hold on to him a little bit at the bottom of the straight – I was blaming myself at the furlong pole thinking I’d not gone quick enough. 

“All he does is stay and in fairness to him the last 20 yards he pulled out all the stops because he was beaten, he stuck his head down and got back up on the line. Peter’s a great guy, Coljani’s a quirky horse and he’s done great job with him and I’m sure he’ll be winning again.”

Pete Hammersley, trainer,1^st, 3^rd: “Coljani has battled on well hasn’t he, I thought at one stage Belle Angelique was going to give him a race, but we’re pleased she got into the frame. Paddy’s given Coljani a great ride, I think he rode a perfect race.”

Trevor Banks, owner, breeder, 1^st: “We’re delighted to get a second win in a row with Coljani and we’re so grateful to Paddy, Pete and all the team at home for this success.”

Oliver Carmichael, jockey, 2^nd: “Sassy nearly had her nose in front. She’s picked up really nicely on the bend there and she’s just ran on well bless her, Steve [Blackwell] says it’s the best race she’s run yet.”

Peter Hammersley, Coljani, Paddy Bradley, Trevor Banks and Micheal Flack, winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival commented, “We’re thrilled for all the team behind Coljani, who have brought him here to Chepstow to win a second Wathba Stallions Cup and hope that he can progress again to highlight the importance of these races to locally bred horses. The Festival supports 150 races globally with the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan Jewel Crown as the highlight in Abu Dhabi in December.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are delighted for everyone involved in the Raffles Partnership, along with Paddy, Pete and his staff. It’s also pleasing that the two horses involved in the photo finish were British breds retained by their owners to race in the UK which is exactly in the spirit of the Wathba Stallions Cup series, that we’re so grateful to the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival for supporting.

“We also congratulate Steve Blackwell who won the Best Turned Out Award with Sassy and we look forward to our next race at Doncaster on Sunday 15 September, run as part of the Doncaster St Leger Festival.”

Trevor Banks, Paddy Bradley, Peter Hammersley and Micheal Flack, winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Chepstow with Coljani © Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

1st: COLJANI

2nd: Sassy

3rd: Belle Angelique

6 ran – NR 7

Distances: Nose, 1.5

Time: 2.19.76

Going: Good

Winds Of Fortune winning the ARO (0-95) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

First UK winner for Deborah Mihaloff and her Cre Run Farm

Monday 2 September 2024 –

It was an historic first UK win for US based Deborah Mihaloff this afternoon in the Arabian Racing Organisation (0-95) Handicap over a mile at Chepstow. Her six-year-old homebred, Winds Of Fortune, ridden by Pat Dobbs and trained by James Owen came home over two lengths ahead of Paramer Angel and Keiran O’Neill, with Upstart Crow and Miss Teagan Padgett in third.

Though slowly away, Dobbs had steadily brought the son of Al Mamun Monlau down the centre of the course to eventually win eased down on rain softened ground, having taking it up from long-time leader Upstart Crow, also trained by Owen, two furlongs out. Paramer Angel, like Upstart Crow, was a former course and distance winner and stayed on gamely to take second, with both Abiyah Athbah and Fareedhat El Izz looking unsuited by the underfoot conditions. Mr and Mrs Kelly’s Assassen also caught the eye trying this much higher grade for the first time to finish fourth.

Winds Of Fortune had spent the winter in the UAE, winning twice in Abu Dhabi for Dobbs when trained by top UAE handler Doug Watson. Mihaloff, a leading owner breeder in the US, has also had global success through the leasing of her homebred multiple million-dollar winner First Classs and is now looking to expand her international interests in her own colours. She brought both Winds Of Fortune and First Classs to the UK this spring to holiday and prepare for a Middle Eastern campaign this winter, when they will return to Watson’s Red Stables in Dubai.

Quotes:

Pat Dobbs, jockey,1^st: “He missed the break, like at Goodwood, and they went pretty quick, but he picked up nicely the last furlong and a half and won with plenty in hand.  It seems like he’s on the up still, so we’ll get back to Dubai and win a few more!”

Deborah Mihaloff, owner, breeder, 1^st: “It was such an exciting race to watch back here in the States. I want to thank James and Pat, as well as the race sponsors. I also want to thank Rhea Betts who looks after him at home, as well as Timmy Murphy and Megan Andrews, who represented me today, who did such a good job with both my horses in pre-training this summer. I’m so grateful for the fabulous care that has always been given to my horses and it shows in their performance on the track.”

Pete Hammersley, trainer, 4^th, 6^th: “Assassen just hasn’t got the pace to go with these very good horses early on, but he handled the ground fine. He probably just wants a mile and quarter, mile and a half back in his own grade. He’ll go to Doncaster next. The ground was just too soft for Abiyah Athbah to show her best.”

Megan Andrews with Winds Of Fortune, Rhea Betts and Pat Dobbs after winning the ARO (0-95) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are thrilled for Deb to gain her first UK winner and delighted that she chose the UK as the best place to summer her horses. We also congratulate Megan Poacher who won the Racing Welfare Best Turned Out Award with Paramer Angel. 

“We now make a quick return to Chepstow racing here tomorrow at 6.05pm with the Wathba Stallions Cup series.” 

Megan Andrews receives the trophy from Willie McFarland for Winds Of Fortune’s win in the ARO Handicap (0-95) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

1st: WINDS OF FORTUNE (US)

2nd: Paramer Angel (GB)

3rd: Upstart Crow (GB)

6 ran

Distances: 2.25, 1.5 Time: 1.43.01

Going: Good

Racing Welfare Best Turned Out winners Paramer Angel and Megan Poacher © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

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, 1^st: “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, 3^rd: “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