The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was delighted to announce trainer Philip Collington as the recipient of the 2022 Arabian Racing Achievement Award. The award will be presented as part of the Horserace Writers’ and Photographers’ Association (HWPA) 56th Annual Derby Awards on Monday 5 December, at the Royal Lancaster, London. Now in its’ ninth year, the award, once again generously sponsored by Equine MediRecord, recognises an individual or organisation for their contribution to UK Arabian racing.
Collington started riding under ARO rules in 2001 and having become retained amateur jockey for HH Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, won five ARO leading jockey titles, before taking out his training licence on the retirement of his mentor, Gill Duffield. Winning three PA Group races in his first season, his most notable victory to date has been the 2019 HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (Gr1PA) in Abu Dhabi with Athbah Racing’s Mashhur Al Khalediah, which at the time was the world’s most valuable Arabian race.
This season he trained Ekleel Athbah to win the Royal Cavalry of Oman International Stakes (Gr2PA) at Newbury, which he first won with Radames in 2016 when it was run as the Za’abeel International (Gr1PA). Bayan Athbah also recorded back-to-back wins in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup (Gr3PA) at Haydock Park, giving him his thirteenth PA Group winner and securing his second ARO leading trainer award.
Collington was delighted saying: “It is an honour to receive this award, sponsored by ARO and EquineMedirecord which has previously been won by HH Sheikh Hamdan on two occasions, as well as Gill Duffield, both of whom played such a big part in my early career. I am grateful to all the staff, owners, jockeys and horses who have been part of my achievements and to Athbah Racing who have supported me so well this season.”
Pierce Dargan, Equine MediRecord CEO said: “We are proud to sponsor the Arabian Achievement Award that raises Arabian racing’s profile at this prestigious annual event. We highly value our partnership with Arabian racing in the UK and look forward to the next ARO season in 2023. Congratulations to Philip Collington for winning the award after being named ARO Leading Trainer in 2022 and for all the amazing contributions he has made to the sport of Arabian Racing over many years.”
In recognition of Collington’s achievements, Charles Gregson, ARO Chairman commented: “ARO is delighted to acknowledge one of their own, with over 20 years’ experience in the sport. Philip developed his early career as an amateur riding Arabians and for ten years was former ARO patron HH Sheikh Hamdan’s retained jockey. That he has been able to further progress as a trainer since retiring from the saddle in 2016 and develop a relationship with a new leading patron in Athbah Stud is a testament to his work ethic and abilities as a horseman.”
Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “We thank the Horserace Writers and Photographers Association for their continued support of UK Arabian racing, allowing us to acknowledge the achievements of our participants in this way.
“In what has been another challenging year for ARO, we also thank Equine MediRecord for their continued sponsorship, as well as the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Coral and Vertem Asset Management for supporting the 56th HWPA Annual Derby Awards.”
