The Arabian Racing Organisation is delighted to announce that the Qatar International Stakes (Gr1PA), the UK’s most valuable race for Arabians will be run this year on Wednesday 27^th July. The £400,000 mile contest sponsored by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club is also the most valuable race over that distance for Arabians in Europe and is part of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The race has seen many of the highest rated Arabians in the world compete and win such as Al Mourtajez, Muraaqib, Tayf and Lady Princess, as well as Ebraz, the only horse to win it twice.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “The Qatar International Stakes never disappoints in terms of the quality of horses it attracts, as you would expect with the very generous prize money on offer. Year after year is it an absolute privilege to see some of the world’s best Arabians compete in this race and showcase our sport to a wider audience.

“ARO is extremely grateful for the ongoing support of UK Arabian racing by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, who have been sponsoring this race at the Qatar Goodwood Festival since 2015.”

Concluding she said: “We would also like to thank the British Horseracing Authority and everyone at Goodwood and Fontwell racecourses for their assistance, in particular for our overseas runners.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) is thrilled to confirm that the UAE Presidents Cup and the Emirates Breeders Series will be back in the UK sponsoring Arabian racing in 2022. The UAE President Cup sponsors the UK Arabian Derby, a Group 1PA exclusively for four-year-olds with a prize fund of £80,000. The Emirates Breeders series will also sponsor six races throughout the UK season.

Since the UAE Presidents Cup resumed its’ sponsorship of the UK Arabian Derby at Doncaster in 2016, the mile and a quarter race has been won by some of the best up and coming Arabians in the world. The list of winners includes four winners of the French Arabian Derby, and four winners have gone on to continued Group 1PA success.

The prestigious Cup series is now in its 29^th year and is held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and with the support of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. It is held under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs in support of the vision and approach of the Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan, to raise the status of the Arabian horse in all countries of the world.

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 Abbes in the UK last year. We need to keep this momentum going and to encourage more breeding of Arabian racehorses which is part of the aim of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said: “ARO continues to be extremely grateful to the UAE President Cup Series for their support of our feature race for four-year-olds and to Doncaster racecourse for their support of our racing. We are also grateful for the support that the Emirates Breeders series gives to the grassroots of our sport.

“In addition we thank the British Horseracing Authority for their assistance with our racing, particularly with our international runners in our black-type races.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) is delighted to confirm that long-term sponsors the Royal Cavalry of Oman will be back supporting UK Arabian racing with five races in 2022. Their support will visit three racecourses, Doncaster (16^th July), Newbury (30^th June, 7^th July) and Royal Windsor (7^th August), with their sponsorship highlight, the Royal Cavalry of Oman International Stakes, a Group 2PA, run over six furlongs, also held at Newbury on August 13^th.

The Royal Cavalry has been a valued supporter of UK Arabian racing sponsoring a variety of races from grassroots to group level since 2008. They have a particularly strong connection to the black type sprint races through their previous sponsorship of the Clarendon Stakes over five furlongs, and their own success in the Za’abeel International over six furlongs, which they won four times in a six year period. Taking over sponsorship of the Za’abeel in 2021, the race, now known as the Royal Cavalry of Oman International Stakes, is run on BetVictor Hungerford Stakes day, a card which also features two thoroughbred Group races.

Dr Sarhan Salim Hamed Al-Zeidi, Director General of The Royal Cavalry of Oman commented: “The Royal Cavalry of Oman is delighted to confirm their sponsorship with the Arabian Racing Organisation for 2021. The Royal Cavalry have had a long and successful working relationship with ARO for many seasons and we are proud to be supporting UK Arabian racing at all levels.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said: “ARO is extremely grateful to the Royal Cavalry of Oman who have been loyal and generous supporters of UK Arabian racing for many years. They have showed continued commitment to our participants, supporting racing at every level from the grassroots to the international pattern. We look forward to welcoming them back to the UK in 2022.

“We are also grateful for the assistance of the British Horseracing Authority, Doncaster, Newbury and Royal Windsor racecourses for supporting our racing this season.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) welcomes the return of Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons, who will support Arabian racing for a fourth year with a race at Lingfield Park Racecourse on Wednesday 24^th August.

Fred Barrelet, who is one of the clinical directors at Rossdales said: “The team at Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons is delighted to continue supporting Arabian horseracing through our association with ARO.  For more than 60 years, Rossdales has been closely connected with the racing and breeding industries in and around Newmarket and now, more recently, also through our branch practices in Hertfordshire and Lambourn.

“Our dedicated teams of racing and stud vets work closely with many racehorse trainers and stud farms, including a number of longstanding clients who breed and train Arabian racehorses. We’re very much looking forward to seeing who will win this year’s renewal of our sponsored Arabian race at Lingfield.”

Rossdales representatives Jackie McKittrick and Jamie Judd at Lingfield Park in 2021

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said: “ARO is thrilled that Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons have chosen to continue their association with us, having previously sponsored our races at Lingfield Park in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

“We also thank the British Horseracing Authority and all the team at Lingfield for assisting with our racing this forthcoming season.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) welcomed the increase in support for UK Arabian racing in 2022 by the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival. This year they have increased their commitment with an extra five races, taking their total sponsorship to eleven, including the Group 3PA HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup.

As in 2021, the Festival highlight will be the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup run at Haydock Park on Saturday 3rd September. Held over a mile, with a prize fund of £14,000 it takes place as part Haydock’s premier Flat racing three-day festival, the Sprint Cup Celebration.

Trophies for the winning connections of the

2021 HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup (Gr3PA)

The ever-popular Wathba Stallions Cup series which aims to promote the breeders of Arabian racehorses around the world by supporting the sports’ grassroots is back, and has increased to ten races from five. This season the series will visit Bath, Brighton, Chepstow, Royal Windsor and Wolverhampton racecourses. The races on offer range from maidens to mid-range handicaps, all of which will have a prize fund of £4000 per race.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival has played a significant role in the promotion of Arabian racing and breeding around the world since it began in 2009. The Festival aims to continue the efforts made by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to preserve heritage sports and equestrian sport in particular, promoting Arabian horses and UAE heritage around the world. Sponsoring more than 150 races in 2022, the Festival supports a wide variety of contests from the grassroots to the highest level. These events culminate in the worlds’ strongest Arabian horse race on Turf, the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, a Group 1 PA run in Abu Dhabi in December.

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival, said: “The Festival is delighted to support the Arabian Racing Organisation through the sponsorship of these races in the UK and looks forward to returning to Haydock Park for the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup.”

Runners in the paddock for the Wathba Stallions Cup at Royal Windsor racecourse

© Debbie Burt – equinecreativemedia.com

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Office said: “For over ten years the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival has generously supported our racing for which ARO is extremely grateful.  Their first race with us was the Wathba Stud Farm Cup Series UK Breeders Stakes run in 2011 at Newbury. Two years later ARO hosted the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival Conference in London, with supporting races also at Newbury.

“The continued support of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival for UK Arabian racing has been very well received and we look forward to a competitive season, culminating in HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup. We are also grateful for the support and assistance of the British Horseracing Authority and all the racecourses.”

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Horse Racing Festival is sustained by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture & Tourism coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Etisalat as the official sponsor, with National Feed as strategic partner, The National Archives as the official partner , Emirates Airline as the official carrier, sponsored by Al Massood Automobiles Nissan, Areej Alameerat, Omeir Travels Agency, YAS Sports TV, Viola Communications, the UAE’s General Women’s Union , Emirates Arabian Horse Society & Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was thrilled to announce that Jill Irwin’s Whitley Meadows Racing Arabians were the lucky winners of the draw for a nomination to AF Mathmoon. The nomination, generously donated by Shadwell Arabians was for their Kahayla Classic winner who stands his first season at stud in France in 2022. Owners registering their horses with ARO for the 2022 racing season by December 31^st were eligible for the draw and allocated one ticket for every horse registered. In total 55 tickets went into the draw with Newbury Racecourse’s Sales Executive Siobhan Hayes pulling out Irwin’s winning ticket.

Speaking from her stud in Bodmin, Irwin said: “I can’t believe it, that’s marvellous news. I’ve always loved AF Mathmoon, he’s my favourite of all the Shadwell Arabian stallions on offer at present. It’s been a tough time for us recently and this news couldn’t have come at a better time, it’s a real boost, as I didn’t want to give up breeding Arabians.”

She continued: “All being well I will use it on my Dubai Day winner Popsstar. She’s due to RB Burn at the end of March/April and I think AF Mathmoon will be a good match for her. I’d like to thank Shadwell and ARO for making this possible.”

Popsstar won twice from 19 starts, including the NBD Handicap Stakes at Dubai International Arabian Races in 2019 and was also placed five times. She is by Dahess out of Irwin’s foundation mare, the Dutch bred Popidol Kossack. To race in 2022 Irwin has registered the geldings Vikktor and Starman, both will be making their debuts, in what could continue to be an exciting season for the Cornwall based owner-breeder.

AF Mathmoon is a son of the leading Arabian racing sire, AF Albahar, who has had such success in the UK last year with dual winning fillies Bayan Athbah and Muneer, finishing second in the overall sires table to another Shadwell resident, No Risk Al Maury. As well as the Kahayla Classic, AF Mathmoon won a further five Group races in the UAE, including the Liwa Oasis over seven furlongs and Round 1 of the Al Maktoum Challenge over a mile. His dam Temptayshuhn is from the family of three-time Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 winner, now promising sire, Nieshan.

Popsstar and Martin Dwyer winning the NBD Handicap Stakes at DIAR 2019

© Debbie Burt – equinecreativemedia.com

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said: “ARO was delighted to learn that Jill Irwin’s Whitley Meadows Racing Arabians was the lucky recipient of the nomination and we wish her all the best with her breeding programme and for her racehorses this year. We thank Shadwell Arabians for their support of our racing through the donation of this nomination to an exciting first season sire and I’m sure AF Mathmoon will be just as successful as a stallion as he was on the racetrack.

She concluded: “We were pleased with the take-up that this incentive to register early for 2022 produced as it is one of many of the new initiatives we are putting in place to encourage new and existing owners and breeders to the sport.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) is delighted to announce the UK Breeders Incentive Scheme, designed to reward UK Arabian breeders who race their horses with ARO in 2022. The scheme will offer monetary incentives per race (excluding black type races) to the ARO registered breeder of any horse placed first, second or third in Purebred Arabian Races under the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) regulations for Arabian Horse Racing 2022.

To be eligible:

–               The breeder/owner, must be registered with ARO in 2022 and confirm they are domiciled in the UK (proof of address is required).

–               Arabians must be bred in the UK and registered with the Arab Horse Society (passport to confirm the breeder).

–               Arabian horses must be registered to race with ARO during 2022 by no later than 31st March 2022.

–               Horses must finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd in any eligible Purebred Arabian race in the UK in 2022 (excluding Listed, Group Races).

In eligible races that are won by non-qualified horse/breeder, the bonus scheme prize money will accumulate into the UK Arabian Breeders Fund and supplement the total funding available in 2022.

Throughout the season there will be a points system to establish the ‘Leading UK Breeder’ of 2022, as well as recognition for the second and third placed breeder.  The Leading UK Breeder will be awarded a nomination to a selected stallion free of charge – though this does not include the veterinary, technical and shipment costs which remain payable by the breeder.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “ARO has been working for some time to fund this scheme to help invigorate the breeding of racing Arabians in the UK and reward our breeders for their efforts. This is just one of several incentives that we are introducing this season, further details of those and the exact financial rewards for the scheme in 2022, will be published in the coming weeks.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was delighted to announce that all owners registering their horse(s) for the 2022 racing season by December 31^st will be entered into a draw for a nomination to AF Mathmoon. The nomination to the 2016 Dubai Kahayla Classic winner, who stands his first season at stud in France next year, has been generously donated by Shadwell Arabian Stallions.

AF Mathmoon is a son of the leading Arabian racing sire, AF Albahar, who has had such success in the UK this year with dual winning fillies Bayan Athbah and Muneer, finishing second in the overall sires table to another Shadwell resident, No Risk Al Maury. AF Mathmoon won a further five Group races in the UAE, including the Liwa Oasis over seven furlongs and Round 1 of the Al Maktoum Challenge over a mile. His dam Temptayshuuhn is from the family of three-time Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 winner, now promising sire, Nieshan.

The nomination is for the 2022 breeding season only and is not transferrable. The winner will receive three doses of frozen semen and all associated costs (shipment, veterinary and technical) will be their responsibility, not Shadwell Arabians. Owners will receive one entry for each horse registered in their name. Those owners without a mare to breed from may request exclusion from the draw.

AF Mathmoon and Jim Crowley win Rd1 Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr1PA)

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said: “ARO thanks Shadwell Arabians for their support of our racing through their donation of this nomination to an exciting first season sire. I’m sure AF Mathmoon will be just as successful as a stallion as he was on the racetrack. This is just the first in a range of initiatives that ARO is introducing to assist the breeders of Arabian racehorses in the UK.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was delighted to announce their late Patron, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum as the recipient of the 2021 Arabian Racing Achievement Award, for an unprecedented second time. It is to be presented as part of the Horserace Writers’ and Photographers’ Association (HWPA) Annual Derby Awards on Monday 6 December, at the Royal Lancaster, London. Now in its’ eighth year, the award, generously sponsored by Equine MediRecord, recognises an individual or organisation for their contribution to UK Arabian racing.

His Highness was a great champion of the Arabian horse and his passion for the breed was instrumental in maintaining and developing Arabian racing in the UK since the 1980’s. 2021 would have seen His Highness gain his 20^th ARO leading owners’ title, whilst his champion racehorse and stallion No Risk Al Maury secured a second ARO sires’ title. This success highlights two of the important contributions he made to the sport, alongside many years of generous sponsorship at all levels.

His Highness’s passion was clearly expressed in his aims in supporting ARO. “We want to see more participants in the sport from Britain. We want them to appreciate the beauty and strength of the Arabian horse. It is important to us that people are aware of the noble attributes of the Arabian horse and the thrill that competition in races can bring. We do not want it to be solely a sport for owners from the Middle East. We want everyone to recognise the magnificence of the Arabian horse.”

In recognition of HH Sheikh Hamdan’s achievements, Charles Gregson, ARO Chairman commented: “We were so very grateful for His Highness’s constant enthusiasm for the Arabian horse for nearly 40 years. Next season marks a turning point, with the door wide open for new champions to make their mark, honour his memory and bringing alive his desire for the Arabian horse to gain a wider appreciation.”

ARO and DIAR Patron HH Sheikh Hamdan at Newbury in 2019 ©Debbie Burt

Pierce Dargan, Equine MediRecord Chief Executive Officer said: “We are proud to sponsor the Arabian Achievement Award that raises Arabian racing’s profile at this prestigious annual event. The impact that HH Sheikh Hamdan had on racing and Arabian racing in particular, cannot be overstated.”

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 an extremely challenging year for ARO and for all of the wider horseracing community, we also thank Equine MediRecord for their sponsorship, as well as the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Coral and Vertem Asset Management for supporting the 55^th HWPA Annual Derby Awards.”

The close of the 2021 Arabian Racing Organisation season acknowledged both the past and the future, with awards going to some familiar faces, and also recognising new talent, albeit with roots in Arabian racing.

ARO Patron HH Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum may have sadly passed on, but his legacy continued this year with a first leading owners’ title for Shadwell Estates and his family. With ten individual winners, all were homebreds who raced in the iconic blue and white colours. Though none achieved a black-type victory, Alajab was Group 1PA placed in the UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby, whilst Toofaan was Group 2PA placed and Mazyoonah Group 3PA placed. Dual winning three-year-old, Muneer, also looked an exciting filly to follow in the future.

Runner-up was Paul Simmons’s Zayin Arabians, primarily down to the improving Zayin Zyperion, whilst the dual Group winning mare, Bayan Athbah, and her younger brother, Mlatem Athbah helped Athbah Stud to take third place.

Trainer James Owen secured a fifth leading trainer title, thanks to the support of his main patron Shadwell Estates. Amongst his winners this season was leading Arabian, and leading mare, Mazyoonah, who also contributed to her sire, No Risk Al Maury, gaining a second sire’s title. 2018 title-holder Phil Collington was runner-up with his team coming to the fore in the second half of the year, securing two Group wins with the progressive Bayan Athbah. Peter Hammersley was close behind in third place, thanks to the efforts of another No Risk Al Maury product in Zayin Zyperion.

Richard Hills commented: “The whole Shadwell team is honoured to receive this title on behalf of their Royal Highness’s, the family of the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

“Our trainers and their teams have done a fantastic job this year, winning races with promising young horses such as Muneer and Mumayyez as well as experienced horses such as Mazyoonah, the 2021 leading Arabian racehorse.

“This homebred filly is by one of the leading sires in the world, No Risk Al Maury, who stands under the Shadwell Arabian Stallions banner. Those successes are a reminder of the great achievements that the Arabian breeding and racing operations of HH Sheikh Hamdan have obtained, and we hope his legacy will carry on.”

Owen commented: “It’s been a great season, the horses have run well throughout. It’s been an honour to train for Sheikh Hamdan and Shadwell Estates, and we’re very grateful for that opportunity. We’ve had some nice three-year-olds through the yard for them this year and we will continue to follow them with interest in their new homes. We’re now looking forward to 2022 with our racing clubs, syndicates and new owners, and helping to promote the sport further.”

Hollie Doyle gained a notable achievement since the removal of the gender-based categories, to claim the leading jockey title, a first for a female and for a professional rider. Having grown up with her family’s Arabians, it is great for the sport for one of its own to succeed as a professional. Her parents (riding and training) had last raced under ARO rules with Rasma in 2003, with Doyle making her debut amateur ride under ARO rules in an Open All-breeds handicap, ten years later. Her first Arabian ride as an apprentice came on the old stalwart, Noble Athlete at Dubai International Arabian Races in 2016, finishing fourth in the Emirates Premier Handicap over a mile at Newbury.

She subsequently rode Farar in that year’s HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship race at Lingfield, but it wasn’t until this year that she gained her first ARO win. Partnering Farhaa for Shadwell Estates and James Owen in TheArabianRacehorse.Com International Stakes at Newbury, she later followed up at the same track on the exciting filly Muneer for the same connections.

Rossa Ryan, was another young professional to take well to Arabian racing and he lost out to Doyle on placings. In third was Sean Levey, who has also had a great season, with wins on Zayin Zyperion and Alghadeer, whilst previous dual champion, Alex Chadwick, was the best of the amateurs in fourth.

Doyle was filled with enthusiasm to secure the title saying: “I’m delighted to have won the leading jockey award for this season. I owe a big thank you to Shadwell Estates who have supported me really well throughout the year and to all the trainers who have supported me along the way such as James Owen and Delyth Thomas who I rode for a few years back. I really enjoy riding the Arabians, it’s great fun and I look forward to riding them again next year.”

Hollie Doyle with the 2021 ARO Leading Jockey Award  © Debbie Burt

ARO was also pleased to support the popular Best Turned Out Series sponsored by Racing Welfare in 2021. The series rewards the hard-working grooms with points awarded in every race and at the end of the season the winners in each category received a cash prize of £125.

The winning member of staff in a larger yard was Zara Brooks (James Owen Racing), whilst the winner from a smaller yard was Sue Wileman (Peter Hammersley Racing). For the first time ever, the winning most yard was a tie between the Owen and Hammersley teams, with the prize being divided equally between them.

Genny Haynes, ARO Commercial and Finance Director commented on the success of the winners saying. “The season started with the sad loss of our patron, HH Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, whose love for the Arabian horse has helped shape our racing over the last 20 years. We congratulate everyone involved with the success of the Shadwell runners who have given His Highness a fitting success to honour his memory.

“Despite that great loss, the continuing issues surrounding Covid and also Brexit which impacted on our international runners, ARO is proud to have hosted competitive racing at all levels. We are particularly encouraged to see new owners trying UK Arabian racing for the first time, whether they be individuals or as part of a syndicate.”

She continued: “ARO congratulates James Owen and his team, on another successful season and we were thrilled to see leading professional Hollie Doyle’s star continue to rise in this sphere, on a breed with which she clearly has a natural affinity.

“We thank all our generous sponsors, Racing Welfare, all the racecourses who have supported us and the British Horseracing Authority for their assistance this season, particularly with our international runners.

“ARO is currently working on the calendar for next season, which will be the start of a new era for UK Arabian racing. We hope that we can bounce back from the challenges of the past two years and with the support of our sponsors and our participants, we look forward to developing a stronger and more vibrant sport in 2022 and beyond.”