The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) looks forward to the Emirates Breeders (0-55) Handicap at Brighton on Friday August 11^th in which Peter Hammersley hopes to celebrate 40 years of training with a win. His two runners, Al-Hatab and Belle Angelique, face a further seven contenders, including four from current leading ARO trainer James Owen, in the £4,000, mile and a quarter contest.

Hammersley sent out his first runner, El Rih Sarsar on the 13 August 1983 and though he’s not trained continuously, since 2007 he’s recorded 83 winners under ARO rules. Moving yards at the start of the season to the historic Calke Abbey training grounds in Derbyshire, he commented, “I’m hopeful for both of them, the trip and the forecast good ground should suit.

“If Al-Hatab can repeat his previous run at Brighton where he was third in a higher grade, he shouldn’t be far away, as I think he’s still got improvement in him. It’s a shame that Billy Loughnane isn’t fit to ride him, as he gave him a great ride last time and was really great with the owners, however Mohammed [Tabti] has ridden for me before, whilst Georgia Dobie is back on Belle Angelique.”

Distance winner Heritage Valentino is one of the four Owen runners. Fifth behind both Al-Hatab and Belle Angelique over an extended seven furlongs last time, he should be better suited by the greater stamina test. His brother, Heritage Vadel, joins him, but he’s seemed happier over even further, winning at Southwell last year over a mile and a half. They are ridden by Kieran O’Neill and Rhiain Ingram respectively, with both jockeys being on board for the horses’ wins last year. Owen has a policy of supporting his stable amateurs when they can do the weights and with Rhea Betts and Teagan Padgett both being able to claim their full seven pound allowance, they are a valuable addition to his team.  They partner Victoria and Delicatesse, three-year-olds bred or part-bred by Owen, who are making their handicap debuts.

Bridgend based Steve Blackwell will be hoping his course winner Aloof can bounce back to form on Friday. He also likes to support young riders and has his two regular amateurs booked, Lewis Saunders who has upgraded to Aloof this season, whilst Matthew Lloyd Slater gets on the veteran schoolmaster, Aljawaaher.

Completing the field is Kayack for another owner-breeder-trainer Jen Harris. The nine-year-old will be ridden by regular partner and leading amateur Serena Brotherton, for whom the gelding has been placed four times on the All Weather.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “ARO is delighted with the turn out for this race, in which yet again, all bar one of the runners is British bred. We thank the Emirates Breeders for their support as this series is extremely important for our grassroots competitors, who we are also assisting through our ARO breeders scheme. The scheme gives a financial bonus to UK registered ARO breeders whose horses finish in the first three places of all our races.”

“We also thank Katy Ferguson of Racing Welfare who will be present to select the winner of the Best Turned Out award on Friday.”

European champion four-year-old, the amazing Al Ghadeer continued his unbeaten run in Group 1PA races with a three and a quarter length win from First Classs, with Samlla a further half-length away in third. The colt, trained like Samlla by Francois Rohaut, provided a second win in the event for Al Shaqab racing who also won with the colt’s sire, Al Mourtajez in 2016. Partnered by Christophe Soumillon, he becomes the first of his age group to win the mile contest, which at £400,000 is the most valuable over that distance for Arabians in Europe, and also the UK’s most valuable race for the breed.

Speaking after the race which was run in very testing conditions, with the ground having turned to soft, Rohaut commented, “We know he is a champion, but with the ground, and against older horses, we had many reasons to be worried, but he showed he is the best horse in the world.

“I won this race with Muraaqib in 2018 and it is a dream to win again. He goes on any going, any distance, he’s a champion. It’s a bit early to say if he can step up to a mile and a half for the Amir’s Sword, but we have plenty of time to think about it. For my other runners, Moshrif didn’t like the ground, whilst Samlla ran really well, he always produces the same form which shows how good Al Ghadeer is.”

Soumillon commented, “Al Ghadeer is a superstar. We try with the trainer to teach him how to settle in the race because he is always trying to over race. Today we were quite lucky to stay in the middle of the pack most of the way, I was trying to hold him up as long as possible, because in this type of ground it’s always good to get to the front in the last 200 or 300 metres. When I say ok, now you can go, when I saw that no one was able to follow me that was a great feeling.

“Lady Princess was really special, but I think he’s better than her.”

Adam Waterworth, Events Managing Director at Goodwood Racecourse said, “Yesterday was the sort of day we should have at Goodwood, the racing was superb and the weather was much kinder than it’s been today. The thing about the crowd here is they love their racing, so you see them coming out to watch the horses in the parade ring in this rain which is great.

“It’s hardly glorious, but you look at performances like we’ve just had from Al Ghadeer in the Qatar International Stakes, that’s why we’re here. To see an obvious star of the future win our feature race for Arabians, is exactly what we were after, and we’d like to think he’ll go on, win again and come back here next year.”

HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani presented the winning trophies to Al Shaqab Racing, Francois Rohaut and Christophe Soumillon.

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. We are very pleased to see this race, has once again, attracted some of the world’s top Arabians and was a fabulous addition to the Qatar Goodwood Festival. I’m sure fans of all forms of racing were fascinated by the spectacle of the Arabian horses at Goodwood. QREC would like to thank ARO and Goodwood for the excellent coordination and cooperation.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented, “What a brilliant performance from a young horse that obviously has a bright future ahead of him. We congratulate the Al Shaqab team on his success and look forward to following his career closely and hope that he will be back next year to defend his crown.

“This race has always been a fantastic contest, but this year has been really special, with every runner a PA Group winner, and all rated 112 or above. We were delighted to welcome owners, trainers and breeders from France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the USA, as well as from the UK to contest our most valuable race of the season and we are extremely thankful for the ongoing support of our racing by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, who have been sponsoring this race as part of the Qatar Goodwood Festival since 2015. We also congratulate Yvana Lacoste who won the £250 Best Turned Out Award for Al Ghadeer.”

Concluding she said: “We would also like to thank the everyone at Goodwood and Fontwell racecourses for their assistance this year, particularly with our overseas runners.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was thrilled to announce a top quality field for the Qatar International Stakes, a Group 1PA run over a mile as part of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Wednesday 2^nd August. The £400,000 race is the most valuable Arabian race in the UK and the most valuable race over a mile for Arabians in Europe. All eight runners are PA Group winners rated 112 or more, with two already proven at this level over a mile in Qatar.

Top rated on 125 is Al Ghadeer, winner of the Qatar Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes de 4 Ans at Chantilly in a record time, as well as two other Group 1PA races when ridden by Christophe Soumillon, who will be on board on Wednesday. Owned like his sire, 2016 winner Al Mourtajez by Al Shaqab Racing, he is trained by François Rohaut.

After his Derby win Rohaut commented, “Al Ghadeer is something special and is the dominant force of his generation. The big guns are heading our way because we’re now going to have to take on the older horses. That said, he’s one of the very best horses of his breed that I’ve been lucky enough to train. His turn of foot is something else. He’s a headstrong horse who needs his races to be run at a true gallop. Al Ghadeer has found it all so easy in his races because, so far, he’s only had to battle on just one occasion. That was at Doha. The trip [at Goodwood] will be perfect for him as he has a lot of speed.”

Heading the older horses on 124 is First Classs, a winner of three $1million dollar races in 2022, he is leased by his breeders Cre Run Farm to Noora Racing, and will be reunited with regular partner, Ronan Thomas. Along with the Abu Dhabi’s Jewel Crown, his victories include Saudi’s Al Mneefah Cup and Dubai’s Kahayla Classic, all around ten furlongs and appearing equally effective on both Turf and Dirt.

However he is proven over this distance in his native USA and was fifth in this last year on his debut for current trainer Jean de Mieulle who commented, “He comes here after a few months break, but he has had two racecourse gallops on the grass, the horse is in very good shape and I’m very happy with his work. Hopefully the pace will be strong and the ground won’t be too heavy, like in 2017! The level of the horses in the race is amazing, it is going to be a beautiful renewal.”

Also part of the Rohaut team will be Moshrif and Samlla who finished first and fourth in a Group 3PA at La Teste at the start of the month. Moshrif is owned by Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari who had success with dual winner Lady Princess, whilst Samlla runs in the colours of HE Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed Khalifa Al Thani, who also had a dual winner of the race in Ebraz. Both horses have won at this level in France and both have won over a mile in Doha. Their respective jockeys are also the two most successful in the race with two wins apiece, Jim Crowley on Lady Princess and Muraaqib (a half-brother to Moshrif), and Maxime Guyon on Ebraz.

Also travelling over from France is Jabalah, trained by Alban de Mieulle, for the new great force in the sport, Wathnan Racing. He boasts solid winning form over a mile and was the winner of the Qatar Derby for Three Year Olds in 2019 beating future Goodwood winner, Lady Princess.  It will be the seven-year-olds first run in Europe and he will be partnered by William Buick. Also making the journey over is top French mare Sahab, to be ridden by Oisin Murphy, she is owned by Mohamed bin Fahad Al Attiyah. A winner of the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments, a Group 1PA on Arc weekend, she is making her second start for new trainer Elizabeth Bernard, who trained the race’s first winner, Sir Bani Yas in 2015.

Qatari trainer Mohammed bin Hamad Khalifa Al Attiyah has set up a satellite yard in Newmarket for both Arabians and Thoroughbreds and has already trained his first UK winner, AJS Lattam. He runs recent IFAHR Trophy second AJS Saaeq, who was also a winner of the Qatar International Cup (Gr1PA) over this distance in February at the HH The Amir Sword Festival. He commented, “Goodwood was always the plan after he won the Qatar International Cup. Chester didn’t go to plan, but he showed that’s he’s in good form, hopefully fitness wise, he’s improved. His regular jockey Szczepan Mazur is flying in and he’s really excited to be riding there. It’s an achievement to have a runner at such a big meeting and we’re hoping for a good run.”

Trained next door is the sole domestic challenger, the UK’s highest rated mare Ekleel Athbah, who is seeking to add to her two Group 2PA wins. Trained by Phil Collington for her breeders Athbah Stud, she was sixth in Saudi’s Al Mneefah Cup in February, and confirmed the pace of her 2022 Newbury six furlong track record when winning over the same trip in the IFAHR Trophy this month.

Collington said, “We’re looking forward to running at Goodwood. It’s a very strong field this year, the best from France and Qatar. Obviously we know a bit about AJS Saaeq from the Chester race, I think he’ll be better back up to a mile. We’re very pleased with Ekleel though, she came out of the Chester race well. I think the demands of a track at Goodwood might just bring out a little bit more from her, as tracks like Newbury and Doncaster, they’re too ordinary for her and Sam [Hitchcott] will take the ride again.”

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. Thanks to the excellent cooperation with ARO and Goodwood, this 2023 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 commented: “ARO is extremely grateful for the ongoing support of UK Arabian racing by the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. Ever since the inaugural running of the race at the Qatar Goodwood Festival in 2015, the Qatar International Stakes has always attracted the worlds’ top Arabians, as you would expect with the very generous prize money on offer, and this year looks no different. Year on year is it an absolute privilege to see horses of this quality compete in the race, showcasing our sport to a wider audience and we look forward to the race at 1.15pm on Wednesday.”

Upstart Crow and Miss Teagan Padgett continued their unbeaten run this year, winning by a head in the Wathba Stallions (0-75) Handicap at Chepstow over a mile this evening. Securing their fourth victory in as many starts, the six-year-old kept stablemates Jaahez, ridden by Miss Rhea Betts at bay, with Mayfair and Rhiain Ingram a further two and three-quarters of a length away in third. This gave trainer James Owen a second one-two-three training performance of the current ARO season.

Owner, Mrs Linda Reeves, whose daughter Lissie looks after Upstart Crow at Owen’s yard in Newmarket was delighted saying, “This was supposed to be a bit of fun for him before we took him to endurance, a fourth win is beyond our wildest dreams. It also really helps that Lissie is looking after him and Teagan rides him every time, he needs that consistency.”

Padgett, who hasn’t ridden any other Arabian in a race apart from Upstart Crow, was also surprised at the gelding’s performance, “He came out of the stalls really well and we ended up in front, but he got home and did exactly what he needed to do. I thought today would be hard for him, but he’s dug deep and battled his way to the line.”

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival commented, “The Festival sponsors 153 races globally this year, as well as the World Arabian Horse Racing Forum and the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown which is held in Abu Dhabi in December. The Festival is delighted to support the Arabian Racing Organisation through the sponsorship of these races in the UK
and we congratulate Teagan on another great ride on Upstart Crow this evening.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “ARO is delighted for Linda and her family, having such success with Upstart Crow in their first season of Arabian racing, and for all the Owen team who are also doing so well with their thoroughbreds too. This win puts Linda at the top of the ARO leading owners table and maintains Teagan, James and Upstart Crow’s position as leading jockey, trainer and horse. It is also great for his breeder John Elliott who will be rewarded through our breeders scheme.

“We thank the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival for their continued generous support of our grassroots races through the popular Wathba Stallions series. We also congratulate Becca Brady who received the Best Turned Out Award for Paramer Angel from Rhys Flint of Racing Welfare.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) looks forward to returning to Chepstow this Friday, July 28^th for the Wathbastallions.com (0-75) Handicap Stakes, in which Upstart Crow and amateur Teagan Padgett seek a four-timer. They will face nine other runners in the £4,000 contest to be run over a mile as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival sponsored series of races.

The six-year-old, who is ridden daily by Lissie Reeves, daughter of owner Linda, may still be improving. “Everybody told me he would be good, but I never thought he’d win a race!” commented Reeves at trainer James Owen’s Green Stables. “He was quite weak as a four-year-old and the year off from racing really gave him the chance to strengthen up. I try not to think about the race too much, but he always tries his hardest. It’s great that Teagan has got to know him at home, when he won at Brighton last time it was the most settled in a race he’s ever been.”

Their biggest challenge on Friday may come from Upstart Crow’s breeder, John Elliott. He and partner Teresa Kinsey are the owners of Lujain, trained a few yards further down Newmarket’s Hamilton Road by Phil Collington. Lujain is also proven at the trip and is making a significant drop in class from her last outing.

Speaking on Tuesday morning Collington said, “Lujain ran a fantastic race at Doncaster on her first start of the season, carrying a penalty, and we know now that the six furlongs at Chester in the Group 2PA was too short for her. Back to a mile will be ideal, Chepstow is a lovely galloping track and if she’s going to take her place in the Derby next month, this should set her up nicely.”

Owen also sends Jaahez and Mayfair who have both finished runner-up to their stablemate this season, whilst Coljani will be hoping to improve again on his recent second in a novice at Wolverhampton. His trainer Peter Hammersley was encouraged by that performance saying, “He had a few issues prior to the Brighton run which we sorted out with some physio and we were really pleased with how he was moving at Wolverhampton. Any ease in the ground should be fine too, we’re still hoping to go to Doncaster for the Derby with him.”

Local trainers, Steve Blackwell and Delyth Thomas are also represented, Blackwell with course winner Aloof, and her year younger half-sister Sassy, whilst Thomas runs another course winner in Paramer Angel, who goes well fresh and is making his seasonal debut. Also making his reappearance will be former Group 3PA sprint winner Storm Troupour who has moved trainers to Somerset based Mitchell Hunt. In his second season with Arabians alongside his thoroughbreds, Hunt also sends Zikada Zayin.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “ARO thanks the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival for their generous support of our grassroots races through the Wathba Stallions series. Friday’s race looks really competitive and should round off a great evening’s racing at Chepstow. We also thank Rhys Flint who will be representing Racing Welfare to present their Best Turned Out Award.”

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, with National Feed as strategic partner, The National Library & Archives as the official partner , MUBADALA as the official partner,Emirates Airline as the official carrier, Etisalat as official sponsor & sponsored by Al Massood Automobiles Nissan, Areej Alameerat, Omeir Travels Agency, YAS Sports TV, Viola Communications, the UAE’s General Women’s Union , Emirates International Endurance Village, Emirates Arabian Horse Society & Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club.

Long odds-on favourite, the exciting Qatari bred and trained AJS Lattam kept his unbeaten record intact on his European debut in The Arabian Racehorse Magazine Novice Stakes run over a mile at Wolverhampton this evening. The three-year-old who was carrying a penalty for his wins in Qatar, took the race up in the home straight under six-time Polish Champion Jockey Szczepan Mazur to win eased down by four and a half lengths. In second was Coljani and Mohammed Tabti, with Sassy and Jordan Williams in third.

Commenting afterwards owner, breeder, trainer Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Attiyah said, “I was hoping that with three runners there would be enough pace, but thankfully Coljani helped things along. We couldn’t have hoped for the race to go better for him, and we would expect him to improve again from this.

“His next target will be the Al Rayyan Cup-Prix Kesberoy a Group 1PA in Deauville in three weeks. After that he’s most likely to have a break as he will have a long season in Doha. Saint-Cloud in October is still an option but it’s a fifty-fifty.”

Continuing he said, “This year I had around fifty horses in training in Qatar, around 75 per cent are Arabians the rest are thoroughbreds. I bought a couple of broodmares, one in foal to Nathaniel and the other to Ulysses last week at Tattersalls too. We have races for Qatari breds so they will be exported and foal there. Hopefully next year we will come back to the UK with more horses, as we’re enjoying it so far in Newmarket.”

Mazur was impressed with the way the colt had improved since he won on him in Qatar saying, “Like in Qatar he was still a bit green, like a baby, but he is getting there and he’s improved a lot. I like how he ran today, he just needs a race with a bit stronger pace, he won easily.”

Debbie Burt, editor of The Arabian Racehorse magazine said, “I’ve been supporting UK Arabian racing for ten years now and a lot has changed in that time. I started the magazine in 2015 and for the next edition I’ve visited Mohammed in Newmarket to see all his horses train and photographed his thoroughbred running at Royal Ascot and Sandown. I’m delighted that he is having such a positive experience of racing in the UK with both breeds and I wish him all the best with AJS Saaeq at Goodwood, the day after the publication of the Summer edition on August 1.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “ARO warmly congratulates Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Attiyah training his first UK Arabian winner, AJS Lattam, which is also his first overseas winner as a trainer. He of course has already had success as an owner at this very track with AJS Hajaj in 2021 and across the UK with his thoroughbreds.

“Though it was a small field today, it’s great that every horse running was bred, or part bred, by its owner, and on this occasion, they also train them too, even the winner, who of course is an international.

“ARO also thanks The Arabian Racehorse for their continued support of UK Arabian racing, through the sponsorship of this race and the Best Turned Out Award won by Steve Blackwell with Sassy. As they are co-sponsor our UK Breeders scheme, it is particularly pleasing that the two UK homebreds have earnt points in this race. We now look forward to our next race the Wathbastallions.com Handicap at Chepstow on Friday 28 July.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) looks forward to its first race of the season to be held at Wolverhampton in which the exciting Qatari bred and trained AJS Lattam makes his European debut. Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Attiyah’s three-year-old colt is unbeaten in two starts in Qatar this spring and will face just two other rivals in the mile contest on Monday 17 July.

A son of leading stallion AF Albahar, AJS Lattam is a homebred from Al-Attiyah’s Al Jeryan Stud in Qatar. His dam is a half-sister to Dubai International Stakes winner Gazwan, who is also one of the few horses to win Qatar’s greatest prize, the HH The Amir Sword twice, as well as the Qatar Arabian World Cup on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe card.

Commenting on his chances, Al-Attiyah said, “It’s my first-time training horses in the UK. Newmarket is a great place to train, the facilities are really good and the horses seem happy over here. AJS Lattam won his maiden and a cup race for three-year-olds in Doha, I’m sure he’ll improve again. I’m hoping he can win a race like this so that we can be more confident stepping up to 2000m for the Group 1PA race at Saint-Cloud in the autumn and Wolverhampton is a good place to start.

“Sadly we don’t have the dam anymore, but it’s a good family. I don’t know if AJS Lattam is as good as Gazwan, but I’m hoping he’s useful.”

The colt faces two older horses who both have the benefit of a recent run. Peter Hammersley trains nearby and is also the co-breeder of his runner, Coljani. Third on his reappearance last month, the gelding subsequently looked unsuited by the quick ground and Brighton’s undulations on his most recent outing. His sire Madjani’s stock do well on artificial surfaces and the Raffles Partnership will be hopeful of improvement from their four-year-old who holds an entry for next month’s UAE President Cup-UK Arabian Derby at Doncaster.

Completing the trio is the five-year old mare, Sassy, whose dam is a half-sister to a multiple PA Group winner. Trained by her owner-breeder Steve Blackwell just outside of Bridgend, she made her belated debut at Windsor last month, finishing behind Coljani. She was very green and slowly away, but her half-sister also took her time before recording two wins last season, and Blackwell will hope that she follows a similar path.

Debbie Burt, editor of The Arabian Racehorse magazine said, “It’s always a pleasure to support UK Arabian racing and particularly a race of this nature, with three young horses just at the start of their careers. On paper AJS Lattam looks to be an exciting young prospect and his owner-breeder-trainer, Mohammed bin Hamad Khalifa Al-Attiyah will be featured in the forthcoming edition of the magazine, which is due out on August 1^st.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “ARO thanks The Arabian Racehorse for their continued support of UK Arabian racing, through the sponsorship of this race and the Best Turned Out Award. They also co-sponsor our UK Breeders scheme, so it is particularly pleasing that the two UK homebreds will qualify for points in this race.

“We look forward to returning to Wolverhampton on Monday for the first of our two scheduled races there.”

Upstart Crow and Miss Teagan Padgett made it three wins in as many starts when scoring in the Emirates Breeders (0-65) Handicap at Brighton on Tuesday 11^th July. Linda Reeves’s six-year-old gelding, trained by James Owen won by two and a quarter lengths from stablemate Jaahez and Mr Jamie Gambin, with Al-Hatab and Billie Loughnane eased down in third.

Regular partner, amateur jockey Padgett, was delighted to record her third success and remains unbeaten on Arabians, in this her first season riding the breed. After the race she said, “We jumped out, but no one was really going forward and there was a big line of horses in front of me. James had said to sit in behind and keep him travelling nicely, but I was going too well and I decided to go up the inside. I hit the front a lot sooner than I wanted too and he did hang over to the stands, but he got home.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “ARO is delighted for the Reeves family in this their first season Arabian racing, we also congratulate the Owen team with the first two home and Teagan for making such a successful start to her Arabian racing career.”

“We are also pleased for Upstart Crow’s breeder John Elliott, who will again be rewarded as part of our breeders’ scheme, which gives a financial bonus to UK registered breeders whose horses finish in the first three places of all our races.”

Concluding shew said, “We thank Brighton racecourse and the Emirates Breeders representative Neil Abrahams who presented the trophies for the race. We also thank Baker McVeigh International for sponsoring the Best Turned Out award presented to Sue Wileman for Al-Hatab.

“We now look forward to our next race, Wathba Stallions Cup Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton on Monday 17 July.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) looks forward to the Emirates Breeders (0-65) Handicap at Brighton on Tuesday July 11^th in which Linda Reeves’s Upstart Crow bids for a hat-trick. Up against seven other runners, the six-year-old gelding and his regular partner, amateur Teagan Padgett, are likely to face the strongest challenge from stablemates, Jaahez, Mayfair and Heritage Valentino.

All four are trained by James Owen, previously a five-time ARO leading trainer, who took out his full BHA licence last year and is now gaining success under rules with his thoroughbreds. Owen, who has also been a leading point-to-point rider and ridden over 50 Arabian winners, sees the value in training Arabians as an opportunity to reward his staff. After Padgett’s debut win on Upstart Crow at Bath he commented, “We’re enjoying the jumping and we’ve made a great start with the Arabians today. We’re going to support the amateurs in the yard, Teagan and Rhea [Betts], as well as Jamie [Gambin] and Connor [Baker], they’ll ride all the Arabians when they can do the weight this year. That’s why I’ve got them and that’s why they work hard for me and I’ll reward them for that.”

Betts will partner Owen’s homebred filly Mayfair, who was less than a length behind Upstart Crow when they met over this trip last time, whilst Gambin will be on Jaahez who is making his seasonal reappearance, both for Owen’s Racing Club. Lower down the handicap is Mrs Skepper’s homebred Heritage Valentino, who renews the partnership with Kieran O’Neill, successful on the six-year-old at Wolverhampton last year.

Leicestershire based handler Peter Hammersley is co-breeder of Coljani, a gelding by Madjani, named in memory of the late Colin Banks, owner of the dam who Hammersley trained. The gelding was third on his reappearance last month and apprentice Mohammed Tabti retains the partnership. Hammersley is also co-owner in Al-Hatab, whose dam he trained to win seven races and who will again be ridden by Billie Loughnane. He also runs Dilmun Racing’s Belle Angelique, ridden by Georgia Dobie, who is a half-sister to a three-time winner.

Completing the field is Kayack for owner-breeder-trainer Jen Harris. The nine-year-old will be ridden by regular partner and leading amateur Serena Brotherton, for whom the gelding has been placed four times.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “ARO is pleased with the turn out for this race, for which all bar one of the runners is British bred. We thank Brighton racecourse and the Emirates Breeders for their support as this series is extremely important for our grassroots competitors. We are also assisting them through our own ARO breeders scheme which gives a financial bonus to UK registered breeders whose horses finish in the first three places of all our races.”

“We also thank Baker McVeigh International who will be sponsoring the Best Turned Out award on Tuesday.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was delighted that half of the ten entries for this years’ £80,000 UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby (Group 1PA) were from overseas. The mile and a quarter contest has been run at Doncaster since 2016, moves to the earlier slot of August 19. The UAE President Cup is the world’s oldest Arabian race sponsorship series and this year encompasses 15 races around the world.

The ten entries are headed on ratings by RB Kingmaker, fourth in the French equivalent last month at Chantilly on the Prix de Diane card when making his European debut. A dual black type winner in the UAE over the winter, the American bred colt will try to better Jugurtha De Monlau, a close second in 2020 for their owner Helal Alalawi. Also highly rated from France are Mejlad and Zamer. Both are owned by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani though run in the respective colours of his daughters, HE Sheikha Yasmeen and HE Sheikha Iman. Mejlad has won two conditions races, whilst Zamer has won and been placed at Group 3PA level on his last two starts.

Both colts have beaten the Moroccan owned Nahim, who was most recently seen finishing sixth at Chantilly. However though still a maiden, he will be one of the most experienced entries, having already contested five PA Group races, finishing runner-up in both a Group 2PA and a Group 3PA.

Entered from Poland is the Central European Derby winner, Bahwan. That race is also run under the UAE President Cup banner and he won the race in a record time by over two lengths on Sunday.

Phil Collington, who has the best record of the current crop of domestic trainers with two third placings in 2021 and 2020, has three potential candidates who are all fillies. Thakeera Al Shahania was a course and distance winner on her UK debut last month, whilst Thaydah Athbah is unbeaten in two starts. He also has Lujain, a winner over a mile, who looks sure to appreciate the step up in trip should she run. Peter Hamersley, whose best effort in the race came with sixth placed Abiyah Athbah in 2018, has entered Coljani, who he bred in partnership, whilst another UK homebred, Pharitz Alanood, could be a first Derby runner for Mitchell Hunt, who is in his second season training Arabians alongside his thoroughbreds.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “ARO is delighted to receive so many entries from abroad, as well as some exciting young UK trained horses. Year on year this race crowns a progressive top-level horse, with the last winner, Abbes, going on to win the world’s most valuable race for Arabians, the $2.5 million HH The Amir Sword this February.

“We thank the UAE President Cup and Doncaster racecourse for supporting our racing this season and look forward to declarations on August 16th.”