The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) today issued a statement regarding this year’s running of the UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby (Group 1PA) which was scheduled to take place as part of the Cazoo St Leger Festival at Doncaster on Saturday 10^th September.

ARO Chairman Charles Gregson commented: “It was with immense sadness that we learned of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, one of racing’s greatest and most influential supporters. As part of the ongoing mark of respect paid by British Racing to Her Majesty, all racing tomorrow has been cancelled by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). This will include this year’s UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby at Doncaster which will not be rescheduled in 2022.

Concluding he said: “We extend our sincere condolences to the Royal Family, who are in our thoughts and prayers at this time.”

Faisal Al Rahmani, Event Manager for the UAE President Cup commented: “We were shocked and saddened by the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, a great horsewoman and lover of racing, and we send our deepest respects to the Royal Family and the British people during this period of mourning.

“For over 25 years the UAE President Cup series has supported racing all round the world and we look forward to resuming our association with British Arabian racing next year.”

Connections of the French Arabian Derby runner-up, Izadi Star, will be hoping that their colt can go one better in the British equivalent, the UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby (Group1PA). The £80,00 contest exclusively for four-year-olds will be run at Doncaster on Saturday 10^th September, Cazoo St Leger Day, and represents the last chance for all sexes of that age group to meet at the top level in Europe. However, it looks to be a true test as he will face the leading European colt of 2021, Moshrif, along with Ch’ezza and Rebal Athbah, two unbeaten colts stepping up to pattern company for the first time.

Now in its seventh renewal at Doncaster as part of the UAE President Cup series, the race will be run over the same mile and a quarter trip as it’s French counterpart. In Chantilly, Helal Alalawi’s striking chestnut colt was beaten a head by France’s top four-year-old Samlla, who had previously placed third to his stablemate Moshrif in the pair’s final start in a French Group 1PA last autumn. Francois Rohaut has since kept his charges apart, with Moshrif’s two wins Qatar including their three-year-old Derby last December.

As to be expected, the Chantilly race is always a good guide to the Doncaster counterpart, with all four French Derby winners to show up at the historic Town Moor track achieving the double. Meanwhile Abbes who had filled the number two slot in France last year, went on to gain recompense in the UK edition, which clearly bodes well for Izadi Star. The form of the 2022 French renewal looks particularly strong, as Samlla and Izadi Star finished ten lengths clear of the field, on Izadi Star’s European return for La Teste based trainer, Elizabeth Bernard.

Alalawi, who owned the 2020 runner-up Jugurtha de Monlau and also trained Izadi Star in the UAE, commented: “I am very optimistic about Izadi Star’s chances after his performance in his last race. If he wins easily at Doncaster, he will return to France to run in the Qatar Arabian World Cup at the Arc meeting and then on to Abu Dhabi for the Sheikh Zayed Jewel Crown.

“This forthcoming UAE season I have signed a contract with Gary Sanchez to be my retained jockey for The National Stables and he will ride Izadi Star on Saturday.”

Sanchez has been having a fruitful time on Arabians in France with Bernard, having ridden in the Gulf last winter. This will be Sanchez’s debut ride in the UK, however the 21-year-old first visited Doncaster for this race in 2019, leading up for his father Freddie, who trained that year’s winner Hayyan.

Izadi Star is the top-rated runner on 119 and is the highest rated horse to have contested the race since it was relocated to Doncaster, supported by the UAE President Cup series. However not far behind on 117 is Moshrif, a proven Group 1PA winner at this trip who will be reunited with Jim Crowley. Crowley partnered the colt in his two wins in Doha and also rode the colt’s half-brother Muraaqib to victory in two of his seven top level wins for their breeder, the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, and has since enjoyed great success for Moshrif’s new owner, Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari, winning three Group 1PA’s on his champion mare, Lady Princess.

Pau based Rohaut also trains another young Qatari-owned runner in Ch’ezza.  Carrying in the colours of Abdulla bin Fahad Al Hammad Al-Attiyah, the son of AF Albahar won by a short head on his debut at Toulouse and has since won easily in Vichy. Another proven at this trip, the colt will be partnered for the first time by Sean Levey, who has already ridden an Arabian Group winner in the UK and rode against Crowley and Moshrif in Doha.

Also looking for debut black-type success will be Rebal Athbah. The Athbah Racing homebred caught the eye when a comfortable course and distance winner in July and was a ready winner of his last race at Lingfield, ridden on that occasion by ten times UAE Champion Jockey, Tadgh O’Shea, who renews the partnership on Saturday. Rebal Athbah is trained by Phil Collington, who has the best recent record of the domestic handlers having provided the third placed horse for the last two years.

After O’Shea and Collington combined to win the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup (Gr3PA) at Haydock last Saturday with Bayan Athbah, Collington said: “Obviously Rebal has come up through the ranks this year. He reminds me very much of Dubai Kahayla Classic winner Kaolino. When I first went out to Dubai for Gill Duffield at the end of 2003, Kaolino was running in low grade handicaps in Abu Dhabi, but the horse was just slowly maturing, improving physically and mentally with each race until he won on World Cup night. I think Rebal is much the same, he’s been such a big baby, but it’s amazing how Arabians can improve. It looks a big ask now, but he deserves to take his chance.”

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 Qatar French Arabian Derby, and four winners have gone on to continued Group 1PA success.

The prestigious UAE President Cup series is now in its 29^th year, supporting 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 last year’s winner Abbes. We need to keep this momentum going and to encourage more breeding of Arabian racehorses which is one of the series aims.”

Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee commented: “We are delighted with the resonance of the series worldwide, the UK race will be the tenth leg of the series so far this year.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said: “We were delighted with the quality of the entries for this race, though the four horses declared underline the lack of four-year-old Arabians across Europe, not just in the UK. However we are delighted that proven Group winners like Izadi Star and Moshrif will be taking on two unbeaten colts in what still looks to be a very competitive race.”

She concluded: “ARO continues to be extremely grateful to the UAE President Cup Series and to everyone at Doncaster racecourse for their support of our feature race for four-year-olds. In addition, we thank the British Horseracing Authority for their assistance with our racing, particularly with our international runners in our black-type races.”

Bayan Athbah was again victorious in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup (Gr 3PA) run over a mile at Haydock Park this afternoon. Ridden this year by ten times UAE champion jockey Tadgh O’Shea, the six-year-old mare travelled smoothly throughout the early stages to challenge early leader Abiyah Athbah from two furlongs out. However, Ben Curtis’s mount put up a real fight all the way to the line, going down by only a length, with her stablemate Zayin Angkor Centurion, a further five lengths behind in third.

Phil Collington has an enviable record in the race, as he not only trained Bayan Athbah to win last year, but also trained the winners of the two previous running of the race, formerly known as the ARO Cup, Shomoos Athbah (Royal Windsor 2018) and Aghsaan (Newbury 2016). Bayan Athbah had been his pick of four possible entries and has provided Collington with his thirteenth PA Group winner to date.

A delighted Collington said: “It’s fantastic for Bayan and Athbah Racing, and also for Mia who won the Best Turned Out Award with her too, it’s been great all round. The mare has done so well today because the ground would really have been against her. Abiyah Athbah fought hard and gave us a really good race to watch.”

Of Bayan Athbah’s win O’Shea commented: “She wasn’t in love with the ground, it was pretty firm out there, I went to go and win quite easily from the second to last furlong, but fair dues to the filly on her inside, she put up a good fight. My filly’s class go her through, but with a bit more ease in the ground you’d see her to better effect, but thankfully we got the job done.”

The £14,000 race was held as part of Haydock’s biggest flat meeting of the year, their Sprint Cup Celebration which ran to three days and concluded with the Betfair Sprint Cup Day on Saturday 3rd September. The HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup is the highlight of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival’s UK Arabian racing sponsorship package for 2022. The Festival has played a significant role in the promotion of Arabian racing and breeding around the world since it began in 2009, aiming to continue the efforts made by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to preserve heritage sports and equestrian sport in particular. Sponsoring more than 150 races in 2022, the Festival supports a wide variety of contests from the grassroots to the highest level, which 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: “We have really enjoyed the welcome that everyone at Haydock Park has given us for the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup and we congratulate Tadhg O’Shea, Athbah Racing, Phil Collington and Mia Hurrion for winning today with Bayan Athbah.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer 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. We are delighted for Athbah, Phil and his team for producing Bayan Athbah in such good form to record back-to-back wins in this race.”

“We are also grateful for the support and assistance of the British Horseracing Authority, Haydock Park racecourse and Brendan Waterworth from Racing Welfare who presented the Best Turned Out Award to Mia Hurrion.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was delighted to learn that last year’s winner Bayan Athbah, will return to Haydock Park on Saturday to defend her crown in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup. The Group 3PA contest will be run over a mile at Haydock’s biggest flat meeting of the year, their Sprint Cup Celebration which runs over three days, concluding with the Betfair Sprint Cup Day on Saturday 3rd September.

Collington has an enviable record in the race, as he not only trained Athbah Racing’s Bayan Athbah to win last year, but also trained the winners of the two previous running of the race, formerly known as the ARO Cup, Shomoos Athbah (Royal Windsor 2018) and Aghsaan (Newbury 2016). Bayan Athbah has been his pick of four possible entries and will be ridden by ten times UAE champion jockey Tadgh O’Shea, who partnered the six-year-old mare to win a Group 2PA sprint at Newbury last year.

Collington said: “The joint that Bayan injured before Goodwood has settled right down, all’s good with her now and she’s in great form. We’ll stick to the plan that she’ll run in headgear for the first time and Tadgh, who knows her well, will ride.”

She faces several of her rivals from last year, most notably Dilmun Racing’s Abiyah Athbah who was a very close third on that occasion. Abiyah Athbah has been campaigned with this race as a target, most recently finishing third in the same black-type sprint that Bayan Athbah had won last year. Behind Abiyah Athbah in fourth last month was her stablemate Zayin Angkor Centurion, who trainer Peter Hammerlsey has steadily brought back from an injury induced lay-off. A homebred for Paul Simmons’ Zayin Arabians, his nine-year-old stallion was runner up in this in 2018, ahead of four Group winners. Abiyah Athbah will be giving Ben Curtis his first ride on an Arabian, whilst Hector Crouch will be joining up with Zayin Angkor Centurion for a fourth time.

Fifth behind Bayan Athbah in 2021 was the James Owen trained Al Kaaser. Now running in the colours of his Racing Club, the eight-year-old gelding seems best when fresh and he returns from a short break, aiming to give the Racing Club their first black-type success. Owen also runs Balqees, leased from Shadwell Estates by Dubai based businessman Gary Allsopp. Allsopp is having a great introduction to Arabian racing, with wins by Balqees and his other horse Wanassa this season, and he’s also a member of Owen’s Racing Club so will have Al Kaaser to cheer on as well. Balqees will be ridden by last year’s leading jockey Hollie Doyle, who partnered the five-year-old mare to her maiden success in May, whilst Sean Levey who also boasts a good record on the breed, will ride Al Kaaser.

Completing the field is Mulan, ridden by the only amateur in the race Miss Kaitlen Robinson. Owned by Kaitlen’s parents Melanie and Gavin Kelly, Mulan is a dual winner, including over this trip on the All Weather and has been lightly raced since due to the challenges of Covid, but will be sharper for her reappearance at Southwell in late July.

With a prize fund of £14,000, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup is the highlight of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival UK Arabian racing sponsorship package for 2022. The Festival has played a significant role in the promotion of Arabian racing and breeding around the world since it began in 2009, aiming to continue the efforts made by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to preserve heritage sports and equestrian sport in particular. Sponsoring more than 150 races in 2022, the Festival supports a wide variety of contests from the grassroots to the highest level, which 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 and looks forward to returning to Haydock Park for the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer 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. The runners declared for the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup on Saturday look closely matched on from and we look forward to a really competitive race.

“We are also grateful for the support and assistance of the British Horseracing Authority, Haydock Park racecourse and Racing Welfare who are sponsoring the Best Turned Out Award.”

Athbah Racing’s Rebal Athbah remains unbeaten, with a win in the Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons (0-85) Handicap at Lingfield Park today. The four-year-old colt was partnered for the first time by ten times UAE Champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea in the mile and a quarter contest and after waiting in behind the early leader Zayin Angkor Centurion, went smoothly into the lead for a two and a quarter length victory. Zayin Arabian’s other runner, Zayin Zyperion filled the third place berth.

Trained by current leading ARO trainer Phil Collington in Newmarket, Rebal Athbah also holds a UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby entry, along with his stablemate Ekleel Athbah who O’Shea partnered to win a Group 2PA earlier this month. This will win will give connections and O’Shea plenty to think about in the run up to declarations for the race next month, held at Doncaster on Cazoo St Leger Day.

Of Rebal Athbah’s win O’Shea, a regular in the Athbah silks commented: “He’s a bonny colt who continues to progress. It was always going to be a little bit tactical, I got a lead until just over half way and I started to put the pressure on just over four furlongs from home. He responded well and he’s ready now for a step up in grade, the better the race, you’ll probably see him to better effect.”

Now four out of four for Collington, the Athbah homebred still looked to have plenty left at the finish and remains an exciting prospect. He commented: “I think like Tadhg said, he’d be better off in a more strongly run race, but he couldn’t do any more and I’m really pleased with him. The UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby at Doncaster is still an option, we can ride him prominently, he’s no problem when he’s in front. We felt that the blinkers light him up a bit once the jockeys on, but ultimately, they’re beneficial in the race as he does tend to idle at times.”

Rossdale’s representative Joshua Davison said: “It’s been fantastic to be here today, we’ve really enjoyed it and of course we couldn’t have asked for a better result as Phil is one of our clients.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “We congratulate Athbah Racing, Phil and his team on Rebal Athbah’s win today. It is also great for us to have a jockey of Tadhg’s abilities riding here and promoting our racing.

“ARO was delighted when Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons chose to continue their sponsorship with us for a fourth season and we thank Joshua Davison and Mat Harber for presenting the trophies today. We also thank the British Horseracing Authority and all the team at Lingfield Park for supporting our racing this season.”

Athbah Racing’s unbeaten colt Rebal Athbah heads the runners for the Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons (0-85) Handicap at Lingfield Park on Wednesday 24^th August. The mile and a quarter contest will be the fourth renewal of Rossdales sponsorship of Arabian racing at the Surrey track, having previously supported races at Lingfield Park in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

Three-time winner Rebal Athbah also holds a UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby entry and has already proven himself over the course and distance of that event when winning a similar mile and a quarter handicap at the Doncaster track. On Wednesday he will be partnered for the first time by ten times UAE champion jockey Tadhg O’Shea, a regular in the Athbah silks. O’Shea will no doubt be keen to see how he compares with their other Derby contender Ekleel Athbah on whom he recently won a Group 2PA contest.

His trainer Phil Collington commented: “Rebal’s in good form and ready for Lingfield. On the ratings it looks like Zayin Angkor Centurion will give him a harder time and he’ll have to step up again, but we’re pleased with what he’s shown us so far.”

On paper he could be expected to progress at Lingfield, however it will be the four-year-old Athbah homebreds’ first outing on an All Weather surface, whilst his two opponents from Zayin Arabians are both proven winners on the Polytrack surface. Zayin Angkor Centurion’s wins did come over shorter, however excuses can be made for his previous defeats at this distance, including when contesting a Group 1PA contest and he certainly looked fit and well when fourth to the aforementioned Ekleel Athbah earlier this month in Group company. He will be ridden by current ARO leading jockey Charlie Price, who started his career on Arabians before taking out his conditional licence and joining Tim Vaughan.

Zayin Zyperion is already a course and distance winner and has twice won for his regular rider Joey Haynes over a mile, including at Chepstow last month. Since then the seven-year-old has been stepped up in grade finishing second at Brighton and their trainer Peter Hammersley is bullish of their chances saying: “It’s a very interesting race, I couldn’t really choose between my two. Zayin Angkor Centurion is dropping back to handicap company for the first time in four years, and the only time he ran at this grade he won. Zayin Zyperion is stepping up in class, but he’s been doing so well this season, winning and placing last time. Rebal Athbah has won both his races this year, but I don’t think I could confidently choose between the three, we’re looking forward to taking him on.”

Mike Shepherd, Managing Clinical Director at Rossdales, said: “Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons is delighted to continue supporting Arabian horseracing through our association with ARO.  Rossdales has been closely connected with the racing and breeding industries in and around Newmarket for many years, and now 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.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said: “ARO was thrilled that Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons chose to continue their association with us and despite only receiving three declarations from a possible eight, it still looks a very competitive race, with the likely favourite having to prove his credentials on Lingfield’s Polytrack. It is also pleasing that all the runners are homebreds, as ARO continues in its mission to support owner-breeders through our breeders scheme.

“We look forward to welcoming Rossdale’s representative Joshua Davison to present the trophies and we also thank the British Horseracing Authority and all the team at Lingfield Park for supporting our racing this season.”

Steve Blackwell’s Aloof made it two out of two in the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap Stakes, run over a mile today at Chepstow. Remaining unbeaten for the season, the five-year-old mare was partnered on this occasion by Josh Bryan, the mare having won another Wathba Stallions sponsored race at Brighton on her reappearance. One of the slowest out the stalls Bryan steadily brought her into contention, weaving through the field to win by a head from Heritage Valentino and Hollie Doyle. Blackwell’s other runner, the veteran Aljawaaher and Mr Lewis Saunders, were a further two and half lengths back in third.

Blackwell who also bred the mare as well as training her commented:“She is what she is, you’d have given her no chance early on, but she’s improving. She can gallop, and she gallops like that at home, but on the track she’s been less impressive. The penny’s dropping with her slowly, she’s very like her dam was early on, not straightforward at all.”

Bryan who was riding his first Arabian winner was all smiles saying: “She’s the only Arabian I’ve ever ridden. It was an education for me last year on her at Lingfield. These turf tracks with a stiffer finish probably suit her better than the All Weather tracks do. Steve told me to nurse her into it and hopefully she’ll pick up. I wasn’t sure, as we were on the verge of getting detached at one point, but she passed one and then she started to enjoy it, she weaved through, spotted her stablemate and passed him and then Hollie to win.”

Concluding he said: “I used to ride pony racing with Steve’s son George, so I’ve known the family for years and it’s lovely to ride a winner for them.”

The £4,000 race at the popular Welsh venue, was run as part of the Wathba Stallions race series which supports the grassroots of the sport. With more than half the field represented by home-bred horses, it is exactly the type of contest the series aims to support.

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival, said: “The Sheikh Mansoor Festival is pleased to return to Chepstow, and we congratulate Aloof and her team on winning a second Wathba Stallions Cup this season.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “ARO is delighted for Josh and Steve and for Aloof who he bred using an ARO  breeders prize won by her dam in 2014. We thank the Sheikh Mansoor Festival for their support this season, particularly of races at this level which are the lifeblood of our grassroots sport.

“We also congratulate Sue Wileman and Al-Hatab on winning the Best Turned Out Award sponsored by Baker McVeigh International. Our thanks also go Chepstow racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority for supporting our racing this season.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) were delighted that all eleven entries have declared for the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap Stakes, to be run over a mile on Thursday 18^th August at Chepstow. The £4,000 race at the popular Welsh venue, is run as part of the Wathba Stallions race series which supports the grassroots of the sport. With more than half the field represented by home-bred horses, it is exactly the type of contest the series aims to support.

Making her handicap debut at the top of the weights is the five-year-old Zikada Zayin. She bids to follow in the hoofprints of her brother Zayin Zyperion who won over course and distance for Paul Simmons’ Zayin Arabian Stud last month. Trained by Mitchell Hunt who also handles Simmons’ thoroughbreds, she is looking to give him his first Arabian winner since taking out his thoroughbred licence, Hunt is no stranger to the breed having been assistant to five-time ARO leading trainer James Owen.

Owen himself has three-runners, all of which are home-breds. The brothers Heritage Vadel and Heritage Valentino finished first and third on their latest outing at Southwell and whilst Heritage Vadel retains the winning partnership with Rhiain Ingram, Heritage Valentino has Hollie Doyle in the saddle. Doyle won the ARO leading jockey title last year and will be looking to build on her early season win on another of Owen’s runners. Making up the trio is Conquer, owned and bred by Owen’s parents Herbie and Jenny. Though returning to racing after a long absence this season, he looked much fitter when fifth in better company last time and has the advantage of being a course and distance winner in his younger days.

Also with three runners is Peter Hammerlsey, headed by the home-bred gelding Al-Hatab who he owns in partnership with his breeder Julie Kelway. Al-Hatab is another making his handicap debut and will be partnered again by amateur jockey, Paddy Barlow. Studying to be a vet at Nottingham University, Barlow still finds time to ride out at trainer Peter Hammersley’s and rode for leading Irish trainer Jessica Harrington in the Horseware Student Derby at Ireland’s famous Curragh last year. He’s also been a regular on Dilmun Racing’s Belle Angelique who should be more at home back on turf for Kieran O’Neill, whilst his other runner HH Sheikha Maryam bint Maktoum al Maktoum’s Bin Al Reeh, a winner over this distance last year, will be ridden by young apprentice Frederick Larson.

Alghazaal runs the colours of current leading ARO trainer Phil Collington’s daughter Sophie, who is ARO’s youngest owner and often leads up her own horse. He will be ridden by Lewis Kent who after a short spell as an apprentice, returns to the amateur ranks. Also riding as an amateur is Kaitlen Robinson who is in the saddle on the family’s Mulan. The pair have twice been successful on the All Weather, including at this distance, however this is a higher grade.

Another owner-trainer with runners is Bridgend based Steve Blackwell. He’ll have the least miles to travel and has a pair of likely contenders in the veteran Aljawaaher and his home-bred mare Aloof. Aljawaaher has been extremely consistent for another amateur in Lewis Saunders, placing on every outing this season, whilst Aloof won on her reappearance and reunites with Joshua Bryan who rode her twice last year.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “ARO is delighted that all the entries stood their ground and we thank the Sheikh Mansoor Festival for their support this season, particularly of races at this level which are the lifeblood of our grassroots sport.

“We also thank Chepstow racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority for supporting our racing this season and to Baker McVeigh who is sponsoring the Best Turned Out award for this race.”

Athbah Racing’s homebred filly Ekleel Athbah struck again for connections in the Royal Cavalry of Oman International Stakes (Gr 2PA) run over 6f at Newbury this afternoon. Ridden by Tadhg O’Shea she was confirming the excellent performance she produced when winning the Royal Cavalry sponsored, Nizwa Fort Conditions Stakes over course and distance in early July. In winning she was following in the hoofprints of Bayan Athbah who won the race for the same team last year. She was closely pressed to the line by the sponsors own homebred filly Fateenah, ridden by Mickael Forest, however Ekleel Athbah crossed the line a neck ahead of the French trained challenger, with Abiyah Athbah a further two and a quarter lengths behind in third.

After the race O’Shea commented: “She’s a lovely filly, obviously it’s my first time riding her, I watched her win last time and she still looked relatively green, I said to Phil beforehand that the French filly owned by the sponsors looked the one to beat. All credit to them for sponsoring and they always have some very good Arabians that to have be respected. I followed that one through and I had a very smooth race, she picked up well. She’s a filly that gets further so I was always confident when she put her nose in front inside the furlong pole that she’d stay a bit further.

Asked to compare his two winners of the race O’Shea said: “They’re very similar. Bayan possibly had a little bit more pace, but this filly is learning quickly and she’s probably a bit more forward at this stage of her career than Bayan was. I think Phil will freshen her up with a view to going to Doncaster next.”

Collington confirmed this, saying: “Ekleel’s win here last month showed she was capable at this distance, Bayan went a similar route last year and like her, this filly has shown she’s got the speed to win, so it’s all worked out well. Now she can step back up in trip, hopefully for the UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby at Doncaster. Tadhg is certainly of the opinion that it’s a strong possibility after today.”

The £20,000 race was the opening contest of BetVictor Hungerford Day which also features three thoroughbred black type races, the highlight of which is the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes. This race was the culmination of the Royal Cavalry’s sponsorship package for the 2022 Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) season and was held in front of a crowd of over 10,000. The day had begun with Dr Sarhan Salim Al Zeidi, Director General of the Royal Cavalry of Oman, planting a Silver Birch tree as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative to commemorate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

Kevin Josse, general manager for all of the Royal Cavalry’s equestrian activities in France said: “This is my second visit to Newbury and what I particularly like in the UK is the atmosphere, the quality of the racing and the crowds are fantastic, I think I can say on behalf of the whole team that we have really enjoyed it. Unfortunately because we haven’t won this year, it is a good excuse to come back next year.”

Speaking about the future for the Royal Cavalry equestrian activities, he said “The plan is now to reduce our horses, but to increase the quality across the board for our show horses, our endurance horses and of course our racehorses. Caroline Brunuad is our racing manager, based in the south near Pau where the majority of them are trained. We will be focussing on the Gulf countries, with the best horses going out for the winter season and we will keep going with the same trainers there.  Fateenah will come home for a rest now and then once we have discussed her options, she may well go out to the Gulf this winter.”

Charles Gregson, ARO Chairman congratulated the winners saying: “That was a brilliant race today, run in a fast time as you would expect on this ground. We warmly congratulate the Athbah Racing team for winning again with another homebred filly and we also congratulate our sponsors, the Royal Cavalry of Oman, who came very close to winning with theirs.”

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO commented: “We were thrilled when the Royal Cavalry of Oman confirmed their sponsorship of this race last year as they have been welcome competitors and generous sponsors here in the UK for so many years. It was a pleasure to welcome back Dr Sarhan Salim Al Zeidi, and to meet Royal Cavalry racing manager, Caroline Brunuad and general manager, Kevin Josse to a track at which they have had so many important successes and to join in with HM The Queen’s jubilee celebrations.

“ARO also congratulates Izzy Brown winning the Best Turned Out Award with Paramer Angel and thanks Newbury racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority for their continued support of our racing and our international competitors.”

Two progressive fillies will go head-to-head in the forthcoming Group 2PA Royal Cavalry of Oman International Stakes at Newbury on Saturday 13^th August. Fateenah, owned and bred by the race sponsors and Athbah Racing’s Ekleel Athbah are closely matched on ratings and both will be seeking to gain that all important black-type win.

Worth £20,000, the six-furlong sprint will be the opening race of the BetVictor Hungerford Day card. In addition, prior to racing, Dr Sarhan Salim Al Zeidi, Director General of the Royal Cavalry of Oman will plant a Silver Birch tree as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative to commemorate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

Travelling over from France, Fateenah bids to follow in the hoofprints of three-time race winner Al Mouhannad (2013, 2014, 2015) and her brother Al Chammy (2018), who have carried the Royal Cavalry’s colours to glory in UK Arabian racing’s most coveted sprint contest. Twice a winner over seven furlongs, she has been Group 3PA placed over a mile and was only beaten half a length by another Royal Cavalry owned runner on her latest start back at her favoured trip in Dax’s Prix Akbar at the end of June.

Her trainer Frederic Sanchez is also no stranger to success under Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) rules or at Newbury and is currently two from three from his UK raids. Speaking from his base in Pau yesterday Sanchez said of his filly: “We hope for a good result as she is fast. Seven furlongs has proved best for her so far, but a straight six furlongs should be good as well. She is in great shape and her jockey Mikael Forest knows her very well.”

Trainer Phil Collington and Athbah Racing also have a good record in this race, with Collington first winning it in 2016 with Radames for HH Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum and again last year with Athbah Racing’s Bayan Athbah, partnered by Tadhg O’Shea. This year the team are represented by another homebred in Ekleel Athbah. Already a course and distance winner when taking the prep race a month ago, she beat her stablemate Bayan Athbah by a length and a quarter, but will be their sole representative from three entries.

Collington explained: “It was a fact-finding mission with Ekleel Athbah last time and she’s proven there now. Rebal Athbah has other options and Ekleel won’t be carrying a penalty like our other entry, Bayan Athbah, so we’re hoping for a good run from her.”

Peter Hammersley sends two, last year’s fourth Abiyah Athbah and Zayin Angkor Centurion who is on a steady comeback mission after a year off. Dilmun Racing’s three-time winner Abiyah Athbah has proved best on quick ground as her Group 3PA third placing over a mile last year has shown and she was third behind Ekleel Athbah in the prep race.

“This has been one of Abiyah Athbah’s main targets for the season, so we hope she’ll run really well” commented Hammersley. “Zayin Angkor Centurion is still probably not quite at a 100%, so we go there with the hope of picking up some prize money at the lower end. More realistically for him is the handicap at Lingfield at the end of the month.”

Five-time top ARO trainer James Owen has won a Royal Cavalry of Oman sponsored Group race at the track before with Awzaan in the Clarendon Stakes. This year his team’s hopes rest on Gary Allsopp’s Balqees who gave Allsopp a May to remember, providing him his first winner in his own colours when she beat Ekleel Athbah by a neck over a mile, three weeks after Cachet, who Allsopp is also involved with, won the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. They will be hoping that Balqees can sharpen her game with the addition of a first-time visor and will renew her winning partnership with Hollie Doyle.

Completing the line-up is recent course winner, Delyth Thomas’s Paramer Angel, who beat Balqees on his seasonal reappearance in a photo over a mile and a quarter. The eleven-year-old has been runner-up over this trip in lesser company, but all three of his victories have been over further.

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO commented: “We were thrilled when the Royal Cavalry of Oman decided to take over sponsorship of this race last year, as it is a contest that always produces a top-class winner. We were also pleased to discover that they will be represented in their flagship UK race by what looks to be an exciting young homebred filly.

“The Royal Cavalry have been welcome competitors and generous sponsors in the UK for so many years. We look forward to Dr Sarhan Salim Al Zeidi joining us on Saturday, along with the Royal Cavalry’s Racing Managers Caroline Brunaud and Kevin Josse to a track at which they have had so many important successes and to join in with HM The Queen’s jubilee celebrations.

“ARO also thanks Newbury racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority for their continued support of our racing and our international competitors.”