The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was thrilled to learn that their entries for the Group 2PA Royal Cavalry of Oman International Stakes were headed by Fateenah, a Royal Cavalry homebred and their first UK entry since 2019. This is the fifth and final race that the Royal Cavalry are supporting with ARO as part of their sponsorship package for the 2022 season. Worth £20,000, the six-furlong sprint will be held on August 13^th at Newbury racecourse as the opening race of BetVictor Hungerford Day. 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.

The Royal Cavalry have had a long association with this event having won it four times under the previous sponsorship when the race was run as part of Dubai International Arabian Races at Newbury – three times with Al Mouhannad (2013, 2014, 2015) and also with her brother Al Chammy (2018). This year they enter Fateenah a four- year-old mare by Dahess, co-incidentally the only other horse to have won the race three times (2005, 2006, 2007). Trained in France by Frederic Sanchez, Fateenah has twice won over seven furlongs and was placed at this level over a mile in the Prix Damas in May, though this will be her first attempt at this trip. Sanchez has a near perfect record in UK PA Group races, winning twice and placing once from three runners.

Current leading ARO trainer Phil Collington may have a strong hand for Athbah Racing, potentially led by last year’s winner Bayan Athbah. In winning she broke the track record that had stood since 2010, however due to a systems failure, the race was hand-timed at 1.17.65. On her seasonal reappearance over course and distance in preparation for this race, she was beaten by her stablemate Ekleel Athbah, who also finished inside the 2010 record, timed officially at 1.18.11. They could also be joined by the unbeaten Rebal Athbah, who had an untroubled passage on his latest start over further and is another who would be trying this sprint trip for the first time.

Five-time top ARO trainer James Owen has had a quieter season, however he has won a Royal Cavalry of Oman sponsored Group race at the track before with Awzaan in the Clarendon Stakes. This year he has entered Gary Allsopp’s Balqees who gave Allsopp a month to remember, providing him his first winner in his own colours when she beat Ekleel Athbah by a neck over a mile, in the same month that Cachet, who he is also involved with, won the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Reappearing for another crack at this race will be Dilmun Racing’s Abiyah Athbah and Zayin Arabian’s Zayin Angkor Centurion, both trained by Peter Hammerlsey. Abiyah Athbah was fourth last year, whilst Zayin Angkor Centurion was fifth in 2019.  Another in the mix could be Delyth Thomas’s Paramer Angel, a winner at this track on his season reappearance beating Balqees in a photo, he has been runner-up over this trip, but all three of his victories have been over further.

Colonel Mohammed Al Hadi, the Royal Cavalry’s Assistant Director General, who was present for their most recently sponsored race at Royal Windsor, spoke about the progress that has been made with Arabian racing in Oman.

“The breeding programme has been expanded so we’re breeding most of the Arabian horses for our races. We use AI along with our own stallions in Oman to improve our horses by using the best bloodlines available, such as those of Amer and other good stallions.

“In a new initiative we will be selling some of the foals which is something that we’ve not done before. Certainly domestically, but maybe internationally too, that will be up to the department to decide.

“Our racing season starts in October and now includes Arabian and thoroughbred races for the local people, along with the big says like the National Day, which moves around the country to encourage new people to get involved. The new focus is on the people of Oman to encourage them to learn much more about the horses and to get them to own their own horses. We want more domestic owners, along with the Cavalry and Police so that we have good competition, and it helps the sport to grow in Oman.”

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO commented: “We were delighted when the Royal Cavalry of Oman decided to take over sponsorship of this race last year and are thrilled for them to have a horse entered in their flagship UK race. The Royal Cavalry have been welcome competitors and generous sponsors here in the UK for so many years and we look forward to Dr Sarhan Salim Al Zeidi joining us on Saturday at 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.”

John Elliot’s Lujain confirmed her early season debut course and distance promise with a length and a quarter win in the Al Jalali Fort Novice Stakes over a mile today at Royal Windsor. Ridden by apprentice Molly Presland, she passed long-time leader Al Mahbooba and Keiran O’Neill in the last half furlong for a comfortable win, with the pair finishing well clear of Mayfair and Rhiain Ingram.

Afterwards her trainer Phil Collington commented: “I’m so pleased for John and Teresa and the filly, she deserved that. Obviously she was back on what we thought was her favoured ground after that great run here first time. There’s still so much more to come from her, she jumped off quite well at Wolverhampton and she was a little bit slow away today, but though she’ll go up a lot for this, she’s got the ability to cope.

“I’m pretty certain that will be it for her this season.” Collington continued. “The only reason she ran today was because with the weather we’ve had, we thought we’d get quick ground again. I rode her dam Tawaazun, who was highly talented, but it was difficult for Gill Duffield to keep her in one piece at times, I think this filly could be as good or better than her dam, let’s hope she’ll keep improving. I think she’s shown today that she’ll get a mile and a quarter on turf.”

Presland, who was recording her first win on an Arabian said: “I’ve ridden Lujain in all her runs and every time she’s been improving. She’s a really honest horse so I had no worries about getting there, even though the other one had got away from us. She tries her heart out. I go in and gallop horses for Phil when he asks, he’s been great to me.”

Elliott himself was “thrilled” with his filly’s performance and was recording his first win since his homebred Hau Kola dead-heated at Taunton in 2018. Elliott has had a long association with Collington, first when Collington was a jockey and then later providing him with his first winner as a trainer.

This is the fourth race that the Royal Cavalry have sponsored with ARO this year as part of their five-race package for the season. Their sponsorship concludes with their annual highlight, the Royal Cavalry of Oman International Stakes, a Group 2PA six-furlong sprint worth £20,000 to be held on August 13 at Newbury racecourse, for which entries close this Tuesday 9^th August at 12 noon.

Charles Gregson, ARO Chairman commented: “ARO congratulates John, Phil and Molly on their win with Lujain today. John has been a long-term supporter of ARO and we’re thrilled to see him back in the winners enclosure with such a smart looking filly.

“We’re also delighted to be back at Royal Windsor with the Royal Cavalry of Oman as it is a racecourse they have had a great association with, having sponsored many races here in the past. We thank their representative, Colonel Mohammed Al Hadi, the Royal Cavalry’s Assistant Director General, who presented the trophies, and we now look forward to the Royal Cavalry of Oman International Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

“ARO also thanks Royal Windsor racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority for their continued support of our racing this season.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) and long-term sponsor the Royal Cavalry of Oman head to Royal Windsor racecourse on Sunday 7^th August for their Al Jalali Fort Novice Stakes over a mile. The race looks a fascinating contest featuring a number of young horses seeking to improve on their initial runs, though they will face two more experienced older horses who have yet to win.

At the top of the weights is Sattam for James Owen’s new Kuwati owner, Mohammed Sultan Alajmi. The six-year-old made a very promising start, finishing runner-up on his debut before a creditable fourth in the UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby, however his career has stalled after an injury, and he had not made the frame until his latest outing at Chepstow when finishing second. Owen is also represented by Al Mahbooba, carrying the silks of his Racing Club. She has been kept off the top spot by a number of promising young horses and may do again, though she has finished ahead of her nearest rival on ratings, Lujain, when they recently met at Wolverhampton over two furlongs further.

Lujain is one of two three-year-old fillies in the race, along with Owen’s first ever homebred, Mayfair, who runs in his wife, Jenny’s colours. Lujain finished ahead of Mayfair as well as Zikada Zayin and Sattam when they met over course and distance earlier in the year and reportedly didn’t enjoy the Tapeta surface when she was third at Wolverhampton. Returning to turf should help and John Elliott’s filly continues to be partnered by young apprentice Molly Presland, though her riders’ claim has been reduced to five pounds since she last rode her.

Speaking after Tijaary’s win at Brighton on Friday Owen said: “I think Al Mahbooba has run great on her last two runs, I was a little disappointed at Newbury, we didn’t make enough use of her there in a slowly run race, which probably caught her out but she’s a real trier even though she keeps finishing second. Something with a bit of class will always beat her. Mayfair’s strengthened up for a break so she could run into a place and we’ve Sattam who’s returning to novice company having been placed in a handicap.”

Also lining up will be two more British home breds in Al-Hatab and Zikada Zayin. Al-Hatab is trained by Pete Hammersley who is owns the four-year-old in partnership with his breeder Julie Kelway. A confirmed entry for this year’s UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby in September, he will again be ridden by stable amateur, Paddy Barlow. Barlow was the steady hand on the reins on the colt’s debut when finishing behind Al Mahbooba and Lujain, and he would be expected to take a step forward after that outing.

Zayin Arabian’s Zikada Zayin is also expected to improve on her debut when she crossed the line behind Lujain and Mayfair, though ahead of Sattam. On pedigree she has a chance as her full brother, Zayin Zyperion, is already twice a winner at this trip. Mitchell Hunt, who also trains thoroughbreds for Zayins’ Paul Simmons, will be hoping that current ARO leading jockey Charlie Price, who was on board for Zikada Zayin’s debut, can help her add to the family scoresheet.

This is the fourth race that the Royal Cavalry are sponsoring with ARO this year as part of their five-race package for the season. This race is named after Al Jalali Fort, built in the harbour of Old Muscat by the Portuguese in the 1600’s. Accessible only via steep flight of steps it has served as a refuge and more recently as Oman’s main prison, however in 1983 it was restored as a private museum of Oman’s cultural heritage, admissible via a permit from the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture. Their sponsorship package concludes with their annual highlight, the Royal Cavalry of Oman International Stakes, a Group 2PA six-furlong sprint worth £20,000 to be held on August 13 at Newbury racecourse, for which entries close on Tuesday 9^th August at 12 noon.

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO commented: “We’re delighted to be back at Royal Windsor with the Royal Cavalry of Oman as it is a racecourse they have a great history with, having sponsored many races here in the past. We look forward to welcoming their representative, Colonel Mohammed Al Hadi, the Royal Cavalry’s Assistant Director General, to watch this competitive race and present the trophies.

“ARO also thanks Royal Windsor racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority for their continued support of our racing.”

Young amateur jockey Rhea Betts gained her first winner in the Wathbastallions.com (0-75) Handicap Stakes over a mile at Brighton today on Tijaary. One of four runners in the race for trainer James Owen, Betts brought the nine-year-old to challenge stablemate Awtaar and Tom Greatrex just over a furlong out, going clear to win by four and a quarter lengths from a staying on Zayin Zyperion and Joey Haynes. Awtaar kept on to be a further length and a quarter behind in third.

Betts, who was overjoyed with her win said: “It’s a bit surreal, it’s over so quickly, it’s only my third ride, the horse gave me such a good spin round. I started working for James in January and I absolutely love it. There’s a really good team at home and everyone’s really supportive. James have given me my childhood dream to win a race, I love the Arabians, it’s brilliant.”

Owen was pleased for his pupil saying: “That was great for Rhea, she’s shown good style, she’s got a good brain and I’m really impressed with her. She’s worked for Owen Burrows and for Shadwell and has been with me for about seven months now. She puts a lot of effort in and she’s grateful for the opportunities, she’s getting there. It’s nice that we’ve got these types of horses that we can gives her rides, and we can utilise her claim now on some of the others as the season goes on.

“Tijaary had a little injury last year and we’ve nursed him back, he’s dropped to his lowest handicap mark, but there were a few others in the race in a similar position. I’m a little bit disappointed with Awtaar, she looked quite fresh in the race and it was quite a fast run affair and I think that was what got her beat in the end. She’s still a maiden, but she’s still run well and the second horse had won last time.

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival, said: “We’re delighted that the Sheikh Mansoor Festival has been part of Brighton’s Star Sports Festival and was the concluding race of their Festival Finale today. We congratulate Rhea on riding her first ever winner and all the connections of Tijaary”

Charles Gregson ARO Chairman commented: “ARO is thrilled to be able to give these opportunities to young riders like Rhea and we hope that she can progress from this win today and well done to James and his team for supporting her.

We’re most grateful for the generous sponsorship of the Sheikh Mansoor Festival which allows us to put on races of this nature that support the sports grassroots. In addition, we wish them well for the first running of their Group 1PA Liwa International Stakes at La Teste on Monday.

“We also thank the British Horseracing Authority and all the staff at Brighton racecourse as well as Racing Welfare’s Jane Howick, Southern Regional Community Executive and Katy Ferguson, South East Welfare Office who presented the Best Turned Out Award to Beverly Deutrom for Storm Troupour.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) welcomed the exciting entries for this year’s UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby (Group1PA) to be run at Doncaster on Cazoo St Leger Day on Saturday 10^th September. The £80,000 race over 2000m is exclusively for four-year-olds and is the last chance for all sexes of that age group to meet at Group 1PA level in Europe.

The top-rated entry comes from France in Izadi Star, trained by Elizabeth Bernard for the UAE based owner-trainer Helal Alalawi. Alawi will be hoping his colt can go one better than his Jugurtha De Monlau who was second in 2020. By Azadi, sire of the 2017 winner, Nafees, Izadi Star won Rounds 2 and 3 of the Arabian Triple Crown for Alalawi at Abu Dhabi in March, both Group3PA contests. The colt then came to within a head of winning the Group 1PA Qatar Derby at Chantilly on his European reappearance for Bernard in June.

One of two entries from Pau based Francois Rohaut is Moshrif. Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari purchased the progressive colt as part of the Shadwell Arabians dispersal at Arqana last year for €185,000, heading the Horses-in-Training segment. The following day he impressed when winning France’s premier race for juvenile colts, the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (Gr1PA) at Saint-Cloud and then went on to Doha to win the Qatar Derby (Gr3PA) for three-year-olds and the Qatar Silver Sword at this year’s HH The Amir Sword Festival. A Dahess half-brother to the seven times Group 1PA winner and sire Muraaqib, who Rohaut also trained, he could be joined by another young Qatari-owned runner in Ch’ezza.  Running 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 comes from the famous Haras de Mandore black-type family of Cherifa.

From the same female line is Zenhaf, trained by Štepánka Myšková. Another AF Albahar son, he is already a series winner having broken the track record for this distance at Warsaw by nearly two seconds when winning the UAE President Cup – Central European Derby. Owned by Rafal Platek’s WOW! Stable, for whom he was a bargain Arqana purchase at €6,000, he would be the first Polish owned and the first Czech Republic trained runner in the UK’s premier event for four-year-olds.

Mont-de-Marsan based Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte won with Hattal in 2020 and this year could be represented by Eldabar and Izimir De Carrere. Edalbar was a winner of the Group 3PA Sheikh Mansoor – Prix Dormane in April, a race which has proved a significant marker for future top-level success, including at Doncaster, with both Nafees and Abbes (2021) doing the double. Though disappointing in the French Derby at Chantilly, he has since bounced back to form winning the Prix Burkeguy (LRPA) against older horses. He races in the famous colours of the family of Jules Oukai, best known in thoroughbred circles as the owner of Prix du Jockey Club winner Bikala and more recently as the co-breeder of Exotic Dancer and Chichicastenango.

Third at Chantilly was Izimir De Carrere, a brother to Hadi De Carrere, winner of the world’s most valuable Arabian race, the Obaiya Arabian Classic at the Saudi Cup meeting this year. Proven over the Derby trip when winning at Pau in December, he was fifth in the Dormane behind Edalbar, and looks to be a colt on the upgrade for his new owner Sinan Khalaf Sinan Al Harti.

Charles Gourdain is the most successful French trainer in this race since its association with Doncaster began, winning with Nafees and Rodess Du Loup (2018) and now has Al Faisal as a possible challenger. A three-time winner in Poland last year for his breeder HH Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani, since arriving in Pau with Gourdain, he has won over almost a mile and quarter at La Teste. He is another horse looking to put a below par run in the French equivalent behind him.

Representing Al Shaqab Racing could be their homebred colts Aajel and Al Tammtam sired by their TM Fred Texas, who recently retired from public duties. TM Fred Texas also supplied the colts’ trainer Thomas Fourcy with his first winner of this race last year in Abbes. Al Tammtam won over 11 furlongs in April and whilst Aajel is still a maiden, he has been campaigned exclusively in Group company since his debut second in July last year, most recently finishing fifth at Chantilly, with Al Tammtam behind.

In what looks likely to be the UK’s strongest challenge for several years comes the Athbah Racing homebred pair of Ekleel Athbah and Rebal Athbah. Though neither have been tested in Group company yet, Ekleel Athbah looked a filly of some potential when readily accounting for her stablemate and dual PA Group winner Bayan Athbah at Newbury. She was just a fraction of a second outside of Bayan Athbah’s (hand-timed) track record, but still faster than the previous record set by Nashwan Al Khaleidah in 2010. Rebal Athbah caught the eye when a comfortable course and distance winner last month and is unbeaten in his three starts to date. They are 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.

Collington has also entered his homebred filly Hattie Sparks who is yet to see a racecourse. However, he trained her brother Izenterisky to win on his debut and also achieved a third place in this race with the unraced Loolwa in 2020. Another homebred representing the UK is the Peter Hammerlsey trained maiden, the once raced Al-Hatab. His would be a fairytale victory, with his breeder Julie Kelway (who races him in partnership with Hammersley) choosing his sire Tabarak after watching the horse win another Group 1PA decisively at the Doncaster St Leger meeting in 2013.

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.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said: “We are delighted with the quality of the entries for this race at time when there is a lack of four-year-old Arabians across Europe, not just in the UK. Whilst we expect to see proven Group winners like Izadi Star, Moshrif and our own highest rated horse, Ekleel Athbah entered, we are absolutely thrilled to attract a horse like Zenhaf. His entry shows the positive effect the UAE President Cup series is having on Arabian racing, and we very much hope he will be here in September to defend his good record in the series.”

She continued: “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.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) welcomed a competitive field for the Wathbastallions.com (0-75) Handicap Stakes over a mile at Brighton on Friday 5^th August. This is the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival’s second visit to the popular seaside venue this year, which takes places on the third day of Brighton’s Star Sports Festival of Racing as part of their Festival Finale.

The race looks a fascinating contest with the veteran Storm Troupour bringing a bit of black-type class to the party. A winner of the Wathba Stud Farm Sprint Cup, a Group 3PA over six furlongs in Sweden, Beverley Deutrom’s well-travelled charge has also won in Belgium, the UAE and the UK, having started out in America. The chestnut stallion has also been Group 1PA placed in his younger years and will be partnered by former ARO top novice amateur, now professional, Charlie Price. Price got a feel for the horse on his recent return to racing at Newbury last month and will be hoping the horse’s drop in ratings will see him back in the winner’s enclosure at a lower level.

James Owen will have similar thoughts regarding Tijaary and Jaahez, who are also racing off career low marks. Both have shown good form on fast ground, whilst Tijaary has also won at this distance. Jaahez is partnered by stable regular Rhiain Ingram who gained her first Arabian win for the yard in another Wathba Stallions sponsored race at Southwell recently. Whilst stable amateur Rhea Betts has made the frame twice with Jaahez this term, she now switches to Tijaary. Both run in the colours of Owen’s wife Jenny, however he also fields Conquer, a homebred of his parents, who will be partnered by young apprentice, Lorenzo Atzori, who is attached to thoroughbred trainer Stuart Williams.

Completing the Owen trained line-up is the potential improver, Awtaar. The five-year-old daughter of leading Wathba sire Mahabb, has twice been beaten by less than a length over this trip, including when partnered by Tom Greatrex last year and he’s back in the saddle on Friday. Awtaar was fifth in the 2021 UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby for Arabian racing newcomers, the Blackrock Racing Syndicate and now represents Owen’s Racing Club, they will be hoping she can get the Club off the mark for 2022.

Certainly not to be overlooked is recent winner Zayin Zyperion who opened his account for the season last month at Chepstow, also in a Wathba Stallions supported race. The seven-year-old Zayin Arabian homebred has twice been ridden to victory at this distance by Joey Haynes, who renews the association again at Brighton.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “ARO is most grateful for the continued sponsorship by the Sheikh Mansoor Festival as this is the sixth race they have generously supported with us this season.

“We also thank the British Horseracing Authority and all the staff at Brighton racecourse as well as Racing Welfare who will be sponsoring the Best Turned Out Award on Friday.”

Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Lady Princess scored back-to-back wins in the Group 1PA Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood, partnered by Jim Crowley, becoming only the second horse to do so. This year the diminutive mare had to come between horses and was chased all the way to the line by Hattal and Ioritz Mendizabal, however Thomas Fourcy’s charge would not be denied, winning by a neck, with Samlla and Maxime Guyon, unable to reel the favourite in finishing a further one and a quarter lengths behind in third.

The £400,000 race had featured four individual Group 1 PA winners of an impressive 16 top-level races and overall, they have won 53 races between them. This was an eighth Group 1PA win for the Lady Princess and her third under Crowley who said: “Lady Princess is everything you’d want in an Arabian racehorse. She wins over all trips, she’s got speed, she’s got a great mind. She’s a real pleasure to ride.

“We went very slow in the race which wasn’t ideal, but I thought she had a very easy race today, compared to Doha where she had to work for it, arguable her best trip is ten furlongs. Wherever she goes next, I’ll be there.”

Fourcy who was recording his third win in the race after Al Mourtajez in 2016, commented: “Lady Princess is a champion. It was difficult for her to get pass Samlla and Hattal, but once free it was no problem for her. She is a little filly and she can get through a small gap!

“Her next race will be the World Cup at Longchamp, then Abu Dhabi, then Qatar, the same as last year, possibly Dubai, Inshallah.”

HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani presented the trophies to the winning connections and Abdulla Ahmed Al Marri who received on behalf of Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari.

Adam Waterworth, Goodwood’s Events Managing Director said: “The race had everything you’d want, it looked competitive beforehand, and we would always want to see previous winners, come back and run well, and win again. With Jim Crowley being relatively local to Goodwood, when he rides a winner, it’s always going to be popular with our crowd, there’d be about 16,000 here today which is about the same as we had in 2019.”

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: “That was another fantastic finish for our most valuable race, and the most valuable race for Arabians over a mile in Europe. We congratulate Lady Princess and her connections, some of whom were able to enjoy the race in person this year.

“ARO is extremely grateful 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 Liz Sian who won the £250 Best Turned Out Award for Abiyah Athbah.

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

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was thrilled with the declarations for the Qatar International Stakes, a Group 1PA to be run over a mile as part of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Wednesday 27^th July. 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. The race has seen many of the best Arabians in the world compete and last year’s winner Lady Princess, meets First Classs, currently the world’s highest rated mare and gelding, along with Samlla, Europe’s highest rated four-year-old.

Of the 11 declared, there are four individual Group 1 PA winners of an impressive 16 top-level races. Two are Group 2PA winners, whilst four have been PA Group placed and overall, they have won 53 races between them. The prize fund for the Qatar International Stakes is £400,000, with £226,840 to the winner. There will also be a prize of £250 awarded to the groom of the Best Turned Out horse.

Since Lady Princess’s win, she has been a close second in the Qatar Arabian World Cup in Paris, won the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan Jewel Crown in Abu Dhabi and the HH The Amir Sword in Qatar. Trained by Thomas Fourcy for Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari, the diminutive mare has now won seven Group 1PA races and has not finished out of the first three in her 15 starts, virtually all at the highest level.

Of her preparation Fourcy commented: “Lady Princess is in very good form in the mornings. Her return to European racing was easy, winning well for Christophe Soumillon. On Wednesday, her jockey will be Jim Crowley who also knows her well, having ridden her to win the Jewel Crown and Amir Sword.

“We are looking forward to visiting Goodwood again, where she was brilliant last year. She will meet new horses like Hattal, Samlla and First Classs who has shown a lot of ability.”

The American bred First Classs makes his European debut for young French trainer, Jean de Mieulle, having been in the care of his uncle Alban de Mieulle, whilst in Qatar. The five-year-old son of Dahess progressed throughout the winter in the Gulf, winning the Qatar Derby for four-year-olds in December, then Saudi Arabia’s first $1million dollar Turf race for Arabians, the Al Mneefah Cup. In Dubai he gained his first Group 1PA success in their premier race, the Kahayla Classic at the Dubai World Cup in March. Leased by HE Sharida Al Kaabi from his breeders Cre Run Farm, First Classs appears equally effective on turf or dirt from six furlongs to ten and a half furlongs. He will have his regular partner, Ronan Thomas on board, who gained a second leading jockey title in Qatar this season.

Of his new charge de Mieulle commented: “First Classs arrived in my stable at the end of May. From day one he has been very well, he’s a great horse, easy to train, always happy, with beautiful conformation. We have worked him twice on the grass to get him fit for his first race in Europe.

“He is in wonderful condition, let’s hope it will be a great race for him, even though we know that the mile is not his best distance, but Goodwood is a very special racetrack with an uphill finish. We are coming to the UK with confidence, even though it is a very strong field with the best Arabians, let’s hope he runs well, all the lights are green, so fingers crossed.”

Since the entries were published Samlla has cemented his place at the top of the four-year-old tree by winning the Qatar Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes at Chantilly in the colours of his breeder’s daughter, HE Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani. The colt’s other top-level wins were the 2021 Al Rayyan Cup (Prix Kesberoy) at Deauville and Doha’s Qatar International Cup over this distance as part of the HH The Amir Sword Festival in February. Third in that race was Djafar, also proven at this trip when winning the Qatar Purebred Arabian Guineas. Providing he showed enough ability, this race has always been a target according to his owner, Abdullah bin Fahad Al Attiyah. He joins Francois Rohaut’s team from Gassim Ghazali in Qatar and will be ridden by Tom Marquand.

Pau based Rohaut, who trained Muraaqib to win this race in 2017, commented: “Samlla travelled to Deauville a week before the race. His preparation in Pau went well. He’s in great shape and the mile of Goodwood should suit him.”

A win for Samlla would be the first success in this race for a four-year-old, though both Prada T and future dual winner Ebraz were placed at that age. He will be one of four French Derby winners to contest the race, but all have been older and only Sir Bani Yas was successful. Trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, Hattal, won the French Derby in record time at Chantilly in 2020, since then he has been carefully campaigned and is on an eight-race winning streak, which includes three UAE President Cups, one of which was the UK Arabian Derby at Doncaster.

Thierry Delègue, European racing manager for the horse’s owner-breeders YAS Horse Racing Management commented: “Hattal is an exceptional horse whose wins include five Group 1PA’s and two Group 2PA’s.

He has a dream pedigree, 100% from Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed al Nahyan’s breeding by his leading sire Mahabb out of Mizzna, herself winner of six Group 1PA races including the Kahayla Classic. She is already the dam of two multiple Group 1PA winners in Ziyadd and Rabbah De Carrere.

“This will be Hattal’s first time running over a mile and against such opponents, but we can’t wait to see him on the track as he shows very high base speed and looks in sparkling form!”

Also entered from France and making his European debut for a new trainer is Mwarid, owned and bred by Al Shaqab Racing who first won this race in 2016 with Al Mourtajez. Another formerly trained by Alban de Mieulle in Qatar, the six-year-old also has a fantastic pedigree being by world champion sire Amer out of their first Group 1PA winner Al Nachmiya. His two black-type wins this winter include the HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy over 11 furlongs beating Abbes and Ebraz, though Abbes reversed that form by a head in the Qatar Gold Sword in April.

Now trained by Eric Lemartinel who enjoyed a fine debut season in Qatar, finishing tenth in their trainer’s championship, he said: “Mwarid joined me in Qatar in mid-May from Alban and arrived in France on June 3, his preparation has gone well. The mile is a bit short for him, but at Goodwood you need to stay well, so it will be ok. He’s a nice horse.”

The domestic challenge features the UK’s highest rated mare Bayan Athbah and highest rated gelding Al Kaaser.

Bayan Athbah won two PA Group races over six furlongs and a mile last year. Trained by Phil Collington for her breeders Athbah Racing, she will be partnered by Jean-Bernard Eyquem. Collington commented: “She’s come out of her Newbury race very well, she hadn’t had a run since January and I’m sure she’ll be sharper for Goodwood after that. We’ll try her in a visor now and I think the track and trip at Goodwood will suit her. The ground at Haydock was really quick last year and though she won, I think it was her class that got her there, so if we did get any showers, that would be ideal.”

Five-time leading ARO trainer James Owen has two runners headed by his Racing Club’s Al Kaaser who was sixth last year, along with maiden winner Balqees. She is making her pattern race debut for Gary Allsopp, a newcomer to Arabian racing and renews her winning partnership with 2021 ARO leading jockey, Hollie Doyle. Of their chances he said: “Al Kaaser ran well last season and got a bit of prize money, giving the Club members a great day which I’m sure he’ll do again, but the race looks tough.

“Balqees has given Gary and Andree Allsopp their first success in Arabian racing this season and I’m sure she’ll put up a good showing here and run with credit.”

Leicestershire based handler Peter Hammersley also has two chances, Zayin Arabian’s Zayin Angkor Centurion and Dilmun Racing’s Abiyah Athbah, both of whom have been black-type placed over this trip in the past.

Hammersley said: “Zayin Angkor Centurion missed last year, so we were very pleased with the way he ran on his return at Newbury over six furlongs, and though he blew up, he seems to have retained all his enthusiasm. He’ll be much sharper for that, and the mile will suit him better.

“Abiyah Athbah was very unlucky in her first run at Doncaster, however her latest run at Newbury was excellent, so she’ll go to Goodwood in great heart. Hopefully we won’t get too much rain between now and then as she loves fast ground and then we’d be hoping for a run similar to two years ago when she was just touched off for fourth place. If we can go there and pick up some prize money that would be brilliant, but it’s a strong field.”

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, once again, attracting some of the world’s top Arabians and promising to be a fabulous addition to the Qatar Goodwood Festival. I’m sure fans of all forms of racing will be 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: “Yet again the Qatar International Stakes brings some of the world’s best Arabian racehorses to the Sussex Downs for another highly competitive renewal. We are so privileged to be able to showcase this level of Arabian racing to a wider audience.

“ARO is extremely grateful 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.”

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 with our overseas runners.”

There were smiles all round for Mrs Skepper and her daughter Jane Marson when their homebred stallion Heritage Vadel stayed on well to win the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap Stakes at Southwell today. The seven-year-old kept the consistent Aljawaaher at bay, with his brother, Heritage Valentino a further three lengths behind in third to give them a memorable success.

After the race a delighted Marson commented: “It’s fantastic to come and win a race like this with Heritage Vadel and to be third with his younger brother too, we’re chuffed to bits.”

The pair were trained by James Owen, his representative Alex Chadwick said: “It’s a massive improvement, the blinkers definitely helped today, and I think getting a good lead into the race and kicking for home off the bend has paid dividends. We’re delighted for the owners, they’ve been very patient.”

Heritage Vadel was ridden by Newmarket based apprentice Rhiain Ingram who was recording her first win on Arabian having been called up on a regular basis by Owen this year. Of Heritage Vadel’s performance she said:

“He travelled well for me the whole way round, he’s a little bit one paced and the way the race panned out it meant I could just keep kicking and he’s ground it out all the way to the line. It’s nice to ride a winner for James, he’s been really supportive of me since the season started.”

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival, said: “We’re delighted to bring the Sheikh Mansoor Festival to another UK racecourse and support the country’s grassroots participants through the Wathba Stallions Cup series. Well done to Heritage Vadel and all the connections.”

Mark Clayton, Executive Director of Southwell racecourse was thrilled to welcome Arabians to Southwell saying: “We’ve been waiting to get ARO and the Arabians here for some time. The opportunity to hold the race came via the loss of the Bath fixture, but we’ve grabbed it with both hands, and I hope Arabians will be back again in the future. Now we have the Tapeta surface installed we’d like this to be an annual event.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “ARO warmly congratulates Mrs Skepper and Jane Marson as well as Rhiain and the James Owen team, for not only winning with Heritage Vadel, but also with Heritage Valentino placing third as well. They are exactly the type of small owner-breeders that the Wathba Stallions Cup series aims to support.

“ARO is most grateful for the continued sponsorship by the Sheikh Mansoor Festival and we also thank the British Horseracing Authority, ARC and all the staff at Southwell racecourse for their assistance in rescheduling this race.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was delighted that all nine entries have declared for the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap Stakes, to be run over a mile and a half on Wednesday 20^th July. The £4,000 race had originally been scheduled to take place at Bath, but was moved to Southwell’s All Weather course due to concerns over the drying ground during the UK’s heatwave. The Wathba Stallions race series supports the grassroots of the sport and with almost half the field partnered by Amateur jockeys, riding for owner-trainers, it is a great example of the series aims.

Making his handicap debut at the top of the weights is the four-year-old Alghazaal. Partnered by former ARO leading novice jockey Charlie Price, he comes from the stable of current leading ARO trainer Phil Collington. Price who has since turned professional riding mainly over jumps, is still having a great season with Arabians and heads the ARO leading jockeys’ table. He will carry the colours of Phil’s daughter Sophie, who has caught the Arabian racing bug from her parents. At the other end of the age spectrum is Steve Blackwell’s Aljawaaher. The 13-year-old has been in vintage form this season under a new partnership with young amateur Lewis Saunders making the frame in all his starts over a range of distances.

Both those geldings, as well as the Connally’s mare, Labwah were bred by Shadwell Arabians, whose influence is still being felt despite their departure from the sport. Labwah has been a slow developer, but a try at this stamina test for the first time could see her and her amateur partner Kelly Bostock get more involved. Also from the amateur ranks is Kaitlen Robinson who rides her parents Mulan. The pair have been successful twice before in a lower grade and though Covid brought a halt to their progress, Robinson’s allowance could help, as the mare’s stamina is proven.

Another young amateur to embrace Arabian racing is 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 maintains his ongoing partnership with Belle Angelique. Also trained by Hammersley is Bin Al Reeh, already a Wathba Stallions Cup winner last season, the eight-year-old has made the frame twice this year over shorter and will be partnered by Jack Deurn.

Five-time ARO leading trainer James Owen field the brothers Heritage Vadel and Heritage Valentino for their owner and part-breeder Mrs Skepper. Hertiage Vadel will have Owen regular Rhiain Ingram on board, whilst Heritage Valentino will be partnered by Mark Crehan who had had a win and two places from three rides for Owen to date. Both are dropping down in grade in the UK and have first-time headgear on. Completing the line-up at the bottom of the handicap is Gerko De Tenelle for Darren Plumb and ridden by George Rooke. He was last seen when finishing fourth behind a stablemate in another Wathba Stallions Cup at Bath earlier last month.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “ARO is delighted that all the entries stood their ground despite a last-minute change of venue for this race and we look forward to an exciting. 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 ARC, Bath racecourse, Southwell racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority for acting in horseracing’s best interests by moving the meeting and accommodating our race within the rescheduled fixture during this extreme weather.