Sassy and Oliver Carmichael winning the www.aroracing.co.uk (0-55) Handicap at Brighton © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

Further Brighton homebred success for Blackwell

 

Tuesday 17 September 2024 –

Sassy gave owner-trainer-breeder Steve Blackwell further homebred success this afternoon in the  www.aroracing.co.uk (0-55) Handicap over an extended six furlongs at Brighton. The six-year-old daughter of Assy has struck up a great partnership with young apprentice Oliver Carmichael, winning by a short head from Kayack and George Rooke, with Delicatesse and Miss Teagan Padgett two lengths behind in third.

Brighton has proved a lucky track for all of the connections as Blackwell rode his first winner there as an apprentice, trained his first homebred winner there in Aloof, and has now scored again with her half-sister Sassy. Carmichael, who has only had 16 thoroughbred rides and now two Arabian rides, has also only won at Brighton, previously scoring twice on thoroughbreds.

Carmichael has not had a traditional grounding in horse racing, starting off on his mother Kerri’s horse aged 9, his first experience of racing was on an equiciser at Newbury, his local track. Given advice that day by ex-jockey Nick Bentley, he then started riding out at the yard of Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer Mark Bradstock. Deciding the Flat was the better option due to his size and weight, he visited Eve Johnson Houghton’s yard during National Racehorse week and has since joined her as an apprentice.

 

 

Quotes:

Oliver Carmichael, jockey,1^st: “I’ve had three winners here now! Sassy’s really learnt a lot from her last run at Chepstow, I hit the front a bit sooner than I would have liked, but she’s handled it really well, she kept her head in front and kept battling on.”

Steve Blackwell, trainer 1^st, 4^th, ^t: “I thought we were beaten. Every time I’ve been here, I’ve either ridden a winner or trained a winner. We had a meeting abandoned and I swore I’d never come again, but here we are with another winner. I thought Olly rode her well at Chepstow and he’s ridden her well this time. He’s let her get on with it and brought her to challenge at the right time.”

George Rooke, jockey, 2^nd: “ He’s ran an absolute blinder, I just got him in to a nice rhythm. We went an even gallop and he’s seen the hill out well. He’s enjoyed the ground, he’ll get further too.”

 

Steve Blackell, Kerri Carmichael, Oliver Carmichael, Sassy and Rachel Thomas after winning the www.aroracing.co.uk (0-55) Handicap at Brighton © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

The race was the concluding contest on the card run to support Autism in Racing, whose representative and Doncaster paddock commentator Bobby Beevers explained, “When my daughter was diagnosed with autism during the first lockdown, my wife said she’d love to make everything more accessible for people with autism across the board, and that’s when I though racing could really step up to the mark. 

“Since it’s launch on Racing League Night at Doncaster in August 2021 we’ve gone from strength to strength, with more racecourse signed up and more people with autism working within the sport, which is what I hoped to increase. There’s only 29% of autistic people in some kind of work, so we’re continuing to raise awareness and have held some very successful workshops, with more planned moving forward.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are delighted for Steve and his partner Rachael Thomas for their win with Sassy. She was the product of Al Shahania Stud’s generous worldwide offer of free nominations to their leading racehorse Assy and is one of several horses from that crop to race with us this year. We are also pleased for Oliver, who is a great example of how initiatives like racing taster days and National Racehorse week can encourage people from outside of the sport to get involved.

“We now have a short break before our next race at Royal Windsor on Monday 30^th September.”

 

Kerri Carmichael, Oliver Carmichael and Steve Blackwell with the trophy for the www.aroracing.co.uk (0-55) Handicap at Brighton © Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

 

1st: SASSY (GB)

2nd: Kayack (GB)

3rd: Delicatesse (GB)

6 ran

Distances: short head, 2 Time: 1.30.53

Going: Good

 

© racetech

 

Zizania Du Mazet (GB) and Silvestre de Sousa winning the ARO Series Finale (0-75) Handicap at Doncaster © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

First win for new syndicate owners in concluding race of the 2024 Doncaster St Leger Festival

 

Sunday 15 September 2024 –

There was a first Arabian win for Okewood Bloodstock this afternoon in the Arabian Racing Organisation Series Finale (0-75) Handicap over a mile a quarter at Doncaster. The second most valuable handicap of the season, with a prize fund of £10,000 went the way of French import Zizania Du Mazet, ridden by Silvestre de Sousa despite missing the break.

Entering the home straight they were all closly bunched with Paramer Angel and Charlie Price setting the pace on the rail. It looked as though Victoria and Miss Teagan Padgett would go clear for a third win this season, but Paramer Angel rallied as they were challenged by Al-Hatab and Mohammed Tabti who had been stuck in a pocket on the rail. However Al-Hatab hesitated in front, as Zizania Du Mazet and de Sousa were staying on strongly up their outside down the centre of the course. De Sousa just got the filly up by half a length on the line from Paramer Angel in second and Al-Hatab a further length away in third.

This was also a first European winner for the sire Rijm, who had been third, beaten a length over course and distance in the UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby in 2018. All being well this could be the target next year for the three-year-old Zizania Du Mazet.

 

 

Quotes:

Silvestre de Sousa, jockey,1^st: “James wanted me to be positive, I wanted to give her a chance to finish, she looked a bit green. When the penny dropped a furlong out, she stayed on strongly. It’s tough out there the conditions of the track now, being the last race, and it’s very wet and deep, made me struggle a little bit. I expected them to go hard, so I went a bit sooner than ideal and thought maybe I would get a place.  

“The trip is fine, she struggled a bit on the ground, but good to soft would be fine.”

Delyth Thomas, owner, trainer, 2^nd: “He’s a legend. To give that much weight to a young horse. He always sticks his head out and tries his best. I’m so proud of him.”

Peter Hammersley, trainer, 3^rd, 4^th: “Mohammed [Tabti] said when they hit the front, he thought Al-Hatab would go away from them like he did last year, but he put the brakes on, then when they came to him he went again. Maybe we’ll think about headgear next time.”

“Lewis [Saunders] thinks better ground and a true run race will suit Assassen better.

 

Silvestre de Sousa with Zizania Du Mazet (FR) after winning the ARO Series Finale (0-75) Handicap at Doncaster © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are delighted for new syndicate owners, Okewood Blooodstock having their first winner with an Arabian, having previously owned thoroughbreds. We congratulate them, Silvestre de Sousa and all the Owen team for their win today. We also congratulate Rebecca Brady who won the Racing Welfare Best Turned Out Award with Paramer Angel. 

“We now head to Brighton on Tuesday for the www.aroracng.co.uk handicap, run as the concluding race of their first Autism-Friendly raceday.”

 

Silvestre de Sousa receives the trophy on behalf of Okewood Bloodstock from ARO CEO Genny Haynes for win in the ARO Series Finale Handicap (0-75) Handicap at Doncaster

© Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

 

1st: ZIZANIA DU MAZET (FR)

2nd: Paramer Angel (GB)

3rd: Al-Hatab (GB)

5 ran

Distances: 0.5, 1 Time: 2.27.35

Going: Soft

Racing Welfare Best Turned Out winner Paramer Angel © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

 

 

Coljani and Paddy Bradley winning the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

Thrilling battle between British homebreds at Chepstow

 

Tuesday 3 September 2024 –

Coljani added a second win to his career this afternoon in the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Chepstow over 1m2f. This was hot on the heels of his previous success in another HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival sponsored race at Lingfield last month. Racing in front of an even bigger crowd of his supporters at the West Wales track, Coljani has struck up a great partnership with jockey Paddy Bradley to give his owners, the Raffles Partnership, their first back-to-back wins in their time as owners.

They were given a strong challenge from local runner Sassy, owned, bred and trained by Steve Blackwell and partnered by Oliver Carmichael on only his 17th ride, and his first on an Arabian. It took a photo to separate them at the line, whilst winning trainer Peter Hammersley was also responsible for the third placed Belle Angelique ridden by Mia Nicholls.

 

 

Quotes:

Paddy Bradley, jockey,1^st: “Coljani likes to get on with it, but he’s a dour stayer and I thought I’d done plenty early. He was carrying top weight, and I just wanted to hold on to him a little bit at the bottom of the straight – I was blaming myself at the furlong pole thinking I’d not gone quick enough. 

“All he does is stay and in fairness to him the last 20 yards he pulled out all the stops because he was beaten, he stuck his head down and got back up on the line. Peter’s a great guy, Coljani’s a quirky horse and he’s done great job with him and I’m sure he’ll be winning again.”

Pete Hammersley, trainer,1^st, 3^rd: “Coljani has battled on well hasn’t he, I thought at one stage Belle Angelique was going to give him a race, but we’re pleased she got into the frame. Paddy’s given Coljani a great ride, I think he rode a perfect race.”

Trevor Banks, owner, breeder, 1^st: “We’re delighted to get a second win in a row with Coljani and we’re so grateful to Paddy, Pete and all the team at home for this success.”

Oliver Carmichael, jockey, 2^nd: “Sassy nearly had her nose in front. She’s picked up really nicely on the bend there and she’s just ran on well bless her, Steve [Blackwell] says it’s the best race she’s run yet.”

 

Peter Hammersley, Coljani, Paddy Bradley, Trevor Banks and Micheal Flack, winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival commented, “We’re thrilled for all the team behind Coljani, who have brought him here to Chepstow to win a second Wathba Stallions Cup and hope that he can progress again to highlight the importance of these races to locally bred horses. The Festival supports 150 races globally with the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan Jewel Crown as the highlight in Abu Dhabi in December.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are delighted for everyone involved in the Raffles Partnership, along with Paddy, Pete and his staff. It’s also pleasing that the two horses involved in the photo finish were British breds retained by their owners to race in the UK which is exactly in the spirit of the Wathba Stallions Cup series, that we’re so grateful to the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival for supporting.

“We also congratulate Steve Blackwell who won the Best Turned Out Award with Sassy and we look forward to our next race at Doncaster on Sunday 15 September, run as part of the Doncaster St Leger Festival.”

 

Trevor Banks, Paddy Bradley, Peter Hammersley and Micheal Flack, winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Chepstow with Coljani © Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

 

1st: COLJANI

2nd: Sassy

3rd: Belle Angelique

6 ran – NR 7

Distances: Nose, 1.5

Time: 2.19.76

Going: Good

 

Winds Of Fortune winning the ARO (0-95) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

First UK winner for Deborah Mihaloff and her Cre Run Farm

 

Monday 2 September 2024 –

It was an historic first UK win for US based Deborah Mihaloff this afternoon in the Arabian Racing Organisation (0-95) Handicap over a mile at Chepstow. Her six-year-old homebred, Winds Of Fortune, ridden by Pat Dobbs and trained by James Owen came home over two lengths ahead of Paramer Angel and Keiran O’Neill, with Upstart Crow and Miss Teagan Padgett in third.

Though slowly away, Dobbs had steadily brought the son of Al Mamun Monlau down the centre of the course to eventually win eased down on rain softened ground, having taking it up from long-time leader Upstart Crow, also trained by Owen, two furlongs out. Paramer Angel, like Upstart Crow, was a former course and distance winner and stayed on gamely to take second, with both Abiyah Athbah and Fareedhat El Izz looking unsuited by the underfoot conditions. Mr and Mrs Kelly’s Assassen also caught the eye trying this much higher grade for the first time to finish fourth.

Winds Of Fortune had spent the winter in the UAE, winning twice in Abu Dhabi for Dobbs when trained by top UAE handler Doug Watson. Mihaloff, a leading owner breeder in the US, has also had global success through the leasing of her homebred multiple million-dollar winner First Classs and is now looking to expand her international interests in her own colours. She brought both Winds Of Fortune and First Classs to the UK this spring to holiday and prepare for a Middle Eastern campaign this winter, when they will return to Watson’s Red Stables in Dubai.

 

 

Quotes:

Pat Dobbs, jockey,1^st: “He missed the break, like at Goodwood, and they went pretty quick, but he picked up nicely the last furlong and a half and won with plenty in hand.  It seems like he’s on the up still, so we’ll get back to Dubai and win a few more!”

Deborah Mihaloff, owner, breeder, 1^st: “It was such an exciting race to watch back here in the States. I want to thank James and Pat, as well as the race sponsors. I also want to thank Rhea Betts who looks after him at home, as well as Timmy Murphy and Megan Andrews, who represented me today, who did such a good job with both my horses in pre-training this summer. I’m so grateful for the fabulous care that has always been given to my horses and it shows in their performance on the track.”

Pete Hammersley, trainer, 4^th, 6^th: “Assassen just hasn’t got the pace to go with these very good horses early on, but he handled the ground fine. He probably just wants a mile and quarter, mile and a half back in his own grade. He’ll go to Doncaster next. The ground was just too soft for Abiyah Athbah to show her best.”

 

Megan Andrews with Winds Of Fortune, Rhea Betts and Pat Dobbs after winning the ARO (0-95) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are thrilled for Deb to gain her first UK winner and delighted that she chose the UK as the best place to summer her horses. We also congratulate Megan Poacher who won the Racing Welfare Best Turned Out Award with Paramer Angel. 

“We now make a quick return to Chepstow racing here tomorrow at 6.05pm with the Wathba Stallions Cup series.” 

 

Megan Andrews receives the trophy from Willie McFarland for Winds Of Fortune’s win in the ARO Handicap (0-95) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

 

1st: WINDS OF FORTUNE (US)

2nd: Paramer Angel (GB)

3rd: Upstart Crow (GB)

6 ran

Distances: 2.25, 1.5 Time: 1.43.01

Going: Good

 

Racing Welfare Best Turned Out winners Paramer Angel and Megan Poacher © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

 

Victoria and Miss Teagan Padgett winning the ARO (0-70) Handicap at Southwell © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

ARO Leading trainer now leads the owner’s table too

 

Sunday 18 August 2024 –

ARO’s five-time leading trainer James Owen could add a new championship title, that of leading owner, to his collection as his Victoria ran out a comfortable winner of the ARO (0-70) Handicap at Southwell today. Fittingly on Southwell’s popular Ladies Day, his four-year-old homebred filly was ridden by stable amateur and current leading ockey Teagan Padgett, who rode a waiting race over the 1m6f test.

The early steady pace was set by another homebred mare, Sheila Collington’s Hattie Sparks. Ridden by Joey Haynes, she was very green in front, finally giving way to Victoria in the home straight, but was coming back at the winner on the line. She had looked useful on her debut, and though disappointing next time, has clearly improved and should come on again for this run. Gavin Kelly’s Assassen, had also made a promising debut over shorter, and though travelling smoothly throughout under Lewis Saunders, failed to respond when asked to challenge.

This was a second win for Owen’s Victoria which now puts him at the head of the ARO owner table and consolidates his leading trainer and breeder positions too. Though Al Asayl Bloodstock’s Marakeb failed to improve for the step up in trip, he is only a juvenile, and should be stronger next season. There was still a positive for the Al Asayl team as Victoria is a daughter of their multiple Group 1Pa winner RB Burn who is drawing clear in the ARO leading sire’s table.

 

 

Quotes:

Lissie Reeves, Arabian Assistant to James Owen, trainer, 1^st: “We’re delighted for Victoria, she’s been so consistent for us all season, she really deserved that. She’s run over a variety of trips for us, but she does stay on and has a little bit of a turn of foot to get her to the finish line. We’ll look at her mark on Tuesday and see where we can go from there, it would be nice to get a few more runs into her this season if we can.”

Peter Hammersley, trainer, 3^rd: “Lewis was happy with him until turning in, but he just didn’t pick up for him as he’d hoped. He doesn’t stay, so we’ll drop him back in trip next time.”

 

Miss Teagan Padgett with Victoria and Lissie Reeves after winning the ARO (0-70) Handicap at Southwell © Debbie Burt – Equine Creatie Media

 

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “ARO congratulates James, Lissie, Teagan and all the team at Green Ridge Stables winning again today with their homebred Victoria. We always get a warm welcome at Southwell and to run in front of such a large summer holiday crowd of over 9,000 can only be a positive for our sport.

“We also congratulate Jodie Hebberson for winning the Baker McVeigh Best Turned Out Award with Marakeb. We now look forward to our next race, which is at Chepstow on Monday 2 September.”

 

Lissie Reevs recives the trophy from Willie McFarland for Victoria’s win in the ARO Handicap (0-70) Handicap at Southwell © Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

 

1st: VICTORIA (GB)

2nd: Hattie Sparks (GB)

3rd: Assassen (GB)

4 ran – Non-runner 5

Distances: 1, 4.75 Time: 3.28.78

Going: Standard

Coljani and Paddy Bradley winning the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield Park © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Deserved homebred success for the Raffles Partnership

 

Monday 5 August 2024 –

It was an emotional win for Coljani’s team at Lingfield this afternoon in the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield, with the five-year-old gelding gaining his first success in front of his owner breeders and with his regular groom Sue Wileman sidelined. Ridden by Paddy Bradley, the pair were soon in front, with recent winner Delicatesse trying to make headway to challenge, however Coljani held on, up the stands rail to win by a length and a quarter. Delicatesse and Miss Teagan Padgett were second, ahead of a staying on Pharitz Alanood and Charlie Price in third.

Coljani had been knocking on the door all season, finishing in the frame on his last three starts, including when second to Delicatesse at the same course last month over a furlong less on the Polytrack.

Quotes:

Pete Hammersley, trainer,1^st: “That’s for Colin [Banks] and for Sue [Wileman]. I thought that on the straight turf track, where he can get into a rhythm and keep going, he’d be fine. On the All Weather, round the tight bends here he loses his impetus. Paddy said he got him into a nice rhythm and was cruisinig al the way, having the rail helped too.”

Paddy Bradley, jockey,1^st: “Coljani was a chance ride that came out of the blue at Bath over a mile and six furlongs where he ran well finishing third and was second last time here and ran well. He had a good pull in the weights with the second and it seemed to make the difference. I think the downhill track and that he’s a real frontrunner, and he did it rather well in the end.”

Trevor Banks, Owner, breeder, 1^st: “That was one for my brother Colin, who sadly passed before he could see him race. We bred Coljani from a mare that Colin had, Our Dream, she got injured and couldn’t race again so we put her in foal to Madjani and we got this boy. We named him for my brother so that’s one for him.”

The Raffles Partnership with Peter Hammersley, Coljani, Paddy Bradley winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield Park congratulated by Lara Sawaya

© Debbie Burt – Equine Creatie Media

 

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival commented, “It’s been a beautiful day at Lingfield Park for this edition of the Wathba Stallions Cup won by Coljani. We congratulate everyone involved with bringing him to the racecourse today, where we celebrate the joining of Emirati and British culture through His Highness Sheikh Mansoor’s generous sponsorship.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are thrilled for the win of Coljani and we congratulate Pete, Trevor and everyone involved with the Raffles partnership on their well-deserved success. We warmly welcome back Lara Sawaya to present the trophies alongside Arena Racing Company’s Managing Director of Racing Mark Spincer and are delighted to host another Wathba Stallions Cup sponsored race in the UK generously supported by HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nhyan Racing Festival. We also congratulate Sarah McLean who won the Baker McVeigh International Best Turned Out Award with Kayack.”

Paddy Bradley, Lara Sawaya, Mark Spincer and Peter Hammersley with the Raffles Partnership, winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield Park with Coljani

© Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

1st: COLJANI

2nd: Delicatesse

3rd: Pharitz Alanood

8 ran –

Distances: 1.25, 4

Time: 1.30.69

Going: Good

Al Ghadeer and Christophe Soumillon winners of the 2024 Qatar International Stakes (Gr1PA) at the Qatar Goodwood Festival ©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Back-to-back wins sets him on the road to an historic second Doha Triple Crown

 

Wednesday 31 July 2024 –

The world’s top-rated Arabian, Al Ghadeer has confirmed once again his champion status with a second win in the Qatar International Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival breaking the record set by his sire Al Mourtajez in 2016. Christophe Soumillon produced a cool ride on the five-year-old’s European return, settling him in mid-division before smoothly taking the lead over a furlong out for an unchallenged win from Al Wakrah, owned, like the winner, by Al Shaqab Racing. They drew well clear of the remainder, with Mohammed bin Fahad Al-Attiyah’s Ska De L’Aigle keeping on for third place from the four-year-olds Afjan and Al Zeer.

This win in the £400,000 one mile contest, the UK’s most valuable Group 1PA race for Arabians, is the first stage in Doha’s Triple Crown series. The next stage is the Qatar Arabian World Cup run on Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe day at ParisLongchamp and culminates in the world’s richest Arabian race, the HH The Amir Sword in Doha in February.

Trained by Francois Rohaut, like Ska De L’Aigle, Afjan and Al Zeer, this the trainer’s third success in the event, which he first won in 2017 with Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Muraaqib. Al Ghadeer now joins an elite band of dual winners of the Qatar International Stakes in Ebraz and Lady Princess.  Having equalled Ebraz’s inaugural Triple Crown win this February, he now looks firmly set on the road to becoming the first horse to win a second Doha Triple Crown.

 

Al Ghadeer and Christophe Soumillon win the Qatar International Stakes (Gr1PA) in a record time of 1.42.85

Quotes:

Christophe Soumillon, jockey 1^st: “I’m so happy to be able to ride such a good horse, it was a great opportunity for me to find him two years ago and since then we are a good fit together and I’m very proud of that. He is the best of the best.”

Francois Rohaut, trainer 1^st, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, : “We know he’s the best horse in the world, he just needed to have a good race to win. He’ll go straight to Paris for the Qatar Arabian World Cup of course and then we’ll see, it’s a long way between Longchamp and Doha [for the HH The Amir Sword] Sheikh Joaan is happy to run in Abu Dhabi, so we’ll try to go in December.

“Ska De L’Aigle is fantastic, he is always gives his best, I was disappointed by the four year olds, but we knew last year that it wasn’t a strong crop, they can’t fight against the older horses.”

Jean de Mieulle, trainer, 2^nd: “ I’m super happy with Al Wakrah. She was not fast enough today, as she was a bit more excitable beforehand, but she got cover and she finished her race brilliantly. She’s twice been second in a Group 1PA now, hopefully she will get her own one day.”

 

 

 

Francois Rohaut, Christophe Soumillon, Al Ghadeer and HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani winners of the 2024 Qatar International Stakes (Gr1PA) at the Qatar Goodwood Festival ©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

The trophies were presented by HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Qatar Ambassador to the UK, HE Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Saoud Al Thani to HH Sheikh Hamad bin Joaan bin Khalifa Al Thani, Rohaut and Soumillon.

Later it was announced that Goodwood Racecourse have renewed their multi-year partnership with Qatar that will commence in 2025. The existing sponsorship with Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club which began in 2015, remains the biggest single sponsorship deal in British Horseracing and has enabled the Qatar Goodwood Festival to become one of the most prestigious meetings in the world. It also marks a transition from the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club to Visit Qatar as the main sponsor of the meeting, which includes the feature race on each day of the world-famous five-day festival. It also preserves the legacy of the Qatar International Stakes (Group 1PA) which is also the most valuable race for Arabians over a mile in Europe.

HE Mr Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chair of Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, said: “Building on the legacy of the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, we are pleased to announce the renewal of a multi-year partnership with Goodwood Racecourse. This milestone reflects our dedication to continue showcasing Qatar’s vibrant culture and distinctive offerings to a global audience. We look forward to the opportunities this partnership will bring, further solidifying Qatar’s positioning in the international sporting world.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are honoured to see a horse of the quality of Al Ghadeer travel to the UK to compete in our most valuable race and to be a part of history in the making, should he go on to complete a second Doha Triple Crown. We warmly congratulate Al Shaqab Racing, Francois Rohaut and his team on Al Ghadeer’s success, as well as Christophe Soumillon, winning his second British top-level race in less than a week. We are also delighted that Al Ghadeer’s breeder, Dr Mohammed Al Nujaifi is having a successful UK season, and is currently our leading owner by winners.

“We also thank Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club for supporting this race for the last ten years and we look forward to Goodwood’s exciting new partnership with Visit Qatar, which has ensured our race’s place in the global Arabian pattern calendar continues.

“We also congratulate Chloe Mignonneau for winning the £500 Best Turned Out Award for Al Wakrah, sponsored by Gain Equine Nutrition.”

 

HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HH Sheikh Hamad bin Joaan bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Francois Rohaut, HE Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Saoud Al Thani and Christophe Soumillon ©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

1st: AL GHADEER (FR)

2nd: Al Wakrah (FR)

3rd: Ska De L’Aigle (FR)

9 ran

Distances: 1, 6,

Time: 1.42.85

Going: Good to Firm