The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival’s UK racing commitment now heads to Brighton on Tuesday May 31^st for the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-55) Handicap Stakes over an extended six furlongs. It is one of eleven races that the Festival is sponsoring with the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) in 2022.

Leicestershire based trainer Peter Hammersley takes two runners, Bin Al Reeh and Belle Angelique. Bin Al Reeh has shown a liking for quick turf, winning a Wathba Stallions sponsored race at Bath last year and comes here in good form having been placed in the opening race of the season. Of his runners’ chances, Hammersley says: “Bin Al Reeh has come out of the Windsor race well and he should be there or thereabouts on Tuesday. Belle Angelique had a few problems last year and probably wasn’t 100 percent in her two runs. She’s a lot fitter now and we’re hoping for a better show at Brighton. Paddy Barlow rode her in both her runs last season and rides her at home, so fingers crossed for them.”

Also with two runners is Steve Blackwell from South Wales, who sends veteran campaigner Aljawaaher, partnered by amateur Lewis Saunders, along with his homebred mare Aloof, ridden by conditional jockey, Charlie Price. Both horses are making their seasonal reappearances. Blackwell commented: “I like to support the young riders and Aljawaaher is perfect for that. Aloof looks the part now and she seems to have grown up mentally, but we won’t know until she gets on the racecourse. Brighton is more her level at this stage, but we can’t be sure how well she’ll cope with the undulations there.”

One horse with experience of the track is James Owen’s Conquer, who was fourth there on his seasonal reappearance in 2019 over further. The ten-year-old has also won twice at Chepstow on quick ground, including over seven furlongs off an identical rating, so has plenty going for him on Tuesday. However, he is returning from a two-year absence and may just need the run. Also making his seasonal debut is the Plumb’s Gerko De Tenelle, he was fourth on his first start of last season behind Bin Al Reeh and he may fare better this year, sporting blinkers for the first time. Top weight is the Connally’s Labwah, an unexposed well-bred mare who faces quick turf for the first time, having finished sixth on her reappearance last week at Wolverhampton.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “We thank the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival for generously increasing their support of our racing for this season, with the Wathba Stallions Cup series being particularly important to our grassroots competitors, at which Tuesday’s contest is aimed.

“We’re looking forward to a competitive race and delighted to see two young amateurs taking rides, both who rode under ARO rules last season, including Paddy Barlow who rode a winner last week in Italy. It’s also good to see Charlie Price keeping in touch with his Arabian roots as he was ARO leading novice jockey in 2016 and leading professional in 2019.”

Concluding she said: “We thank the British Horseracing Authority and Brighton racecourse for their assistance and support of our racing, as well as The Arabian Racehorse magazine, who is providing a travel concession to the seventh placed horse.”

There’s nothing like your first winner in your own colours and Gary Allsopp was delighted to get off the mark in his own name at Wolverhampton today with Balqees. Ridden by Hollie Doyle the pair hung on gamely to win by a neck from Ekleel Athbah, with another Owen trained runner, Al Mahbooba in third.

Allsopp is a recent convert to Arabian racing, having taken advantage of Shadwell Arabians leasing offer last season, when adding Balqees to a number of thoroughbred syndicate options he already has and registered his colours with the Arabian Racing Organisation.

A thrilled Allsopp commented: “My wife and I are absolutely delighted. Just to be here, and then having a winner and picking up a trophy at the end of it. We’re involved in other horses, including Cachet who won the 1000 Guineas a couple of weeks ago, so that was a dream, but this for us is very special. I know things have been difficult with the sport for everybody, but I hope people will look at this and see that there’s some great racing. We’re enjoying being involved.”

Balqees and Hollie Doyle winners of the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes at Wolverhampton ©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Owen said: “I’m pleased for Balqees, she knuckled down at the line and wasn’t stopping. Al Mahbooba ran ok, she’s going to find it easier in handicaps when she steps up in trip. I think Balqees can hold her own in better company, so she might just go to Doncaster next.”

Doyle, last years’ leading ARO jockey commented: “It’s good to ride a winner for owners new to the game. This filly seemed nice today so hopefully they can have some good days out with her. She was very straightforward, she has a nice high cruising speed and when I asked her to quicken she did.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said: “ARO warmly congratulates the Allsopps on their first win with Balqees, it’s really great to have new owners experience the sport in the best possible way.

“We also congratulate Holly Bostock who was awarded the Best Turned out prize by Brendan Waterworth of Racing Welfare for Labwah.”

Concluding she said: “This the first of six races generously sponsored by the Emirates Breeders this season, and we’re delighted to be back at Wolverhampton racecourse who, along with the British Horseracing Authority, we thank for their assistance and support of our racing in 2022.”

Labwah and Holly Bostock winners of the Racing Welfare Best Turned Out Award ©Debbie Burt

Trainer Phil Collington has three runners declared for the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes at Wolverhampton, the second race of the new Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) season. The Newmarket based handler got off to a winning start at Royal Windsor last week and seeks to maintain momentum in the mile contest at the Dunstall Park track on Monday 23^rd May.

He has a strong chance with the four-year-old filly Ekleel Athbah, who came close to shedding the maiden tag in Belgium earlier this year over further and is expected to appreciate the drop in trip. Also in the Athbah Racing colours is the year younger Kafou Athbah, who will be seeing the racecourse for the first time, along with Alghazaal, a four-year-old who runs in the colours of Collington’s wife, Sheila.

Collington commented: “We’ve got some nice maidens at home, Ekleel Athbah will have learnt a lot from her run at Mons, she had a little bit of a break after that and seems in great form now. Kafou Athbah, he’s not over big, but his work’s been very good and he’s all heart. Alghazaal is a half-brother to two fillies I trained in Loolwa and Awtaar, he’s not very big either, but he’s a trier.”

The most experienced runner in the race is Al Mahbooba who had four outings for James Owen last season placing twice in two very competitive maidens having started her career in France where she raced eight times. She makes her seasonal return in the colours of Owen’s Racing Club and could face stiff competition from her stablemates Sattam and Balqees. Sattam was a close second on his debut at this track two years ago and was fourth in the UAE President Cup -UK Arabian Derby, but is returning after a year’s absence and makes his debut for new owner, Mohammad Sultan Alajmi. Like Al Mahbooba, Balqees is one of several ex-Shadwell horses in the race. She was very consistent last year when with Collington and was also a runner-up on her final start at Wolverhampton, when making her debut for Owen in the colours of Gary Allsopp. She has the assistance of last years’ leading ARO jockey, Hollie Doyle in the saddle.

Making up the field is another Shadwell bred mare, Labwah, who made her first start in the Connally colours at Wolverhampton last September, behind Balqees. She is by the Group winning miler Al Jakbar, out of Neige Al Maury, who made €92,000 at the Shadwell Arabian Broodmare dispersal sale in December.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said: “ARO is delighted to make our seasonal return to Wolverhampton with a strong field of well-bred maidens in this, one of six races generously sponsored by the Emirates Breeders Series.

“In addition, we look forward to welcoming Brendan Waterworth of Racing Welfare to judge the first of five individual Best Turned Out Awards that the charity is sponsoring with ARO this season. Racing Welfare also supports an overall Best Turned Out series with points given to the winning groom in every race leading to three cash awards, one for large yards, one for small yards and one to the yard who receives the most points overall, who will also receive a trophy.”

Concluding she said: “We also thank the British Horseracing Authority and Wolverhampton racecourse for their assistance and support of our racing, in 2022.”.

Rebal Athbah and Tom Marquand gave UK Arabian racing an exciting start to their new season when winning the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-70) Handicap by three quarters of a length from Awtaar and Hollie Doyle. Bin Al Reeh and Marco Ghiani were a further six and half lengths back in third. Doyle and Awtaar had set a good pace in front, however they were joined by Rebal Athbah and Marquand in the home straight with first two home battling all the way to the line, with Rebal Athbah winning in a time of 1.52.32.

After the race Marquand said: “He’s still a bit green and still learning, but he did what he had to do. To bump into much more experienced horses, round a tricky enough track, he’s done well to win today, so hopefully they’ll be more to come from him.

“Thanks to support of Sheikh Mansoor in the early part of my career, I got the chance to go down to Australia and ride for David Hayes and Tom Dabernig and rode a few winners for Shadwell whilst I was there. Things spiralled and I’ve since been fortunate to have quite a bit of success there since.”

Trainer Phil Collington was delighted with Rebal Athbah’s performance saying: “We’ve learnt a lot more about him, it’s great that he’s won. Tom feels that a step up in trip would be beneficial, he’ll improve again from this.”

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival, said: “The Festival is delighted to support the Arabian Racing Organisation through the sponsorship of these races in the UK. We congratulate the winners today, in particular Tom Marquand as he went to Australia for four weeks in 2016 as part of the mentorship programme established by the Sheikh Mansoor Festival’s Racing Scholarship Fund.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “That was a great start to our season with a really competitive finish. ARO Congratulates Athbah Racing, Phil Collington and Tom Marquand for their win with Rebal Athbah and we thank the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival for their generous sponsorship of this race, and for their up and coming races this season.

“We also congratulate Rebal Athbah’s groom, Frank Taillard, who won the Best Turned Out Award, sponsored by Baker McVeigh International. ARO also thanks the British Horseracing Authority and Royal Windsor racecourse for their assistance and support of our racing this season.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) is delighted to get the new UK season underway at Royal Windsor on Monday May 16^th with the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-70) handicap over a mile. The competitive looking contest is part of a series of eleven races held under the banner of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival. For 2022 the Festival has generously increased their UK commitment by sponsoring an extra five races, with the highlight being the Group 3PA HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup at Haydock in September.

The Royal Windsor race is part of the ever-popular Wathba Stallions Cup series held around the world which aims to promote the breeders of Arabian racehorses by supporting the sports’ grassroots. The races on offer range from maidens to mid-range handicaps, all of which will have a prize fund of £4000 per race. The series will certainly help several of the connections on Monday night, with last years’ leading UK owned and bred horse, Zayin Zyperion making his seasonal reappearance for Zayin Arabians, trained by Peter Hammersley and ridden by Royston Ffrench. In addition, Hammersley and fellow trainers Phil Collington, James Owen and Jamie Plumb will all have home breds of their own expected to make their debuts this season.

Runners in the paddock for a Wathba Stallions Cup race at Royal Windsor in 2021
©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Zayin Arabians’ Paul Simmons said: “It’s great to be racing again. I’m looking forward to it being a competitive handicap and hopefully a good run from Zayin Zyperion. Many thanks to the Sheikh Mansoor Festival and to ARO for supporting UK Arabian racing and providing opportunities for horses at all levels.”

Also trained by Hammersley is HH Sheikha Maryram bint Maktoum Al Maktoum’s Bin Al Reeh who won a similar contest sponsored by the Festival at Bath last year, who this time will be partnered by Marco Ghiani. Last season’s leading trainer and jockey, James Owen and Hollie Doyle pair up with Awtaar. The mare runs in new colours this year, those of the James Owen Racing Club, having given Ireland’s Blackrock Racing Syndicate a great day out at Doncaster on St Leger day when finishing fifth for them in the UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby. Awtaar was one of several fillies leased from Shadwell Arabians, however Owen bought his other runner from them, the top weight Jaahez. Jamie and Darren Plumb also secured Jeewan from the 19 times leading ARO owner the previous winter, with the gelded son of Madjani twice finishing just out of the frame in their colours in 2021.

Making his UK debut will be the four-year-old colt Rebal Athbah for Phil Collington and Athbah Stud, for whom his rider Tom Marquand rode their Bayan Athbah to victory in the 2021 HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup. Rebal Athbah won on his only start in Belgium last year and Collington is looking forward to seeing him run saying: “He did well to win at three, so it will be good to get him out at Windsor and learn a bit more about him.”

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

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival has generously supported our racing since 2011. The first race they sponsored with us was the Wathba Stud Farm Cup Series UK Breeders Stakes, so we’re thrilled that the Wathba Stallions Cup kicks off our new season at a time when encouraging our UK owner breeders is such a priority.

“We’re looking forward to a competitive race on Monday and delighted that our leading jockey of last season, Hollie Doyle, has been booked to ride. We also thank the British Horseracing Authority and Royal Windsor racecourse for their assistance and support of our racing and Baker McVeigh International, who are sponsoring the Best Turned Out Award.”

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

To be eligible:

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

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

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

Incentive payments with regard to the scheme will be transferred into the ARO Client Account of the registered breeder/owner as follows:

Finishing Position:                     ARO Breeders Incentive Payment:

1^st                                                                        £75

2^nd                                                                       £50

3^rd                                                                        £25

Total available per race:                       £150

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

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

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “ARO is pleased to confirm the payments for this initiative for 2022. This is just one of several incentives that we have introduced this season, such as membership of the Racehorse Owners Association and travel allowances for horses finishing seventh and eighth in selected races. ARO is committed to invigorating the owning and breeding of racing Arabians in the UK, we want to reward our owners and breeders for their efforts and will continue to look at ways in which we can grow our sport.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) is thrilled to announce today that the equine digital medicines register platform provider Equine MediRecord (EMR) will be supporting UK Arabian racing as an associate sponsor for 2022. In 2020 ARO was the first European racing organisation, and only the second in the world, to embrace the EMR system and make it mandatory for all horses racing under their rules, thereby ensuring regulatory compliance and equine welfare.

Pierce Dargan, CEO of EMR said: “With the progression of Arabian racing in the UK and its’ further integration into the British thoroughbred racing industry, we are very excited to strengthen our association with ARO. We have always been grateful to ARO for the early adoption of our system, and we look forward to the start of the new season in two weeks time.”

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO commented: “ARO is delighted that Equine MediRecord have increased their involvement in the sport in the UK by becoming an associate sponsor. Their support will help to advance Arabian racing in the UK and create a structure that offers both stability and sustainability.

“We recognised very early on what a great benefit to racing and horse welfare their system was. A decision that has been vindicated by its uptake around the world by a variety of organisations and at many of the major international racing festivals including the Breeders Cup and the Saudi Cup. We look forward to building on our relationship throughout 2022.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) is delighted to announce that Baker McVeigh International has returned as a supporter of UK Arabian racing. The internationally based veterinary practice will sponsor Best Turned Out Awards of a £30 cash prize and a photo frame at five races, starting with the season opener, the Wathba Stallions Handicap at Royal Windsor on May 16^th. The four further races supported are at Bath (June 11^th), Newbury (7^th July), Doncaster (16^th July) and Chepstow (18^th August).

Baker McVeigh International is a group of equine veterinarians with branches currently in the UK, Bahrain, South Africa and France. They commented: “Baker McVeigh are proud to be back sponsoring the ARO this year. We are delighted to be supporting Arabian racing as well as the stable staff of the industry. We look forward to the upcoming race days”.

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO said: “ARO warmly applauds the return of Baker McVeigh International, who supported our racing with race sponsorship in 2020. ARO is very grateful for their recognition of our hard-working stable staff this season and we look forward to welcoming them to Royal Windsor next month.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) is delighted to announce that the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) will be opening up its membership and many of its associated benefits to ARO owners from April 2022. The ROA promotes and protects the interests of racehorse owners in the UK and its members are supported in the ongoing experience of racehorse ownership.

One of the key benefits open to ARO owners is that all ROA members gain third party liability insurance cover against potential damages if their racehorse causes damage or injury. The ROA introduced this scheme as owners are currently vulnerable to claims even when their horse is in someone else’s care. The scheme currently applies to horses in training, horses in pre-training and horses out of training and has now been extended to cover amateur breeders too. Other benefits include complimentary racecourse entry, privileged car parking, Racing TV passes and other discounts, further details of which can be found on the ROA website www.roa.co.uk, or by contacting the ROA’s Head of Ownership Experience, Louise Norman on info@roa.co.uk.

Whilst initially not all ROA Member benefits will be available or applicable to owners of exclusively Arabian racehorses (e.g. 20% BHA fees discount) if they also owned thoroughbred racehorses then they would be included. It should also be noted that owner-trainers, as with permit trainers of thoroughbreds, would not be eligible.

Charlie Liverton, Chief Executive of the ROA, said: “Arabian racing is enjoyed by many around the world including here in the UK so it is fantastic to be able to welcome ARO owners into the ROA family. Racehorse ownership of all kinds is the lifeblood of racing in the UK and needs to be protected and promoted. We hope that all ARO owners take advantage of the benefits of ROA membership, and we look forward to developing the partnership further in the future.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “This is another step forward for Arabian racing. For ARO owners to be included in the ROA’s membership can only be of benefit to them and the sport. The insurance scheme alone is worthy of the membership fee as you would struggle to find a comparable policy for less than an ROA membership of £261.

“For our existing ARO owners who also have thoroughbreds in training then the benefits are even greater, we hope that all our owners who are eligible will take advantage of this offer and join for the forthcoming season.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) is thrilled to announce that for 2022, The Arabian Racehorse magazine will be supporting UK Arabian racing by providing a travel concession for horses finishing outside of the prize money. The registered owner of the horses that finish in seventh and eight places will be credited with £25 into their ARO client account in selected races throughout the season, starting at Royal Windsor on May 16^th.

Debbie Burt, proprietor and editor of The Arabian Racehorse commented: “The Arabian Racehorse has been supporting UK Arabian racing since the magazine’s inception in 2015, mostly through race sponsorship. With all available races in the current programme fully sponsored, after discussion with ARO, we decided the most effective way to help our participants was by offering a travel concession for those finishing outside of the prize money.

“Given the current rise in the cost of living and in particular the price of fuel, I hope that this contribution will be well received.”

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO commented: “ARO is extremely grateful for the continued support from Debbie and The Arabian Racehorse Magazine. The Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap at Royal Windsor and the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes at Wolverhampton will be the first two races to benefit, with others announced in the ARO racing calendar as the year progresses.

“With just 20 days before our season starts on May 16^th, this is a timely and welcome addition to the benefits’ already announced, such as the Racing Welfare Best Turned Out awards and the UK Breeders Incentive Scheme.”