Following on from their one-two at Newbury last week, Athbah Racing and trainer Phil Collington scored another resounding success in a Royal Cavalry sponsored race, with their Rebal Athbah dominating the Sohar Fort (0-80) Handicap Stakes at Doncaster this evening. The four-year-old colt partnered by John Fahy, tracked long-time leader Al Mahbooba in the James Owen Racing Club silks and went smoothly into the lead in the home straight to win by an easy three and a half lengths.

This was the fifth success for Athbah Racing and Collington this season, cementing their place at the top of their respective Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) leaderboards, both being three wins clear of their nearest rivals. The mile and a quarter race was run over the same course and distance as the UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby, held on Cazoo St Leger Day in September, for which this victory could prove a useful trial. Collington explained: “We’re delighted with Rebal Athbah, he’s improved since his Windsor win and the step up in trip and the addition of the headgear also helped; we’ve got everything right today. I think he’s justified an entry for the Derby, he’s entitled to improve again from this. It’s only his third race and we’re learning more about him.”

Speaking of their other runner, Kafou Athbah, he continued: “I think the race came too soon after Wolverhampton, he’s run a bit flat here, but we’ll get him home and check him out to make sure.”

Whilst Rebal Athbah was recording his third consecutive win, his jockey was scoring a second win on an Arabian, his first, back in 2016 was also in the Athbah Racing colours. Of Rebal Athbah’s success Fahy said: “Phil’s instructions were to keep it simple, it was never in doubt really. He travelled good and quickened well, the ground is nice, you’d like to think he’d progress. I don’t ride enough Arabians to know just how good he was, but I’d say he’d be one of the best I’ve ridden. The win at Newbury was a long time ago, but it’s good to get another on the board for them.”

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO commented: “That was an impressive performance from a four-year-old to beat older more experienced horses and the time of 2.21.28 compares favourably with those times recorded by previous winners of our Derby here. We congratulate Athbah Racing, Phil and his team on Rebal Athbah’s success and we very much hope he’ll be back here in September.

“We thank the Royal Cavalry of Oman for their generous sponsorship of our racing this year and it was great to welcome back Colonel Staff Saif Al Saeghi, Assistant Director General of the Royal Cavalry of Oman for Administrative and Financial Affairs, who presented the trophies to the winning connections.”

Concluding she said: “ARO also thanks Doncaster racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority for their continued support of our racing and Baker McVeigh International for sponsoring the Best Turned Out Award won by Sophie Collington with Rebal Athbah.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) looks forward to the Sohar Fort (0-80) Handicap Stakes to be run at Doncaster on Saturday 16^th July over ten furlongs. The race looks set to be a battle of youth versus experience, with two young colts taking on some well-seasoned handicappers at the historic Town Moor course.

At the top of the weights are the unexposed young colts, the three-year-old Kafou Athbah, making his handicap debut, and his stablemate, the unbeaten four-year-old Rebal Athbah, who is seeking a hat-trick. Both are trained by Phil Collington for owner-breeders Athbah Racing, their joint success this season has led to them currently heading their respective ARO leaderboards for owners and trainers. Kafou Athbah will be partnered by Joey Haynes, fresh from a recent win under ARO rules at Chepstow, whilst aboard Rebal Athbah will be John Fahy, whose first win on an Arabian came in the Athbah silks back in 2016.

Speaking of the colts’ chances, the Newmarket based Collington said: “I’m really looking forward to seeing them run at Doncaster. I think we saw with Kafou from his Windsor run that he does really like the quicker ground, on turf he seems much happier. He did what he had to do at Wolverhampton and obviously he’s a winner now, but it will be great to see him back on turf. Rebal’s win at Windsor in May over a mile suggested he would benefit from a step up in trip, so we’ll see how they perform on Saturday and make a plan after that, as there are lots of options for them.”

Hoping to take advantage of their lack of experience will be fellow Newmarket handler and last season’s leading trainer James Owen. Al Mahbooba represents his popular Racing Club and he’ll be hoping she can give its members a great day out. She’ll have Keiran O’Neill on board, who rode his first Arabian winner for Owen last year and was placed on Jaahez over shorter at this track earlier in the season. However, on Saturday Jaahez renews his partnership with young amateur Rhea Betts who rode the eight-year-old into third place on her first ever ride two weeks ago. Both the gelding’s wins at this distance have been for lady jockeys, his first for another of Owen’s amateurs in 2019, and then for a stranger in a valuable ladies international race in Holland.

Owen will also be hoping that Sattam can be revitalised by a return visit to Doncaster, as on his first outing there in 2020, he was fourth in the UAE President Cup-UK Arabian Derby. Ridden by Rhiain Ingram and running in the colours of Mohammed Sultan Alajmi, a new owner to UK Arabian racing, the gelding will join his large stable of thoroughbreds and Arabians in Kuwait at the end of the UK season.

The race is named after Sohar Fort, considered to be one of Oman’s most important forts in the north Batinah governate. Built in the 13^th century, it still has the original 10km tunnel that served as an escape route in the event of a siege, as well as the more recent addition of a museum. This was opened in 1993 on the 23^rd anniversary of Oman’s National Day to highlight Sohar’s important role in Islamic history as well as the copper trade and the contribution made by the Omani people in the field of navigation.

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO commented: “This looks to be a competitive race, where any chinks in the armour of the young improvers could be exposed by the older more experienced horses. We look forward to warmly welcoming Colonel Staff Saif Al Saeghi, Assistant Director General of the Royal Cavalry of Oman for Administrative and Financial Affairs, who will present the trophies to the winning connections.”

She concluded: “ARO thanks the Royal Cavalry of Oman, Doncaster racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority for their continued support of our racing and Baker McVeigh International for sponsoring the Best Turned Out Award.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) made their first trip to Chepstow today for the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-65) Handicap over a mile in which Zayin Zyperion showed he was back to form when winning by two and a half lengths. The homebred of Zayin Arabians, trained by Peter Hammersley, was a comfortable winner from Mohamed Sultan Alajmi owned Sattam, with Steve Blackwell’s consistent Aljawaaher a further length away in third.

Partnered by Joey Haynes who had won on the seven-year-old at Wolverhampton over the same trip last year, Zayin Zyperion tracked the leading pair of Callymay and Heritage Valentino. They were perfectly poised to take over from Sattam who had taken up the lead after four furlongs, but he was no match for Zayin Zyperion.

Zayin Arabians’ Paul Simmons was delighted with his homebred saying: “He was a bit disappointing at Windsor, he blew a lot after the race. He’s quite a stuffy horse first time out, but we were confident coming into it today , Pete said he’d been working well at home and he was on his toes in the parade ring. I wasn’t sure he’d handle the firm ground and I was a bit worried he’d gone to the front too soon, as he’d been tracking Sattam who was the main danger, but he stayed on really well.

“He’ll probably go to Brighton next for another Wathba Stallions race over seven furlongs.”

Haynes said: “I was confident if he could reproduce his winning form from Wolverhampton last year he’d go very close today. He’s travelled beautifully, he’s handled the track and the ground well, I’ve almost got there a little bit too soon, but he’s stayed on nicely through the line.”

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival, said: “The Sheikh Mansoor Festival congratulate the winners today. The Wathba Stallions Cup series aims to support our grassroots participants and we are delighted that Zayin Zyperion was homebred winner, which is exactly the type of horse this series aims to promote.”

Bill Smith, ARO Director commented: “ARO congratulates all Paul, Joey, Pete and as his team for their win with Zayin Zyperion who looked to be in command of the race early on and won easily. We’re delighted that the race took place in front of such a large crowd of well over 7,000 introducing the sport to many new people, who clearly enjoyed watching the race and cheered the winner enthusiastically.

Concluding he said: “ARO is most grateful for the continued sponsorship by the Sheikh Mansoor Festival and we also thank the British Horseracing Authority and all the staff at Chepstow racecourse for their assistance with our racing.”

Athbah Racing achieved a one two in the Nizwa Fort Conditions Stakes with Ekleel Athbah getting the better of her stablemate Bayan Athbah by a length and a quarter at Newbury today. The six-furlong contest saw some of the UK’s best Arabians turn out, with Abiyah Athbah, another Athbah homebred now owned by Dilmun Racing, a further four and a quarter lengths behind in third place.

A strong pace had been set by former Group3PA winner Storm Troupour who was making his seasonal reappearance, however he lacked the fitness of the rest of the field and his efforts came to an end at halfway, when Abiyah Athbah took up the running. Ray Dawson gave the mare every chance however the six furlongs has proved too sharp for her on more than one occasion, and she had to concede to Bayan Athbah who was seeking a second course and distance win. That had come at Group2PA level in the Royal Cavalry of Oman International Stakes last year, but it was her stablemate that had the greater turn of foot. Ekleel Athbah, having been held up early on by Sam Hitchcott, was travelling easily and despite jinking left in the final strides readily got on top at the finish.

Crossing the line in a time of 1.18.11 it may not have topped the hand timed record set by Bayan Athbah last year of 1.17.65, however it was still well ahead of the previous record of 1.18.88 set by Nashwan Al Khalediah when winning the Zabeel International Stakes (Gr1PA) in 2010.

Afterwards a delighted Collington said: “Ekleel running in this race was a bit of a trial to see if what she was showing at home would be proven right on the racecourse. She’s shown that’s she’s progressing fast and I still thought that Bayan would out point her, but Bayan will come on for that run, although she was already very fit. Bayan probably needs headgear now, but take nothing away from Ekleel, she’s stepped up again so I’m very pleased with them both.

“We’ll have a good think about where next for Ekleel, the Derby is still an option, she’s also in at Goodwood and there are races abroad for her. Bayan will most probably go to Goodwood next.”

After the race Hitchcott said: “She’s every right to be a bit green at the end, Phil did say she’d be better arriving late and I admitted to him that I probably got there too soon, because I didn’t want his other filly to get too far ahead, as she’s proven at the trip. This filly’s on the up and is very versatile as regards to trip. She’ll be a nice prospect going forward for the owners and for Phil. Good Arabians get any trip you want them too and she’s got a good mind, so fingers crossed for the future.”

Bill Smith, ARO Director commented: “This was a really exciting race which produced a great finish from three of our best mares and we congratulate Athbah Racing, Phil and his team on their success. We thank Colonel Nasser Awladwoder, Assistant Director General of the Royal Cavalry of Oman for Technical Affairs, who presented the trophies to the winning connections.”

Concluded he said: “ARO also thanks Newbury racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority for their continued support of our racing and Baker McVeigh International for sponsoring the Best Turned Out Award won by Liz Sian for Abiyah Athbah.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) looks forward to the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-65) Handicap Stakes over a mile at Chepstow on Friday 8^th July. This is the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival’s fifth race sponsorship of the 2022 ARO season and their first visit to the popular Welsh venue this year.

The Wathba Stallions Cup series aims to support the grass roots of the sport around the world which is reflected in the field headed by Sattam. The six-year-old gelding will be partnered by young amateur rider Freddie Gordon who will be making his debut in Arabian racing. However the son of Hampshire trainer Chris Gordon has had plenty of race riding experience since he won his first pony race at Cheltenham in 2019. This year the 16-year-old has had four winners under rules, most recently winning on the Flat at Brighton for his father. He was also runner-up in this season’s point-to-point novice men’s championship with 12 winners.

Another young amateur who has already gained a great start in the sport is Lewis Saunders, who partners the veteran Aljawaaher. Despite his 13 years, in two runs this term the pair have finished runner-up over seven furlongs and just over two miles, both races were part of the UK’s Wathba Stallions Cup series. Owned and trained by Steve Blackwell, Aljawaaher is one of the most locally based horses, along with Callymay who comes from the Delyth Thomas stable, just a few miles away from Blackwell. Thomas made a sparkling start to her season when Paramer Angel won on his seasonal reappearance at Newbury last week and the 12-year-old mare has already won three Wathba Stallions sponsored races during her career to date.

Bin Al Reeh is another former Wathba Stallions Cup winner having been successful on his reappearance at Bath last year. He faces similar conditions at Chepstow and has been placed on both his starts this season so far and is one of two runners trained by Pete Hammersley. Hammersley also runs Zayin Zyperion, a dual winner last season, including of a Wathba Stallions Cup, for his owner-breeder Paul Simmons of Zayin Arabians, a long-time supporter of Arabian racing. Completing the field is the lightly raced Heritage Valentino, a stablemate of Sattam, one of two horses James Owen trains for Heritage Valentino’s owner and part breeder, Mrs Skepper.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “Once again the past form of the runners today, several of which are homebreds, demonstrates the importance of the Wathba Stallions Cup series to the grassroots of our sport. UK Arabian racing is uniquely positioned in that it is the only opportunity for amateur riders to compete against professionals on the Flat in this country, thereby offering young riders the chance to gain valuable experience against seasoned older jockeys.

“ARO is most grateful for the continued sponsorship by the Sheikh Mansoor Festival and we also thank the British Horseracing Authority and all the staff at Chepstow racecourse for their assistance with our racing.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was delighted with the classy contenders declared for the Nizwa Fort Conditions Stakes to be run at Newbury on Thursday 7^th July over six furlongs. The field contains many of the top horses in the UK who will be using the race as a springboard to some of the seasons most valuable races, including the Royal Cavalry of Oman International Stakes, a Group 2PA worth £20,000 to be run over the same course and distance on August 13^th.

The field is headed by the UK’s highest rated mare, Bayan Athbah. A dual PA Group winner in the UK last season, her most valuable success came at Newbury in the Royal Cavalry’s aforementioned feature event. She was making her UK debut, having won in Belgium earlier that year and follows a similar preparation this time, having won a Belgian conditions event over 1500m in January and is returning from a short break. From the same stable of Phil Collington and Athbah Racing is the exciting four-year-old Ekleel Athbah, winner of her last start over a mile at Royal Windsor, she looks like a filly on the upgrade.

Formerly the UK’s top-rated horse is Al Kaaser, now racing in the James Owen Racing Club colours. He was third behind Bayan Athbah in that Group2PA last year and showed himself in good form when finishing runner-up on his reappearance over a mile last month. He is joined by stablemate, the three-year-old Mayfair who is the first foal of Owen’s Racing Club mare, Dolfina D’Ibos. Mayfair was a respectable fifth behind Ekeel Athbah on her debut and is sure to improve for that experience.

Also double handed in the race is Pete Hammersley with the black-type performers Abiyah Athbah and Zayin Angkor Centurion. Abiyah Athbah has good course form having been third in this corresponding race last year and fourth behind Bayan Athbah in the Group2PA. She then enhanced her paddock value when a very close third in a Group3PA at Haydock over a mile on her favoured quick ground and looked an unlucky fourth behind Al Kaaser on her reappearance when hampered in running.

Completing the field is Swedish Group 3PA winner Storm Troupour. Age may have caught up with him somewhat these days, however at his peak he was rated 113 and has been third over course and distance in a Group1PA and over a furlong less in a Group3PA. He will have every assistance from conditional jockey Charlie Price, a former ARO leading novice rider when an amateur, Price is currently heading the ARO leading jockeys table for the season, ahead of Tom Marquand and last year’s winner, Hollie Doyle.

The race is named after Nizwa Fort, Oman’s most visited national monument. Though the fort was built in the 17^th Century, it combines an earlier castle, both have been restored and the site now includes a museum documenting its’ history and the nations traditions. Nizwa was the capital of Oman between the 6^th and 7^th centuries when the oasis city was on a strategic trade route, this is still echoed in its busy souk today, one of the oldest marketplaces in Oman.

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO commented: “This is a really exciting line up featuring some of our best horses, which is sure to guarantee a competitive race. We look forward to welcoming Colonel Nasser Awladwoder, Assistant Director General of the Royal Cavalry of Oman for Technical Affairs, who will present the trophies to the winning connections.”

She concluded: “ARO also thanks Newbury racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority for their continued support of our racing and Baker McVeigh International for sponsoring the Best Turned Out Award.”

Athbah Racing’s Kafou Athbah won at the third time of asking this afternoon when he was a clear winner of the wathbastallions.com maiden stakes over nine and a half furlongs at Wolverhampton. Ridden by Ray Dawson, the three-year-old colt stayed on well in the home straight to draw clear of long-time leader Al Mahbooba by a length and a half, with stablemate Lujain a further seven and a half lengths back in third.

Trainer Phil Collington, who had three runners in the race was delighted with Kafou Athbah and Lujain saying:”He’s so game, he really stuck his head down. The leader Al Mahbooba set a decent gallop and quicken off of that, so he had to chase her hard, but once he got on top, he proved he stays well too. He could go to Doncaster, but we’ll have to see what mark he gets.

“One thing we were worried about with Lujain was the surface, Molly Presland who has ridden her both times wasn’t sure she enjoyed the kickback and maybe she’s just going to be better on turf. Her dam certainly was and she’s got a beautiful action. She could go back to Windsor, or she might have a break now.”

After the race Dawson commented: “This is my first Arabian winner in the UK. I rode Kafou Athbah first-time out here and he’s a really honest little horse. Arabians have a reputation for being a bit tricky but he’s very genuine and I think stepping up in trip helped him today, he should win plenty of races.”

Dawson who had spent last winter in Dubai said of that experience: “I had a really good season with Ahmad bin Harmash and rode plenty of Arabians for other trainers, I’m really looking forward to going back next season.”

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival, said: “The Festival is delighted to support a race with these exciting young horses at the start of their careers and we congratulate the Athbah Racing team today.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “ARO warmly congratulates Athbah Racing, Phil and his team on their win and look forward to seeing how all these well-bred horses will progress throughout this season. Phil has had a great record with his runners making a good start in the UK before going on to better things in the UAE and with Kafou Athbah only being three he could follow the same career path as horses like UAE Arabian Derby winner Dergham Athbah.”

Concluding she said: “ARO is most grateful for the continued sponsorship by the Sheikh Mansoor Festival, and we also thank the British Horseracing Authority and all the staff at Wolverhampton racecourse for their assistance with our racing.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) is looking forward to the Wathbastallions.com maiden over nine and a half furlongs at Wolverhampton on Tuesday 5^th July in which a competitive field of well-bred runners line up. This is the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival’s first visit to the Midlands racecourse this season which promises to be an exciting contest.

Heading the field is Al Mahbooba, by champion racehorse and sire, Madjani. Her dam is a half-sister to that sire’s best son, the two-time Group1PA winner Handassa. Representing the James Owen Racing Club, she will be ridden by Miss Alice Stevens who recently won thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious race for lady amateur riders, the Queen Mother’s Cup at York and has amassed over 50 winners in point-to-points.

The six-year-old mare is one of three Shadwell Arabian produced runners, along with Labwah and Lujain who have either been leased or sold to new owners. Labwah is out of Neige Al Maury, a half-sister to another Shadwell Champion Sire and racehorse, No Risk Al Maury. She runs for the Connallys and is reunited with regular partner Miss Kelly Bostock. Like the Connallys, John Elliott has done well with ex-Shadwell mares, and he owns Lujain, a daughter of Wathba Stallions excellent sire Mahabb. She made a very promising debut under young apprentice Molly Presland when finishing third at Royal Windsor last month.

She is trained by Phil Collington, who is also responsible for the other three-year-old in the race, Kafou Athbah, who finished a length ahead of Lujain last time. Kafou Athbah is a half-brother to Bodour Athbah, a debut winner for Collington who has since gone on to further success in Saudi Arabia and has run in two of the world’s leading Arabian races, the Obaiya Arabian Classic and the Al Mneefah Cup. Kafou Athbah appears to hold a strong chance and will be partnered by Tom Marquand, who benefitted from the Festival’s Racing Scholarship Fund when undertaking a four-week placement in Australia in 2016.

Collington’s third candidate, Lewaa Athbah, who also carries the Athbah Racing colours, shares his sire with their most successful horse to date, Mashhur Al Kahlediah, winner of the Festival’s most prestigious race, the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, another of the world’s most valuable Arabian races. Making his racecourse debut, he will be ridden by the in-form Charlie Price, who had partnered the aforementioned Bodour Athbah to her debut win. Completing the field is another debutant Al-Hatab, jointly owned by his breeder Julie Kelway and trainer Pete Hammersley. By the Group1PA winner, Tabarak, he is a full brother to Al-Tabari, twice a course winner at Wolverhampton, out of Altesse Kossack, winner of eight races including the UK stage of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship, another of the Festival’s valuable races, in 2013.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “ARO is excited to see such well-bred horses declared for this race generously supported by the Sheikh Mansoor Festival and it’s Wathba Stallions Cup series. It’s also great to see how many past connections the horse, trainers, owners and jockeys have to the Sheikh Mansoor Festival, which underlines its importance to our sport, particularly in the UK.”

She concluded: “We also thank the British Horseracing Authority and Wolverhampton racecourse for their assistance with our racing this season.”

Delyth Thomas’s Paramer Angel made a winning return to action at Newbury today in the Al Rustaq Fort (0-75) Handicap Stakes over 1m2f, partnered by Charlie Price. The 11-year-old stayed on well to keep recent winner Balqees and Sean Levey at bay by a head, with Jaahez and Arabian racing newcomer Miss Rhea Betts a further three and a quarter lengths away in third.

Price, a conditional jockey attached to National Hunt trainer Tim Vaughan was naturally pleased with the win, as had originally steered Paramer Angel to his first two victories when still an amateur. After the race he said: “That was really great. That’s our first runner back this season, it took longer than we’d planned, as we wanted to start earlier but we had a few issues with the gallop at home. A mile and two furlongs is probably not his best distance but that rain shower before the race probably helped him. He sticks his neck out when he’s in a battle, I can’t fault the horse, he just tries.

“Izzy does a great job with Paramer Angel at home, he’s a handful to ride, I come in on Wednesdays and Sundays to help her out when I can, but I can’t be there all the time as I’m away racing. She does a brilliant job with him so it’s great for her to win the Best Turned Out Award as well.”

Of his season so far, he commented: “Things are going well with the jumpers, I’ve had three winners already this new season and that’s my second Arabian winner so it’s a good start.

Mohammed Al Hashmi, General Secretary of the Royal Horse Racing Club was there to present the trophies commented: “The Royal Cavalry of Oman are delighted to be back at Newbury and we congratulate the winners today in what was a very competitive race. We now look forward to our next race here, the Nizwa Fort Conditions Stakes on 7^th July.”

Charles Gregson, ARO Chairman said: “ARO is extremely grateful for the generous sponsorship that the Royal Cavalry of Oman have given us since 2008 and are delighted to welcome Mohammed Al Hashmi back to the UK to present the trophies to Delyth and Charlie.

“ARO also thanks Newbury racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority for their continued support of our racing this season. We also thank Racing Welfare, represented by Hannah Ryan and Kerry Blundell today, who sponsored the Best Turned Out Award won by Izzy Brown.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) welcomes back long-term sponsor the Royal Cavalry of Oman to Newbury racecourse on Thursday 30^th June with their Al Rustaq Fort (0-75) Handicap Stakes over 1m2f.

The race looks a competitive affair with two recent winners, Balqees and Jeewan facing off from either end of the handicap, however it could be a fairytale in the making for young amateurs Connor Baker or Rhea Betts. Both are making their racecourse debuts on Arabians, riding Tijaary and Jaahez respectively and both horses have won for amateurs before. Al Mahbooba is seeking to break her maiden returning to handicap company, whilst two-time winner Paramer Angel makes his seasonal debut.

This is the first of three races that the Royal Cavalry are sponsoring at Newbury this year as part of their five-race package for the season. The next will be the Nizwa Fort Conditions Stakes over six furlongs on July 7^th, 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^th. This race is named after Al Rustaq Fort, a popular tourist destination in Oman, famed for its warm springs and located around 170km from Muscat. Al Rustaq was the ancient capital of Oman and the fort, built on three levels, covers an area of 1km square since its restoration.

When their sponsorship was announced earlier this year, Dr Sarhan Salim Hamed Al-Zeidi, Director General of The Royal Cavalry of Oman commented: “The Royal Cavalry of Oman is delighted to confirm their sponsorship with the Arabian Racing Organisation for 2022. The Royal Cavalry have had a long and successful working relationship with ARO for many seasons and we are proud to be supporting UK Arabian racing at all levels.”

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO commented: “ARO warmly welcomes back the Royal Cavalry of Oman as sponsors to Newbury, a course with which they have had a great association, both as sponsors and with the numerous successes of their racehorses, all the way up to Group1 PA level. We look forward to welcoming their representative, Mohammed Al Hashmi, General Secretary of the Royal Horse Racing Club, to present the trophies.

“ARO also thanks Newbury racecourse and the British Horseracing Authority for their continued support of our racing and Racing Welfare for sponsoring the Best Turned Out Award during Racing Staff Week.”