COMPETITIVE FIELD FOR THE WATHBASTALLIONS.COM HANDICAP AT BRIGHTON

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) welcomed a competitive field for the Wathbastallions.com (0-75) Handicap Stakes over a mile at Brighton on Friday 5th 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.”