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

 

Rich Pulls Pitch and David Egan winning the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes at Lingfield Park © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

Clear win for Al Asayl Bloodstock’s filly in the Emirates Breeders Maiden at Lingfield Park

 

Tuesday 23 July 2024 –

It was an historic first UK Arabian win for Classic winning thoroughbred trainer Hugo Palmer with Al Asayl Bloodstock’s homebred filly Rich Pulls Pitch coming clear of the field under David Egan in the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes. The £4,000 mile contest at Lingfield Park had attracted seven runners, most either making their debuts or their second starts, with the Palmer trained duo of Rich Pulls Pitch and Marakeb the most experienced in the line-up.

The three-year-old daughter of Al Asayl’s RB Burn, broke well and was soon leading, stretching out well. Newcomer Hibikinanda Du Mazet and Sean Dylan Bowen tried to mount a challenge in the home straight but it was not enough to get near the leader, who was always doing enough in front to win to by two and a quarter lengths. The Peter Hammersley trained Assassen, making his first appearance on the track for Gavin Kelly, was ridden into third by conditional, Lewis Saunders.

Palmer already trains thoroughbreds for Sheikha Alyazia bint Sultan Al Nayhan and her UAE based family with runners on the Flat and over jumps for them. The two Arabians joined his string at the Sheikha’s behest last December and have had two starts at Newbury and Yarmouth, with the filly placing both times. She has plenty of American speed on both sides of her pedigree, with her sire RB Burn winning Group 1PA races over six furlongs and a mile in the UAE, her win takes her sire to the top of the UK Arabian sires table.

 

 

Quotes:

David Egan, jockey, 1^st: “She’s a filly who only just does enough, she would probably show more of her ability in a race that’s higher in grade. The blinkers were there to keep her mind on the job as she’s a very laid back individual. She was first in the stalls and we were in there a long time waiting for the others to load and she as a quiet as a lamb, she’s got a very good temperament. She doesn’t know she’s had a race today, she’s not the biggest, but she tries hard and I think there’s a lot of improvement in her, she’s definitely taken a step forward today from Yarmouth.”

Hugo Palmer, trainer 1st, 4^th, : “Obviously I’m delighted to have the support of Al Asayl both with the Thoroughbreds and Arabians, so I’m thrilled to get our fist Arabian winner for them. Right at the start I said I’d be very nervous watching them run and with only two it’s quite hard to compare their work, all I can find out at home is the filly is faster than the gelding! Rich Pulls Pitch has been frustratingly green on her first two starts, but the blinkers sharpened her up today and she travelled much better, David said her felt she was only really in second gear.”

“Marakeb will step up in trip next time.”

Lissie Reeves, Arabian Assistant to James Owen, 2^nd: “We’re really happy with Hibikinanda Du Mazet first time out. She’s been going really well at home, so we were hoping for a nice run and she’s done exactly what she needed to do.”

Peter Hammersley, trainer, 3^rd, 5^th: “We’ve had few issues with Assassen, but the moment Lewis is on him, he just settles, we were only halfway down the walkway to the track and he’d chilled out. I’m pleased with the way both he and Another Angel ran today.”

 

David Egan and Rich Pulls Pitch, winners of the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes at Lingfield Park © Debbie Burt – Equine Creatie Media

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We’re delighted for Al Asayl Bloodstock and Hugo Palmer for this historic first UK win with Rich Pulls Pitch and we thank the Emirates Breeders series for their support of our racing. Our warmest congratulations go out to all our new and returning owners who had runners today, it’s a big positive for the sport in the UK.

“We also thank The Arabian Racehorse magazine who sponsored the Best Turned Out Award won by Maddie Plumb for Sally Sixpence and now look forward to our next race at Goodwood on Wednesday 31 July.”

 

Genny Haynes presents the trophy to Sarah Peacock on behalf of Al Asayl Bloodstock, winners of the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes at Lingfield Park with Rich Pulls PItch

© Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

 

1st: RICH PULLS PITCH (FR)

2nd: Hibikinanda du Mazet (FR)

3rd: Assassen (GB)

7 ran

Distances: 2.25, 1.5

Time: 1.50.04

Going: Standard

 

 

Amirat Al Zaman and Marco Ghiani winning the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-95) Handicap at Newbury © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

A one-two for Owen with new owners at Newbury

 

Friday 19 July 2024 –

Leading Iraqi owner breeder Dr Mohammed Al Nujaifi is making a fruitful return to UK Arabian racing following a second win for his Amirat Al Zaman in the £6,000 Wathba Stallions Cup (0-95) Handicap over a mile and a quarter at Newbury. All being well the four-year-old filly will have booked her place in the Group 1PA UK Arabian Derby next month.

Ridden again by Marco Ghiani, the pair led throughout and despite a late challenge from UK debutant Winds Of Fortune, their success was never in doubt. Both the first and second are trained in Newmarket by leading ARO trainer James Owen, who has taken both horses in for a UK summer campaign from their overseas based owners, Al Nujaifi Racing and Cre Run Farm. Course and distance winner Paramer Angel improved on his run last week to finish a gallant third under former ARO champion novice jockey, Charlie Price.

Amirat Al Zaman is a daughter of Dr Al Nujaifi’s dual Group 1PA winner Hilal Al Zaman and is a half-sister to two French Arabian Oaks winners in Muneera and Al Shomoos.

 

 

Quotes:

Marco Ghiani, jockey, 1^st: “She was great, she felt like she had sharpened up a lot from the last race. Obviously I knew her today so I could be more confident. She did really well as the race was a bit faster than Yarmouth and we had an extra couple of furlongs to go but she stayed on really well and she fought hard. I think she should be ok for the Derby.”

James Owen, Trainer, 1^st, 2^nd: “Amirat Al Zaman pinged the gates and she led well like last time. She’s galloped all the way to the line and is very resolute for an Arabian, she wasn’t stopping at the end. If she comes out of this well, she’ll head to the Derby. It was a good performance for a filly.

“Winds Of Fortune is a nice horse, he carried top weight and I felt was a little bit ring rusty, I think he’ll come on massively for it. I learnt a lot about him today and speaking to Pat [Dobbs, jockey], he was happy with him. If he comes out of this fine, he’s got the experience of the better races run at higher speeds, so we’ll look to go to Goodwood for the Group 1. He needs cover and producing late, and we’ll probably put the blinkers back on, but he’s run well today.”

Charlie Price, jockey 3^rd: “That was a bit more like it. An improvement on Chester today.”

 

James Owen, Amirat Al Zaman, Lissie Reeves and Marco Ghiani winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-95) Handicap at Newbury © Debbie Burt – Equine Creatie Media

 

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festivalcommented, “We’re delighted for everyone at Al Nujaifi Racing for the win of Amirat Al Zaman. It will be a good compliment for the Festival if she can win this race and then go on and do well in the UK Arabian Derby next month.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We’re delighted for the Al Nujaifi Racing and James Owen teams for gaining a second win with Amirat Al Zaman and we thank the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival and the Wathba Stallions Cup for their support of our racing. Our warmest congratulations also go to America’s Cre Run Farm with their first UK runner in their own colours with Winds Of Fortune in second.

“We thank The Arabian Racehorse magazine who sponsored the Best Turned Out Award won by Rebecca Brady for Paramer Angel and now look forward to our next race at Lingfield on Tuesday 23 July.”

Genny Haynes with James Owen and Marco Ghiani winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-95) Handicap at Newbury with Al Nujaifi Racing’s  Amirat Al Zaman

© Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

 

1st: AMIRAT AL ZAMAN (FR)

2nd: WINDS OF FORTUNE (USA)

3rd: PARAMER ANGEL (GB)

4 ran – Non- Runner 1 MUTWAHHEJ ATHBAH

Distances: 1.25, 2.75

Time: 2.16.43

 

Going: GOOD

 

Izenterisky and John Fahy winning the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-70) Handicap at Chester © Alan Wright

 

Collington homebred defies 1791 day absence to score

 

Saturday 13 July 2024 –

It was an emotional success for the Collington family when their homebred gelding Izenterisky returned to the track after over four years away to produce a thrilling win by four lengths under John Fahy. Having been trapped behind the eventual second Victoria, and third Delicatesse, Fahy took advantage of the cutaway on the rail and smoothly took up the lead to win going away.

Izenterisky is the first foal trainer Phil Collington’s wife Sheila has bred and was led up by their daughter Sophie this afternoon. During his time as a leading amateur jockey on Arabians Collington rode the dam, Pinkie Tuscadero to two wins at a similar level and distance, plus he won on the sire, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s No Risk Al Maury on his debut. The family also continue to care for the world renown champion stallion in his retirement and this win puts the veteran sire back at the head of the UK leading sire’s table.

With a prize fund of £15,000 this was the most valuable handicap of the nine non-PA Group races sponsored by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival in the UK this season, who’s total runs to 150 globally, culminating in the Group 1PA HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown in Abu Dhabi in December.

 

 

Quotes:

John Fahy, jockey, 1^st: “A very pleasing performance, Phil said to me going out that he was fit. He’s a lovely big kind, caring horse and it’s been a great job by Phil and all the team at home to get him back.”

Lissie Reeves, Arabian Assistant to James Owen, trainer 2^nd, 3^rd: “I’m really happy they both ran to form. Particularly pleased with Delicatesse considering she only ran earlier this week, she was still fresh at home so we were happy to bring her. Maybe if the ground had been a bit better, it might have been different, but I’m still really happy with them both.”

Charlie Price, jockey, Paramer Angel, 5^th: “He travelled ok, but the track was too sharp for him, he likes a galloping track and just found everything happening too quick.”

 

Sheila Collington, Izenterisky, John Fahy and Sophie Collington winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-70) Handicap at Chester © Alan Wright

 

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival commented, “It’s been a beautiful day at Chester, we’re delighted for the win of Sheila Collington’s Izenterisky, a brilliant training performance by her husband Philip to get the horse back to fitness to win so well today. It had been a beautiful day at historic Chester racecourse and we are delighted to bring the Sheikh Mansoor Festival to this city.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We warmly congratulate all of the Collington family on their win today with their homebred Izenterisky and we thank Lara Sawaya for making a second trip to the UK to support our racing this year on behalf of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival and the Wathba Stallions Cup who do so much for us. We’re also delighted to bring Arabian racing to a crowd of over 14,000 this afternoon at Chester, who have given us a warm welcome for a second successive year.

“We also thank Racing Welfare who sponsored the Best Turned Out Award won by Rebecca Brady for Paramer Angel and now look forward to our next race at Newbury on Friday 19 July.”

 

Genny Haynes, Sheila Collington, Lara Sawaya and John Fahy winners of the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-70) Handicap © Alan Wright

 

1st: IZENTERISKY (GB)

2nd: Victoria (GB)

3rd: Delicatesse (FR)

7 ran –

Distances: 2.75, 2.50

Time: 1.20.60

Going: GOOD to SOFT

 

Delicatesse and Miss Teagan Padgett win the Emirates Breeders (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield Park

©John Hoy

Delicatesse off the mark at Lingfield Park

 

Tuesday 9 July 2024 –

Newmarket multipurpose trainer James Owen maintains his lead on the UK Arabian trainers’ championship with a win for Delicatesse who he bred in partnership with former ARO director Rachel Gowland, from a mare who’d he also trained to win twice. The four-year-old filly was having her first start at six furlongs, a trip her dam Delishess had won over at Grade 2 level when starting her career in the USA. Coljani and Paddy Bradley were second for Peter Hammersley and the Raffles Partnership, with Owen’s other runner, Zizania Du Mazet third under apprentice Fred Daly.

Partnered by stable amateur and current ARO Leading Jockey Teagan Padgett, Delicatesse relished the drop in trip and won quite easily in Owen’s colours by two-and three-quarter lengths.  She could make a quick reappearance on Saturday at Chester, shouldering a six pound penalty in the season’s most valuable handicap the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-70) Handicap, featuring a prize fund of £15,000, for which runners declare tomorrow.

 

Watch Delicatesse and Miss Teagan Padgett win the Emirates Breeders (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield Park

Quotes: 

Lissie Reeves, Arabian Assistant Trainer to James Owen, 1^st, 3^rd: “We’re really pleased with Delicatesse, she ran off a nice low weight which definitely helped her, along with the shorter trip which probably suited her and kept her interested.”

Miss Teagan Padgett, jockey, 1^st: “Really happy with her run today, the drop in trip obviously helped and as home bred for James, it’s really great to get her off the mark at the eighth attempt.”

 

Delicatesse and Miss Teagan Padgett winners of the Emirates Breeders (0-55) Handicap at Lingfield Park ©John Hoy

 

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO: “We congratulate James, Teagan and everyone at Green Ridge Stables and are particularly pleased to see a win for a UK homebred.

“We thank Emirates Breeders for their continued sponsorship particularly supporting grassroots races such as this one. We thank with International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities Pattern and Handicapping Committee Chairman Neil Abrahams for presenting the winning trophy to Lissie Reeves on behalf of James Owen.”

 

Lissie Reeves receives the trophy for the Emirates Breeders (0-55) Handicap Stakes on behalf of James Owen from Neil Abrahams ©John Hoy

 

1st: DELICATESSE (GB)

2nd: Coljani (GB)

3rd: Zizania Du Mazet (FR)

6 ran – No 4 SASSY non-runner

Distances: 2.75, 2.50

Time: 1.20.60

Going: STANDARD

 

Amirat Al Zaman and Marco Ghiani win the Emirates Breeders Maiden at Great Yarmouth ©Debbie Burt

Amirat Al Zaman puts French form behind her at Yarmouth

Thursday 4 July 2024 –

There was further success for leading Iraqi owner breeder Dr Mohammed Al Nujaifi following his return to UK racing with another homebred filly, Amirat Al Zaman taking the honours at Great Yarmouth in the £6,000 Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes over a mile. The four-year-old is one of two fillies to join Newmarket handler James Owen this season from France, and now both are winners.

Ridden by Marco Ghiani, for whom it was a first win on an Arabian, the pair set off in front and though Rich Pulls Pitch and David Egan tried to challenge, they were too strong for Al Asayl’s three-year-old filly who finished a length and three quarters adrift on the line. Athbah Racing’s Jameelaty and Dylan Hogan were well behind in third.

Amirat Al Zaman is a daughter of Dr Al Nujaifi’s dual Group 1PA winner Hilal Al Zaman and is a half-sister to two French Arabian Derby winners. Both she and Fareedhat El Izz who also won on her UK debut for Owen and Al Nujaifi Racing, will get entries for the £80,000 UK Arabian Derby, sponsored by the UAE President Cup series, run at Doncaster on August 17, entries for which close tomorrow at Noon.

Watch Amirat Al Zaman and Marco Ghiani win the Emirates Breeders Maiden at Great Yarmouth

Quotes: 

Marco Ghiani, jockey, 1^st: “She was a bit tricky to get into the stalls but the handlers did a good job. She did really well, jumped nicely, travelled beautifully. I saw something coming on the stand side rails, but I thought that was coming a bit too soon so I didn’t panic, and in the last half furlong the grey horse was getting close, but she found a bit more. 

“I’ve ridden Arabians for a few years now, including in Italy, but this is my first winner. The first racehorse I rode at home was an Arabian and I used to get told off all the time, because she always had the better of me – it taught me a lot!”

Val Bunting, Racing and Breeding Manager, Al Nujaifi Racing, 1st: “We are delighted with Amirat Al Zaman, she was born and raised with me and she has always been one of my favourites. After her two disappointing starts in France I think the penny has finally dropped. Hopefully she may go to the Derby next, we’ll see how she comes out of the race.”

Phil Collington, trainer, 3^rd: “Dylan felt she travelled into the race pretty well, she just didn’t finish it off. I think we probably need to go back into handicap company, I think she will win, it’s just finding the right race for her.”

Marco Ghiani, Amirat Al Zaman and Lissie Reeves winners of the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes at Great Yarmouth © Debbie Burt

Genny Haynes, ARO CEO: “We are thrilled for all at Al Nujaifi Racing and the James Owen team for the win of Amirat Al Zaman, to go with their other filly’s success at Newbury last month. Also for Marco, who has been PA Group placed with us, to finally get a win.

“It’s really important for us to attract new and returning owners which we had today, not just with overseas owned horses like Amirat Al Zaman and the Al Asayl three-year-olds, but domestic owners too, like Darren Plumb and Selena Caston.

“We thank Emirates Breeders for their continued sponsorship and Baker McVeigh International for sponsoring the Best Turned Out Award presented to Sophie Collington for Jameelaty and look forward to making a quick return to action at Lingfield Park on Tuesday.”

 

Lissie Reeves receives the trophy for the Emirates Breeders Maiden Stakes on behalf of Al Nujaifi Racing from Willie McFarland ©Debbie Burt

 

1st: Amerat Al Zaman (FR)

2nd: Rich Pulls Pitch (FR)

3rd: Jameelaty (GB)

5 ran – No 1 Galactic Girl was withdrawn for not entering the stalls

Distances: 1.75, 10.75

Time: 1.48.22

Going: GOOD

 

Jameelaty and Sophie Collington Baker McVeigh Best Turned Out Award winners © Debbie Burt

 

 

Abiyah Athbah and Phil Dennis winning the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup (Gr2PA) at Royal Windsor over six furlongs © Debbie Burt

 

Consistent mare gains first black type win along with her trainer and jockey

Saturday 29 June 2024 –

Abiyah Athbah, the UK’s highest rated mare finally got deserved black type success in the £20,000 HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup, a Group 2PA contest held over six furlongs at Royal Windsor today. Partnered by Phil Dennis she was in command from the outset and was never headed. Upstart Crow and Darragh Keenan tried to challenge, but lacked the mare’s turn of foot and had to settle for third place as stablemate, Fareedhat El Izz and Adam Farragher stayed on for second. Farragher was sporting a black armband in memory of the late Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Nujaifi, father of owner breeder Dr Mohammed Al Nujaifi who passed way earlier this week.

This was the first running of the race under the sponsorship of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Festival, who support ten races in the UK this season and 150 globally, culminating in the Group 1PA HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown in Abu Dhabi in December. A crowd of over 5,500 had gathered to watch the race at Royal Windsor on one of their summer Saturday highlight’s Ladies Day.

Quotes:

Phil Dennis, jockey, 1^st, “It’s my first Group winner ever, whether it’s Arabian or thoroughbred I’ll certainly take it. I rode her over a mile last time at Doncaster and she actually rallied towards the line so dropping back to six I was fairly keen to make plenty of use of her. She probably visually looks keener than she is, she’s enthusiastic, but never over cooking it, it went right for her today.”

Pete Hammersley, trainer, 1^st, “The cards all fell right for her today. We felt coming into the race that she was really in the form of her life. Sue [Wileman]kept saying that she’s never felt better and the stop watch on the gallops confirmed that, the ground has come right for her, she needs it quick. To be fair she’s always been taking on horses better than her, they come and go and then the next year there’s another one, and now she’s finally reaped the reward.”

Jenny Lees, Dilmun Racing, owner, 1^st, “We were so excited, we can hardly talk. It’s wonderful, mainly for Peter, he’s put so much into this, I really wanted it to happen for him.”

James Owen, trainer 2^nd, 3^rd, “I thought Fareedhat El Izz ran really well, Abiyah Athbah’s a real sprinter and got her conditions, it was a fast run race which took both of mine out of their comfort zones. Fareedhat El Izz stayed on well at the end and will have leaned a lot. We’ll step her up into better things against her own age group I think. Upstart Crow was just flat out all the way, stayed on well, different conditions on a different day, but he’s more of a stayer.”

 

Lara Sawaya, Pete Hammersley, Phil Dennis, Abiyah Athbah, Sue Wileman and HE Mansoor Abulhoul Al Falasi, winners of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup (Gr2PA)

©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

HE Mansoor Abulhoul Al Falasi, the UAE Ambassador to the UK, “It’s hugely meaningful for the UAE to be hosting these sort of events, given that our founding father HH Sheikh Zayed loved the Arabian horse. 

“To see that continue through HH Sheikha Fatima sponsoring this high-level Arabian race at Royal Windsor racecourse, which of course is continued by the support of and generosity of her son HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed, so for me it marks a huge celebration between Emirati and British culture coming together. I was also really impressed with number of people who were here today to watch the race.”

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival commented, “It’s been a beautiful day at Royal Windsor for Ladies Day, we have the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup won by Abiyah Athbah, a mare, and owned by Jenny Lees of Dilmun Racing, so it is very appropriate. We thank HE Mansoor Abulhoul Al Falasi, the UAE Ambassador to the UK for attending today and assisting with the trophy presentation.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We thank HE Mansoor Abulhoul Al Falasi and Lara Sawaya for attending today for the Festival’s most prestigious UK Arabian race. We are delighted for the win of Abiyah Athbah who always gives her best on the track and we congratulate Jenny Lees, Peter Hammersley and Phil Dennis who are all winning their first Arabian Group race today and also Abiyah Athbah’s groom Sue Wileman who won the Racing Welfare Best Turned Out Award presented by Chloe Martin.”

 

Pete Hammersley, Jenny Lees, Phil Dennis, HE Mansoor Abulhoul Al Falasi, Lara Sawaya and Genny Haynes winners of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup (Gr2PA)

©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

 

 

 

Al-Hatab and Lewis Saunders win the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-60) Handicap at Bath

©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Leads home a one-three-four for trainer Peter Hammersley

Saturday 15 June 2024 –

Midlands based Peter Hammersley had plenty to celebrate at Bath today with Al-Hatab coming back to form in the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-60) Handicap over 1m5f. The striking grey six-year-old had run up a hat-trick of wins at the end of last season and having been placed on his last run, connections were hopeful of a return to the winners enclosure. Partnered today by Lewis Saunders, now attached to National Hunt trainer Olly Murphy, he’d had plenty of placed rides on Arabians when an amateur and Al-Hatab was the 20 year-olds first win on the breed.

The pair were settled mid division for most of the race with Saunders asking for an effort as they entered the home straight to reel in recent course winner Victoria and Miss Teagan Padgett, to win by a length. Stablemates Coljani ridden by Paddy Bradley and Belle Angelique ridden by Jack Doughty were third and fourth.

Breeder Julie Kelway, who owns Al-Hatab in partnership with Hammersley was there with a large contingent of supporters to welcome them into the winners enclosure.

Watch Al-Hatab and Lewis Saunders win the Wathba Stallions Cup (0-60) Handicap at Bath

Quotes:

Lewis Saunders, jockey, 1^st: “It’s been a long time to get my first Arabian winner, two years – I kept getting beat on the line to be second, in my first season especially. It worked out well today, Al-Hatab won quite comfortably. I knew he’d keep going. I watched him at Lingfield, as I was on Aloof who finished second, so I knew he’d keep going and I thought Teagan would go off in front too soon. I’m now a conditional with Olly Murphy and it’s going well for me, last season I had four winners, I‘ve already had one winner for him this season so hopefully it will kick start some more.”

Peter Hammersley, 1^st, 3^rd, 4th: “They’ve all been working well at home. I thought Lewis rode Al-Hatab well, he said he just hit a bit of a flat spot, but he knew he’d get home ok. He’s run on well at the end, he’s hardly having a blow really. Paddy asked if we had races over further because Coljani would stay a lot further, he enjoyed the ride. Jack was pleased with Belle Angelique, I asked him about the blinkers and he said to keep them on.” 

Lissie Reeves, Arabian assistant trainer, 2nd: “Victoria was effectively running off top weight, despite Teagan’s claim and I think the trip was just a bit too far for her.”

Julie Kelway, Peter Hammersley, Al-Hatab, Liz Sian and Lewis Saunders

©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival commented, “We are delighted to be back at Bath on their Ladies Day for another of our Wathba Stallions Cup series races in the UK. We congratulate Lewis Saunders, Peter Hammersley and Julie Kelway for winning today with Al-Hatab.”

“The Festival sponsors 10 races in the UK this year, with the global Festival highlight being the Group 1PA Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown which is held in Abu Dhabi in December. We look forward to returning to Royal Windsor on June 29th for the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup.”

Lewis Saunders, Julie Kelway and Peter Hammersley with the trophies for the Watba Stallions Cup (0-60) Handicap at Bath

© Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer: “We are delighted for Julie and Peter, winning again with Al-Hatab and also for Lewis, getting his first Arabian winner at last. It’s great that these young jockeys who start out on Arabians are still keen to come back once they’ve progressed to thoroughbreds.

“We thank Baker McVeigh International for sponsoring the Best Turned Out Award presented to Sue Wileman for Coljani. We now look forward to Royal Windsor in two weeks time, where we hold the first of our black races, the Group 2PA HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup, which has a long history of producing important winners when it was run as the Za’abeel International Stakes.”

 

Coljani and Sue Wileman winners of the Best Turned Out Award sponsored by Baker McVeigh International

©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

 

 

Fareedhat El Izz wins well on first run for James Owen

Fareedhat El Izz and Daniel Muscutt win the Emirates Breeders Novice at Newbury

©Debbie Burt

 

Thursday 13 June 2024 – Leading Iraqi owner breeder Dr Mohammed Al Nujaifi will be delighted with his home bred filly Fareedhat El Izz making a winning UK debut in the Emirates Breeders Novice Stakes and placing his colours in the Newbury winning circle 12 years after his Hilal Al Zaman won the Group 1PA Za’beel International. The four-year-old filly partnered by Daniel Muscutt had plenty of racecourse experience in Italy and France which she put to good use to overhaul recent winner Hadaaya, ridden by Tom Marquand. They pulled clear of Rich Pulls Pitch and Oisin Murphy, one of two debutants for Al Asayl and Hugo Palmer, though she kept on well to keep third.

Effectively a winner without a penalty having been disqualified for minor interference in Italy last November, she was a ready winner here and looked well suited by the seven furlong trip, despite that near success over 1m2f in Pisa. She also repaid her owners’ faith in his aim to renew his support UK Arabian racing, as she was his first UK runner since 2017. She has recently joined the Newmarket stable of James Owen and is his third Arabian winner of the season, which places him at the top of the ARO trainer leaderboard.

Watch Fareedhat El Izz and Daniel Muscutt win the Emirates Breeders Novice at Newbury

Quotes: 

Daniel Muscutt, jockey, 1^st: “I wasn’t able to get any cover so I just left her on her own at the front end and she set good even fractions on her own accord and she seemed to enjoy me not pulling her about too much, she found a good rhythm in front and every time I gave her a squeeze she picked up nicely and saw the trip out really well. She didn’t mind the ground and she could hopefully go on to better things. She seemed like she enjoyed herself today.”

Lissie Reeves, Arabian assistant trainer, 1^st: “That was really nice, she ran really well. The Group 2PA HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup at Windsor will most likely be next, she’s proven today that she’s ready for that.”

Val Bunting, Racing and Breeding Manager, Al Nujaifi Racing, 1st: “We are delighted with our first runner in UK since 2017. Fareedhat El Izz is a homebred filly so that makes it even more special. She is not a straightforward filly and her former trainers Endo Botti (Italy) and François Rohaut (France) have all played a big part. We thank James Owen and his team for the result today.”

Phil Collington, trainer, 2^nd, 5^th: “I need to watch it back again, I think coming here today we were scratching our heads a bit as we didn’t know how good the Lingfield race was that he’d won. Mobaasher looks to have finished the same distance behind Hadaaya as he did at Lingfield. Hadaaya was running with a penalty, but Mobaasher was still very immature in his race, but he was better behaved than he was at Lingfield. Connor [Planas] did everything we asked for, and he will stay further. I wouldn’t be too disappointed with him and of course he’s only three.”

Daniel Muscutt, Fahreedhat El Izz and Lissie Reeves winners of the Emirates Breeders Novice Stakes at Newbury

© Debbie Burt

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer:  “We are thrilled for all at Al Nujaifi Racing and the James Owen team for the win of Fareedhat El Izz. It is particularly pleasing to see returning owners gain success, and we’re also pleased to see Al Asayl place with their first UK trained filly Rich Pulls Pitch, though of course they have won PA Group races here before with overseas trained runners. 

“We thank The Arabian Racehorse magazine for sponsoring the Best Turned Out Award presented to Sue Wileman for Assassen and look forward to making a quick return to action at Bath on Saturday.”

 

Lissie Reeves receives the trophy for the Emirates Breeders Novice Stakes on behalf of Al Nujaifi Racing from Genny Haynes

©Debbie Burt