THEARABIAN RACEH O RSE
THEARABIAN RACEH O RSE
Autumn-2025
4UAEPresidentCup-UKArabianDerby RacePreview
7UAEPresidentCup-UKArabianDerby PastWinners
8UAEPresidentCup-UKArabianDerby RaceHistory
10VictoryFromTheDesert-Review
12ARO2025SeasonReview
Frontcover:LuwsailandIoritzMendizabalgoto postforthe2024UAEPresidentCup-UK ArabianDerby
WelcometothisspecialeditionofTheArabian RacehorsepreviewingEurope'smostvaluablerace forfour-year-oldArabians.
YearonyearArabianracingcontinuestogrow aroundtheworldandwiththeincreaseinprize moneyforsuchevents,suchastheHHTheAmir Sword,theSaudiCup,theDubaiWorldCupandthe ArcdeTriomphemeetings,aswellastheprestigious UAEPresidentCupseries,internationalinterestin
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theseracesgrowswithit.
Wealsogetanexclusivefirstlookatthelongawaited autobiographyofUAEchampionownerbreederKhalidKhalifaAlNabooda's 'VictoryfromtheDesert' www.thearabianracehorse.com
DebbieBurt Editor,TheArabianRacehorse
Unlessotherwisestated,allfeatures,reportsandphotographsarebyDebbieBurt(copyright) Allrightsreserved.Printcopiesmaybeordered.Photographsmaybeviewedandpurchased at www.equinecreativemedia.smugmug.com
UAEPresidentCup-UKArabianDerby (Group1PA)Doncaster1m2f
RacePreview
LippoDeCarrere(FR)andSoufianeSaadiwinthePurebredArabian4YOCuponBreedersDayat AlRayyanatthe2025HHTheAmirSwordFestival
Asisusuallythecase,theformfromtheQatar DerbydesPur-SangArabesde4Ans(Gr1PA) atChantillyiskeyatDoncaster.Thisyear’s runningproducedabunchedfinishandmost willgotoTownMoorhopingtheycanimprove ontheirfinishingpositionsinFrance.In previousyears,FrenchArabianDerbywinners havelookedtodoubleupintheUK,however withthisyear’swinnerHajmahbeingafilly,the Group1PAQatarTrophydesJumentsat ParisLongchampontheSaturdayofArc weekendisthemostobvioustarget,whereshe willbebackagainstherownsex.
LippoDeCarrerehasdoneplentyfortravelling forayoungcolt,bredinFrancebutstartingoff inAbuDhabiatthreeforpreviousconnections, beforecontinuingasuccessfulrunofformin QatarafterhissubsequentsaletoWathnan Racing,inthecapablehandsofAlbande Mieulle.HoweverMoneerlooksfarfroma secondstring,bredinthepurple,outofthe top-classMuneera,herselfahalf-sistertothe
evenclassierAlShomoos,heisoneoffoursons ofAlMourtajezintherace.ReunitedwithJeanBernardEyquemhecouldreversetheChantilly formwithLippoDeCarrere.
AlMourtajezhasbeenresponsibleforthelast twowinnersinAlDohaandLuwsail,anditis interestingtoseeLuwsail’sbrotherShaihaan supplementedfortheraceattheweekend. Provenatthetrip,albeitatalowerlevel,he lookedtotakeagoodholdintheDerbywhen triedblinkers,whichhavebeenexchanged hereforcheekpieces.Healsohasthebenefitof atopUKjockeyinTomMarquandwhowill knowthetrackbetterthanmostintheline-up, thoughIoritzMendizabalonLino,istheonly jockeyridingtohavewontheracetwice.
AlTheebrepresentstherace’smostsuccessful trainer,ThomasFourcy,andcarriesthefirst coloursofAlShaqabwithFalehBughaniam wearingthem.HepartneredhimatChantilly wheretheygotcaughtinapocketontherail.
Unfortunatelythisyear,noneofthedomestic contendershaveastrongclaimonratings, howevertheprizemoneyforsixthplaceisstill verygood.AllthreewerebredinFrance, MdawibeingaproductofAlShaqab,starting hiscareerwithnoneotherthanlastyear’s winningtrainerFrancoisRohaut.Thoughthisis abigstepupinclassforallthree,helooksbest suitedtothistrip.
ALTHEEBOR106
4yocAzadixTheeba(Amer) Cheekpieces(1st)FalehBughaniam ThomasFourcyAlShaqabRacing
Unracedatthreeandfinishedjustoverfour lengthsthirdtoMoneerondebutinthePrixAl Sakbe(1900m)whenstayingonatLaTesteon goodgroundinApril.Wonnexttimestepped upto2100matToulouse(holding),twoanda halflengthsclearofthesecond,whohaswon since.SeventhintheQatarDerbydesPur-Sang Arabesde4AnsatChantilly(goodtosoft), howeverhewaslastofabunchedfinish(three lengthscoveredthem)andwaswellclearofthe remainderofthefield.
Siregotthe2017winner(andFrenchDerby winner)Nafees.Damplacedatthisleveland distance,thoughallUKwinsoveramile.HalfbrothertoMethgal,adualGr1PAwinnerovera mileinQatar,alsowinnerofa7fGr3PAat Newbury.EmbryoTransfersisterGeneva, finishedfirstinthe2024QatarArabianTrophy DesPouliches,butwasdisqualified(whip).
LINOOR111
4yocAFAlbaharxEzza(Kerbella) TongueTie(1st)IoritzMendizabal EricDell’OvaYannickSchulz
Group3PAwineroveramileonhisfinalstartat threeatToulouseinthePrixCheriBibi(very soft),winningoverthesamecourseand distanceonreappearanceby13lengthsin March.NotenteredfortheFrenchDerby,but wastwoandthreequarterlengthssecondto Gr1PAwinningsprinter-milerAlWakrahinthe SanSebastienstageofthisseriesinAugust againstolderhorses.Beatenoverthistriplast season,butstrongernow.
SirehasgotAFMathmoonandCh’ezza,both multipleGr1PAwinneratthistrip.
MickaelBarzalona AlbandeMieulleWathnanRacing
Alreadyawell-travelledcolt,whowonand placedoveramileinAbuDhabibefore transferringtoQatar.Winningtwiceover 1750m,includingthe4yoraceonBreedersDay attheHHTheAmirSwordFestival,hewasthen secondintherelocated(andextended)Qatar SilverSwordover2100matAlUqdainApril, beatenalengthandahalf.Made hisEuropean debutintheFrenchArabianDerbywherehe wentdownbyhalfalengthtothefillyHajmah, havinghadtogowide,aroundMoneerandAl Theeb.
SirehasgotthelasttwoUKArabianDerby winners.Secondfoalfordamwhostayedwell, winningtwiceover2200mand2300m.Dam fromthefamilythathasproducedtopclass winnerssuchasGazwan,ArcDeCielandAreej.
MARAKEBOR60
4yogAlMourtajezxShayelAldhabi(BibiDe Carrere)
TongueTie(1st)BlinkersHectorCrouch MrOkbar AashourPharitzRacing
FourrunsforHugoPalmeratthree,finishing fourthintworunsoveramile(Good,Polytrack) andalsowhensteppedupto1m3fonthe TapetaatSouthwell.Changedhandsoverthe winterandreappearedforJamesOweninApril inaconditionseventatWolverhampton,where hemadelittleimpression.Makesdebutfor anothernewownerandtrainerhere.
Damwonover7fandfourstartsatamile, includingtheArabianTripleCrown(LRPA)and wasPAGroupplacedonturfanddirtinthe UAE.
MDAWIOR62
4yocAzadixUmGraibah(Amer) VisorGeorgeWood CharlieWallisFiveRacing
Notdisgracedatalowerleveloverunsuitably shortdistances.Runner-upondebutover7fon thePolytrackatLingfield,withhisbesteffort wasonlatest,steppedupto1m3fatSouthwell, beatenhalfalengthinafirst-timevisor (retained).Willbeoutclassedonfirsttryinthis company,butwillappreciatethetripandcould bethebestoftheUKtrainedrunners.
LIPPODECARREREOR115
4yocAlMourtajezxElmanaraDeCarrere(No RiskAlMaury)
Damwonover2100mand2200mandcomes fromtheblacktypeproducingfamilyofPraline DuCassou.
FrancoisRohautwithIoritzMendizabalandFaisalAlRahmaniafterLuwsail'swinin2025
MONEEROR112
4yocAlMourtajezxMuneera(Dormane) JeanBernardEyquem DamienDeWatrigantWathnanRacing
Closesecondonjuveniledebutover2100m (soft)atToulouseinOctoberforhisbreeder andmadeawinningreappearancefornew connectionsatLaTesteinAprilover1900m (good).Followedupovercourseanddistance intheGroup3PAPrixDormane–WathbaStud Farm(verysoft)andthirdatChantilly(oneand aquarterlengthsbehindLippoDeCarrere)in theFrenchequivalent.Reunitedtodaywith JeanBernardEyquemwhorodehimtobothhis victories.
BeautifullybredsonofAlMourtajezoutofthe QatarTotalArabianTrophydesJuments (FrenchArabianOaks)winnerMuneera,whois alsoahalf-sistertomultipleGr1PAwinnerAl Shomoos.
SHAIHAANOR110
4yocAlMourtajezxAlDowha(Munjiz) CheekPieces(1st)TomMarquand FrancoisRohautAlShaqabRacing
Theonlysupplementaryentryandanother unracedasajuvenile.Wonondebutin FebruaryatPauoverthistripandagainin Marchover100mmore(verysoft).Runner-up
intheGroup3PAPrixDamasinMayagainst olderhorsesoveramile,beatenalengthanda halfbyanotherfour-year-oldongood. ReappearingthefollowingmonthatChantilly hewasfifthinfirsttimeblinkersandabitkeen, alengthbehindMoneer,andlessthanalength aheadofAlTheeb.
Fullbrothertolastyear’swinnerLuwsail,he descendsfromtheexcellentblacktype producer,Nevadour.
HIBIKINADADU MAZETOR70
4yofHilalAlZamanxDjenteel(AlaCroixnoire) CheekPiecesMarcoGhiani JamesOwenOkewoodBloodstock
Lookedonetofollowasajuvenile,runner-up ondebutonthePolytrack,thenwinningovera mileonsoftbeatinganestablishedyardstick. Lostherwayinsubsequentstarts,though lookedtobereturningtoformlasttimeover7f. Makesquickreappearanceafterplacingthird atWindsoronMondayina0-75handicapover thistripongood.
SireGroup1PAwinningsprintermiler,dam won7racesintheUSAfrom6ftoamileanda sixteenth.
UAEPresidentCup-UKArabianDerby RaceHistory
TheUAEPresident’sCupistheworld’soldest PurebredArabianClassicseries,startingin 1994.
EnvisionedbythelateUAEfounder,Sheikh ZayedbinSultanAlNahyan,theaimwasto highlighttheimportanceofpurebredArabian horsesandtoelevatetheirstatuswhile celebratingtheheritageoftheEmiratesona globalscale.Today,theprestigiouscuphas becomeoneofthemostimportantandhistoric classicracesintheworld,attractingtheelite horsesofallArabianracingnations.
TheseriesissupportedandguidedbyHis HighnessSheikhMansourBinZayedAlNahyan, UAEVicePresident,DeputyPrimeMinisterand PresidentofthePresidentialCourt,reflecting hiscommitmenttodevelopingtheArabian horseracingindustryandsupportingArabian horseownersandbreedersworldwide.This supportunderscorestheUAE'splansto
maintainthestatureofArabianhorsesand enhancetheirglobalpresence.
Overthepast32years,theserieshasmadea notableinternationalimpact,highlightingthe UAE'srichequestrianlegacyanditspivotalrole inpreservingthejourneyoftheArabianhorse.
Currentlyspanning17countries,theracesare heldatsomeofthemosthistorictracksaround theworld.Mostareonhighprofilecards,such astheopeningraceinEurope,runonthesame cardastheEmiratesPouled’EsssaidesPoulains andthePoulichesinMayatParisLongchamp.
Thoughithasprevioussupportedtherace before(andotherPAGroupracesheldatother tracks)since2016,theUKstagehassponsored theUKArabianDerbyheldatDoncaster.Thisis nowconsidereditshome,anditisfittingthat theraceisheldonthesamedayastheUK’s oldestthoroughbredclassic,theStLeger.
Two-timeDoncasterracewinnerOlivierPeslier
CoincidingwithmarkingthedeathofBritain’s monarch,HMTheQueen,in2022,theracehad tobecancelled,andfortwosubsequentyears duetoprogrammingissuesitwasheldinmidAugust.However,for2025,theraceisbackto itsrightfulplaceontheStLegercard,givingit maximumexposuretosupportersoldandnew.
Since2016,everywinneroftheQatarDerby desPur-SangArabesde4Ans(Gr1PA)to contesttheracehaswon,Nafees(2017), RodessDuLoup(2018),Hayyan(2019),Hattal (2020).Abbesthewinnerin2021,hadbeen second,aswasAlDohain2023,whilstlast year’swinnerLuwsail,hadbeenthird.Nohorse hasreversedChantillyformatDoncasterto date.
Asyouwouldexpectforaraceofthiscalibre, themajorityofwinnershavegoneonto subsequentfuturesuccessatthehighestlevel.
TheRoyalCavalryofOman’sNafeessecured theDubaiInternational(Gr1PA)atNewburythe followingyear.HayyanandHattalYAS
Horseracing’sback-to-backwinners,wereboth exceptionalhorses,Hayyanlaterwinningthe DubaiKahaylaClassic,andHattaltwoPresident oftheUAECup-Couped'EuropedesChevaux Arabes(Gr1PA)inParis.
Abbes,whofinallygaveThomasFourcyawin aftermanyyearsoftrying,laterwentontowin theHHTheAmirSword(Gr1PA),Qatar’smost prestigiouscontest.Whilstthetwomostrecent winners,AlDohaandLuwsailhavealsogone ontowinsubsequenteditionsofthePresident oftheUAECup-Couped'EuropedesChevaux Arabes(Gr1PA).
Lastyear,theEmiratesedition,HHThe PresidentCup,wasmovedtoitsnewslotinthe ERAracingcalendarinDecember,withthe prizemoneyincreasedtoAED8million, concludingtheglobalserieswithaneye wateringprize.Thisyear’sracewillberunat AbuDhabion6December.
http://www.thepresidentcup.ae
VictoryFromTheDesert KhalidKhalifaAlNabooda
VictoryFromTheDesertBreedingPurebredArabianRacehorses AmidstTheDunes
Apre-publicationreview
KhalidKhalifaAlNaboodahaschampioned ArabianracehorsebreedingintheEmiratesfor welloverthirtyyearsandagainstall expectations,hassucceeded,notoncebut twice,inbreedingthewinnerofitsmost prestigiousraceforArabians,theDubai KahaylaClassic.Hehasalsoachievedthe uniquefeatofbeingchampionowneronsix occasionsandisboththeonlyprivateownerto achievethisfeatandtheonlyownertowinjust withPurebredArabianhorses.
Inevitablymanypeoplehavebeggedhimto recordhisexperiencestosharewithother ownerbreeders,aswellastoencouragethose
juststartingout,andithasalwaysbeenhiswish todoso.Thisautumnitisexpectedtoseethe publicationofhislong-awaitedtestimony,a combinationofbothautobiographyanda manualofrecommendationswhichhehopes mayeasetheroutetosuccessofthosethat followonbehindhim.
VictoryFromTheDeserttakesthereaderback tothebeginning,totheboywhofindsheis allergictotheonethinghelovesmost,horses. Itrevealshow,withthesupportofhisdear motherand‘secondmother’HHSheikha ShaikhabintSaeedAlMaktoum,hefindsaway toovercomethischallenge,andwithstrict guidancefromhisfather,setinmotionthe principalsthathaveservedhimthroughouthis journey.
Hisallergieswerejustthefirstofmanytrials whichwouldsurelyhavedeterredalesser
2019DubaiKahaylaClassicwinnerAFMaherwithKhalidKhalifaAlNabooda, riddenbyTadhgO'SheaandtrainedbyErnstOertel
person.Havingpurchasedaroundtwenty Thoroughbredmarestoestablishastud,notin Europe,butintheEmirates,helearnsfromhis mentor,theLateHHSheikhHamdamAl Maktoum,thatthebreedingofThoroughbreds intheircountrywasnotgoingtobesupported. However,hesuggestedthathemighttrywith Arabians,whoshouldbebettersuitedtothe climaticconditionsoftheregion,butoffered himlittlehopeofsuccess.
Hisdedicationtoresearchingeverythinghe could, atatimebeforetheinternetcouldreveal theworldatyourfingertipsisimpressive, coupledwithhisabilitytoseekoutlasting friendshipsacrossthehorsebreedingand racingnationsinordertofurtherhisgoals. Throughmanyyearsoftrialanderror,alsoat considerableexpense,hehasbrushedaside themanydisappointmentstoestablishhimself inthetoptenofEmiratiowners,buildingasolid teambehindhim.
Therecanbenogreaterjoythantoproveyour doubterswrong,andtogiftyourmosttalented horsetoyourmentorandseeitwinyour countriesbiggestraceintheircoloursmustbe themostsincerestformofgratitude.Herelives someofhisgreatestachievements,thatofAF MathmoonwinningtheKahaylaforSheikh Hamdan,thenwinningithimselfwithAF Maher,alongwithAFAlwajel’sNationalDay Cup,allsignificantmilestones.Healsoreveals thestorybehindthepurchaseofAlHanouf, whothroughhersons,AFAlBuraqandAF Albahar,hasbecomeoneofthemostimportant broodmaresinthesportshistory.
ThebookwillbeprintedinArabic,Englishand Frenchversionsandwillbeavailableworldwide throughPressBoxPublishing,publicationdate tobeannounced.
https://pressboxpublishing.co.uk
ARO2025
AnotherpositiveseasonforUKArabianRacing
FareedhatElIzzandFredDalyopentheiraccountfor2025 atChepstowintheAlNujaificolours
The2025UKArabianracingseason continuestodevelopfromthesolid foundationsthatwereestablishedbythe ArabianRacingOrganisation(ARO) followingitspurchasebytheArenaRacing Company(ARC).Prizemoneyincreases, someofwhicharesignificant,andthe additionofanewPAListedraceforfillies andmarestoencouragebreedersareall positiveindicationsofasportrebuilding itselffromthegroundup.
Prizemoneyisalwaysaconcernandwith thesportsfutureassured,thisseasonthe minimumprizemoneyhasagainincreased, goingfrom£4,000in2024to£6,000per race.Ofevengreaternewswasthe increasegiventothefeatureraceforfouryear-olds,theUKArabianDerby,underits
sponsorshipbytheUAEPresidentCup series,whichishasbeenraisedfrom £80,000to£400,000,makingitthemost valuableraceinEuropeconfinedtothat agegroup.
Thisundoubtedlyhasimprovedthe numberofqualityofhorsesenteringand whilsttheUKdoesn’tcurrentlyhavea domesticallybredandownedfour-year-old ratedin100’s,thecompetitionforthe lowerendoftheprizemoneyscalehas encouragedmoreentries.Inaddition,a supplementaryentrywasalsoreceived whichisafirstinrecenttimes.Thepublicity thatstagingaraceofthisvalueonahighprofilethoroughbredcardcanonlybea goodthing,encouragingpeoplenewto thesporttoinvestigatefurther.
AROalsowelcomedanewsponsorinAl NujaifiRacing,whoareintheirsecond seasonofUKracinghavingreturnedin 2024afteranabsence.Thoughprimarily basedacrossFrance,IraqandSaudiArabia, theadditionofthreefilliestotheUKroster wasapplauded,withFareedhatElIzz securingthreewinsandaplacetogainthe leadingArabianawardof2025.AlNujaifi RacingalsosponsoredanewListedPArace forfilliesandmaresworth£15,000(wonby FareedhatElIzz),whichalsoincludedafree nominationtotheirpromisingyoung stallionAmirAlZamantothehighest placedBritishownedmareintherace.
ThisencouragedalargenumberofBritish homebredstoparticipate,withthe nominationwonbyWendayHassallwith Victoria.Hassallhascampaignedtwo
Arabianmaresthisyear,havingalso returnedtothesportafteranabsence,both wereboughtprivatelyfromotherUK trainers,andshehasbeendelightedwith thesuccessshehasgainedwithVictoria, whilstGalacticGirl,boughtasmaiden,isstill aworkinprogress.
AnotheroverseasnewcomertoUKArabian racinglastyearwasBaderSalamaMubarak Al-Hatlani.AKuwaitibusinessman,hehad purchasedaNoRiskAlMaurycolt, Mobaasher,fromtheShadwelldispersal, keepingitwithPhilCollingtonuntilitwas readytorace.Thoughplacedlastseason, hehasdevelopedintoagoodlooking individual,andbrokehismaidenat BrightoninAugust,afirstforaKuwaiti ownedhorseintheUK.
AlGhadeerandChristopheSoumillonwinthe2025QatarInternationalStakes(Gr1PA)
Internationalsuperstarandtheworld’s highestratedArabian,AlGhadeer,bredby DrMohammadAlNujaifiandnowowned byAlShaqabRacing,beganhisrecordbreakingattemptforathirdDohaTriple CrownatGoodwoodinJulyintheQatar InternationalStakes,sponsoredthisyearby VisitQatar.Heagainaccountedforhis rivals,andthoughbothtrainerFrancois RohautandjockeyChristopheSoumillon werecautiousaboutkeepingthesix-yearoldathispeakforanotherseason,heisstill ontrackforathirdsuccessivetitledefence.
Howeverithasnotjustbeenaboutthebignameinternationals,asAROhasalso workedhardtomaintainandbringin smallersponsors,eitherinfullorpart sponsorshipofraces.Whilstsomearelong establishedinthesportsuchastheUSA’s CreRunFarm,orthismagazine,others suchasvets,BakerMcVie,transporter RapidoRacingorNewmarketEquineSalt
Therapy,havehadonlyaminor involvementthroughclients.
Otherssuchasenvironmentalconsultancy, CarbonNetZero,orTrackside,whoreport livefromracecourses,arecompletelynew toArabianracing.
Plansarealreadywellunderwayfornext season,withAROplanningasimilar programmeofracesasfor2025.
The2025AROseasonconcludesatBathon 30September,withTheArabianRacehorse magazineinassociationwithTrackside0-60 HandicapStakesrunoveronemiletwo furlongs.This,likethemajorityofUK ArabianracesisavailabletowatchonSky SportsTV,witharchivefootagealways availableontheAROYouTubepage.
https://www.aroracing.co.uk
ArabianRacing
Globallythereare 7Group1PurebredArabian(PA) racesworth $1million ormore
The QatarInternationalStakes (Qatar GoodwoodFestival) Group1PA withaprize fundof £400,000,isthemostvaluableArabian racesover1milein Europe
SinceJanuary2021BHAlicensedthoroughbredtrainers mayalsotrainArabians
ExistingThoroughbredownersmayalsoownArabians throughsoleownership,partnerships,syndicatesandracing clubsandarealsoeligibleforROAmembership
AnArabians’Classicyearisasa 4yearold.The UAE PresidentCup(UKArabianDerby) (StLegerRacing Festival) Group1PA hasaprizefundof £400,000 and isthemostvaluable 4yearoldonly racein Europe
CreRun-CreatingRunners sponsoringracesintheUK
TheforemostArabianracehorsebreedingprogramintheUSAforoverthreedecades isproudtosupportUKArabianracing.
WecongratulateIZENTERISKY(GB)bredandownedbySheilaCollington, trainedbyherhusbandPhilipandriddenbyDougieCostello,winnerofthe CreRunFarm0-75HandicapStakesatRoyalWindsoron8September2025
LeadingLifetimeBreedersandOwnersofArabianRacehorsesintheUSA BredandRacedUSandInternationalChampions,includingtwo-timeKahaylaClassicwinner,FIRSTCLASSS CreRunFarmofferspartnershipandleasingoptionsforracingaswellason-locationbroodmareleasing
Pleasecontactusforfurtherinformationonhowtobreed,ownorleaseyournextchampion
