Ten Furlongs Magazine Volume 6 Issue 2 (2022-23) by Secretariat's World - HTML preview

While watching the latest racing in the GCC,

I felt a complete shift of energy. After

summer, it seems that racing is finally

Editor’s

resetting, as the newest 2YO and 3YO come

through to the tracks to prove their mettle

against the more tried and tested lot.

Note

The Bahrain International Trophy was a

revelation with Saeed bin Suroor taking

EVEREST DIARIES

home two trophies.

MAGAZINE

Quality and quantity have returned to the

UAE tracks with the capital’s turf track

hosting its biggest meeting of the season,

highlighted by the Group One AED 5 million

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel

Crown.

In this issue, we speak to four trainers

racing in the UAE about their plans for the

season.

Enjoy Reading

THE TEAM

Pal avi

Editor-in-Chief: Pallavi Shevade

Shevade

Senior Journalist: Nitin Konde

Editorial Planning Manager: Archana Bansode

Editorial Associate: Ramzy Abdul Kalam

Design & Mkt Manager: Ritesh Jamkhedkar

Data Associate: Sonali Ambekar

Assistant Publisher: Pareekshita Bhat

Advertising Sales Manager: Ishan Pandey

Editor-in-Chief

TS

TENNOTF 2 2022C

EDITOR'S NOTE

3

THOMAS FOURCY PLANNING AHEAD

9

FOR THE GCC RACING SEASON

DARREN BUNYAN'S GIGANTIC 2023

15

OBJECTIVES

A DISCUSSION WITH JEAN DE 24

COVER: SAEED BIN SUROOR WALKING

24

ROUALLE, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS

WITH DUBAI FUTURE AT AL AL SAKHIR

NAMES IN HORSE RACING

RACE COURSE

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FEATURE

Thomas Fourcy / Thomas Fourcy

THOMAS FOURCY PLANNING AHEAD FOR

THE GCC RACING SEASON

“"Horses make you who you are; our role is to shape them in a way that allows them to express

the best of themselves."

An unstoppable force in Arabian horse training,

Thomas Fourcy has made his mark on the sport

of kings.

He led Hadi De Carrere to win the US$2 million

Arabian feature race in Riyadh on the Saudi Cup

undercard while his other star 6YO, Lady

Princess, won the Gr.1 Qatar International

Stakes, the prestigious Gr.1 HH The Amir Sword,

and the Jewel Crown.

Lady Princess' Success Story Thomas Fourcy’s victory at Goodwood racecourse was especially memorable as Lady Princess defeated three

Qatar Arabian World Cup winners, Ebraz, Tayf, 09

and Hoggar de l’Ardus.

He has won over 2000 Group One races, with another forty wins in Group One and many more in Group and Listed Company.

Last season, the Frenchman saw his two runners finish first and second in the largest race meet in Abu Dhabi, the Jewel Crown.

In Group 1, his two runners—LLady Princess and Hoggar De L’Ardes—ccame home first and second in the $1.36 million event.

"They were the two highest-rated horses on the field, and they were also winners of Group 1

prizes, so we were hopeful," Fourcy told the media.

With Jim Crowley on board, Lady Princess came home late to beat her stablemate under Maxime Guyon by three lengths.

Last season saw him prepare three runners, with the third being Hadi De Carrere, who ran third in the Dubai Kahayla Classic and saw Fourcey take $4.3 million in race earnings for the season.

2022-2023 GCC Racing Season

"The winter objectives will be the same as last year, starting with Abu Dhabi with Lady Princess,"

Fourcy said.

This year, the 6-year-old has won four Group One races, including the Qatar International Stakes and the Qatar Arabian World Cup.

"The mare has recovered very well from the World Cup; she is in great shape."

"She is extraordinary, and travelling does not bother her." In February, she will go back to Doha for the Emir's Sword to try to win the Triple Crown.

Thomas Fourcy is proud of his stable star, Lady Princess, as he should be from her performances to date.

"She arrived in training as a new 3YO. She was at the Haras du Saubouas with Paul Basquin, who had bought her from Mr. Bellot on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Deymonaz.

"She had made a pleasant winning start and was spotted and bought on the same day by Mr.

Gérard Larrieu on behalf of Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari.

"She is a small mare with great strength and, above all, a big heart. She has her own character, but she is quite easy to train.

"She is a classy mare. "As long as she is fit and healthy, she will give her best on the track."

The trainer will take the four-year-old Af Albahar-Manella runner Sahab, as well as No Tear Al Maury, to Doha for the derbies in December.

10

In Fourcy's stable, Hadi de Carrere is a

"I loved horses and speed, so when I was 14

crown jewel.

years old, my mother enrolled me in the

AFASEC school, where I learned the jockey

This season, Hoggar de l’Ardus and Lady

Princess will race the Emir Sword at the end

trade."

of February. Hadi de Carrere will prepare in

France in January and then go to Saudi

He recalls starting his apprenticeship with Mr.

Arabia at the beginning of March and to

Deroualle, the master trainer.

Dubai at the end of March.

"Hadi De Carrere represents my training and

"I was rather tall, so Mr. Deroualle

Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari's.

recommended me to Guillaume Macaire, a

jumping stable.

"He showed great ability as a 3YO, and so we did not race him as a 4YO." We have

preserved him for the big races. He

"I then joined Arnaud Chaille-Chaille's

confirmed his superior skills when he won

training as a jockey; this is where I discovered

the Obayia Classic in Riyadh.

Arabian horses."

"He is a horse with a lot of action; his The biggest inspiration

toughness and willingness show that he is

not bothered by the projections."

"Above all, someone who changed the course of my professional life was Hassan Mousli, a

"He is a horse made for dirt; he will have the breeder and owner of Arabian horses who

same programme as last year."

encouraged me to become a trainer in 2013."

He will admit he has come a long way in his The stable can count on these stable stars after Group One winners Tayf and Khataab

training journey, and that at the end of the were retired following the Qatar Arabian

day, the equine stars he gets to work with are

World Cup last year.

a great motivator for the stable’s success.

Thomas Fourcy respects the quality of

"I think my inspiration comes mainly from my horses his stable has to contend with but

knows their ability and, with his marquee

horses." I was lucky enough to train

training, understands that they can remain

exceptional horses very early in my career, competitive.

which allowed me to take on challenges that gave me confidence.

"The other competitors in the races are quality horses, and some of them are surface

specialists, but I have confidence in my

"My greatest daily pleasure is to see my horses horse."

evolve in training."

Growing up on a farm in the north of France,

"I enjoy getting them ready and taking them to Fourcey used to race ponies in the apple

orchards with children from neighbouring

competitions and have had great joy in many

farms, which was the beginning of his love races because I have been lucky enough to

for the animal.

train several great horses." Everyone is different in character and background, and

"Unfortunately, my father died when I was you have particular affinities at different times ten years old, and my mother could not

continue the farm on her own, so I had to in your life as well.

choose a path."

11

"If I had to remember one race in particular, I would say the victory in Doha in the Grade 1 H.H.

Amir Sword (2015) with Al Mourtajez, owned by His Excellency Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani and bred by Hassan Mousli."

"It was a great first prestigious victory abroad for me, and Mousli had such a large influence on me early on, so it was very important." "Winning the big races gives me a lot of joy."

"The owners also had a lot to do with helping me succeed." They pushed me to the limit sometimes, but knowing my horses and understanding their condition helped me accept challenges that I would not have dared as a young trainer.

"His Excellency Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani wanted to see Mister Ginoux and Al Mourtajez run in the major events in Doha in the second year of my installation as a trainer in 2015.

"We won the two Group One matches, and that gave me the confidence to prepare for other big events."

Development of Racing in the Middle East

He is a great advocate for racing and the increased opportunities for racing throughout the Middle East.

"The development of major races in the Middle East has presented an opportunity to travel to represent French training and breeding, which is a great thing."

"We are fortunate to have very good-age horses to compete in the premier events, and we are supported and encouraged by our owners."

"The competition from abroad is increasingly good, and it is interesting to compare our French horses with those from other countries."

Team with Hadi de carrere and Lady Princess / Thomas Fourcy 14

Darren and his dogs checking the going at Curragh Racecourse / Darren Bunyan DARREN BUNYAN'S GIGANTIC 2023

OBJECTIVES

With the year coming to an end, multi-group winning Irish trainer Darren Bunyan shares his reflections on the transition to a new yard and his plans for J.J. Jumbo in Dubai.

"This year has been a bit of a transition." We've moved to a new yard. We probably have one of the best yards I have ever come across. The facilities are fantastic here.

"It's been like a building process for us and the horses, as well." A lot of our older horses have gone on to second careers, and we have a large

number of yearlings brought in this year with some new owners. Moreover, some existing

owners have reinvested in yearlings.

"It looks like we are going to have our biggest number of 2-year-olds next year. There is an awful lot to look forward to. We probably have the nicest bunch of yearlings that I can

remember.

15

"There is a lot of excitement around the yard at the moment." "Everybody has been looking forward to next year very much," he said.

The Jumbo Moment

With many new horses lined up to train at Bunyan's stables, there is one particular talk of the town: a chestnut colt called J J Jumbo, for whom Bunyan has high hopes.

"If he were a human, he'd be your best friend." Everybody who meets him loves him. He's a character in all ways. He's a beautiful horse to work with; nothing seems to ever phase him—he's just a really solid horse.

"Last winter was a work in progress with him going to the carnival." I sent him out mainly for the climate, and I've always believed that he's a horse that will go on the dirt, which is unusual for a European horse and particularly with his breeding.

"I was 100% sure that J.J. (Jumbo) would go on the surface even though he hadn't run on it, but he developed a huge amount during the last carnival with the climate being to our benefit.

"When he came home, I gave him a short break, but we had one of our best summers in years, and he went from a really good climate in Dubai to a really good climate here." "He is a pure powerhouse now," said the Irish trainer.

Winning on home ground

The William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap win at Dundalk over 7 furlongs was very memorable for the softly spoken Irishman. However, Sultan Saeed Mohammed Harib Alfalahi's 3YO hasn't been delivering the expected wins, finishing tenth at Dundalk recently.

"He's just been out of luck the last couple of runs he's had." That's racing for you. Not everything works every day.

If you go back to his run in France, that was a huge run. It must have appeared insane to send him to France.but he beat them just the same.

"He went out and he really stepped up." He was only caught near the line that day. He's won in Ireland, which is one of the most competitive countries in the world for racing, so he's able to back up good runs.

"As I say, every horse has its day." When things didn't go right for him on his last day of racing, even though it was a good run, he was defeated. It was a run, but we didn't see the real J.J. at all on the

Redzel n

ight. "E

/ Punters verything has to fall your way, or it will cost you at the finish line," said Bunyan.

17

J J Jumbo after finishing 3rd at Meydan 2022 / Darren Bunyan J.J. Jumbo Visits Dubai

The trainer is no stranger to racing at Meydan, having brought many horses to Dubai in the past decade.

"J. J. Jumbo is aimed at just three races so far. He will stick to the dirt this year when he goes out there.

"There's a beautiful programme for him there this year." The races are well spaced, and everything seems to have fallen into place.

"I am very sure he'd be strongly competitive out there this year," said the Irishman with quiet confidence.

Bunyan Wishes For An Easy Victory In Dubai

The competition and the pressure at the carnival can be taxing, and with so much strategizing—

from what horses to take to considering potential riders, such as Robert Whearty or others—

Bunyan has a lot on his mind.

"The opposition, if you could get them all to stay at home and let us just run, that would be great!

19

"There are a lot of things to factor in." It's a big responsibility for people who go there and look after these horses. They do a fantastic job out there. I always fly ahead of any horses we send. I love seeing the horses arrive and seeing how they have travelled. For me, that's very important.

If you stay at home, it could be the wrong thing to do at the time.

"Safe travel is one of the most important parts of a horse's journey." "It sets up the whole Carnival—how your horse has travelled and what you do with him going forward from there,"

said the handler who has travelled to Champions and won on the top racecourses in the world.

"You know every jockey in the world gets it wrong at some stage, but Rob seems to get things right a lot more." "The owner, Sultan, and myself, we'll obviously talk about it before then."

Speaking of J.J. Jumbo's owner, Sultan Saeed Mohammid Harib Alfalahi, he said, "He is a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable owner and breeder who loves his horses." He's from Dubai and is a great owner to have in the yard. He's been a good friend. In addition to J.J. Jumbo, he also has some gorgeous yearlings with us for the coming year. "We're very much looking forward to having a big year of success for him next year as he grows his operation internationally."

In discussing his plans for the carnival, Bunyan reveals that there is more to J.J. Jumbo's career than currently meets the eye.

"J. J. is a horse that I believe will be competitive in the carnival." He could run in other countries.

We're not just aiming for the carnival; there's a big international programme for horses like him.

"J. J. likes to jump and travel; he's a six- to seven-furlong horse." He has a huge amount of speed when he gets out and gets going. He's a hard horse to pass when things go right for him.

Darren with his team at Curragh gal ops / Darren Bunyan 20

Similar to Father, Similar to Son

"I'd love to be chasing big winners all over the world, and I think maybe 60 to 80 horses

The passion for the King of Sports grew as would be enough," he said.

the multiple Group and Listed race-winning

Irish trainer watched his father train as he Going down memory lane

grew up.

"I was very proud of Hit the Bid the night he

"My dad worked in racing for over 60 years. I spent my childhood out in the stable yard, won in Dubai. It was a race that meant a lot to

and I have never been interested in anything

me as a small trainer going up on a stage like

else than horses. I was glad when I got to the

that. When you stand back and look at the age that I could leave school and spend all stands, it was amazing. I couldn't speak more

my time out in the yard rather than just

highly of it.

mornings, early mornings, and late evenings.

"Another race memory I cherish is with my

"I suppose I have never known anything else; brother. My brother and I went to

they have always fascinated me." You could Cheltenham one year with a horse that I had

never get bored when you're around a horse

bought for him. He won the St. Patrick's Day

because every day is different. It's a process

Derby at the Cheltenham Festival. He rode

that you will never finish learning. You could

the horse for cancer research. My dad had

work in racing for a hundred years and still

learn something new every day until the day

passed away from cancer many years

you die with them."I've always loved them,"

previously. We won the race on the same day

said the trainer, reflecting back on his

with the whole family present. "That meant a career.

lot to me."

The victories yet to be had

For the globe-trotting Irish trainer, Darren Bunyan, his passion for the sport is evident, Bunyan has a number of iconic races in mind

but what sets him apart from other trainers is

to win over the next decade.

his attention to detail, his love for the

experience, and of course his connection with

"I'd love to win any race on World Cup each horse.

night."That would keep me happy. One race

I've always had in my head, mainly because no European trainer has won it, is the

Kentucky Derby. I would love to have a horse

for that.

"But really, in any Group I tournament worldwide, I would be very keen to give it a

shot, but with the right horse."

Erica Rasmussen photography - Darren and

wife Gillian with Hit The Bid at Meydan /

Darren Bunyan

21

Jean De Roual e / Al Jazeera Stables

A DISCUSSION WITH JEAN DE

ROUALLE, ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS

NAMES IN HORSE RACING

“I feel alive every morning - If one day you have to wake up early and I say it’s boring then I have to go to the track again as it’s time to end it!”

Humble and massive in character, Jean de

Roualle is one of the largest personalities in the horse racing industry, and in two months he will

celebrate forty years of training himself.

He spoke with Ten Furlongs about his four-

decade career and what he has planned for the future.

Even without a family history in horse racing, the passion for horses came at an early age, as the trainer told us.

"We have been around horses since we were very, very young—I always had an interest in them," de Roualle said.

"Not specifically in horse racing, but we had been riding since we were four years old. "All horses get my interest—polo,

24

show jumping, hunting horses, which my

"After that time, he came to me and said it dad had, and racing, of course."

was time to get my own training licence," a memory that brings a smile to de Roualle’s After his one-year duty in the army, as is the

face on reflection.

requirement in France, he would decide to

study at university while he eased into the He would receive his first licence on January

racing world—where passion truly lies.

1st, 1983, and he recalls the fact that he has been in this industry and successfully training

He would go on to complete his disciplines consistently for such a long time.

in business and economics before being

given the option of either working for a

"In two months, I will have been a trainer for company in Paris or going to the United

forty years—can you believe it?"

States to pursue the horse racing industry.

With this experience, he has learned much

along the way, and some of those lessons have

De Roualle would choose the latter, to the been not only for the horses he trains but also

disappointment of his father, but it is a

personal lessons for himself.

choice he will never look back on.

He places significant importance on the need

"He was extremely disappointed! He had

to introduce his runners to the racetrack

great expectations for me; I did not know

early and sees it as an education that is what he thought. If I were to become the

imperative for any horse that he receives.

President of France or something like that,

"Instead, I went to muck stables for two

"Arabic horses are new to me; I discovered years in Kentucky.

them seven years ago when I came to the

UAE. For my entire life, I have been training

"I went to Kentucky, and I worked on two thoroughbreds. But, whatever the horse is,

farms (Bedford and Spendthrift). At Bedford,

education, or schooling when they are young,

I was taking care of brood mares and the

is the foundation.

breeding section.

"Thirty years ago, for financial reasons, only

"At Spendthrift, I was in charge of four trainers used to bring yearlings to school

stallions, so I learned about all the best them to do the whole job and get them ready."

pedigrees in the world and the best horses in

Now they send their young horses to the pre-

the world—this pushed me to come back to

training centre to prepare them because

Paris."

training fees are extremely high all over the world, but you need to run your business.

Arriving back home, he started at one of the

largest and most well-known training

"I think pre-training is important to school centres in France, the Chantilly Training

the horses, but it takes more than that." I feel Center, becoming an assistant to the

people make mistakes because they think that

legendary late trainer Francois Boutin for

for a cheap price, they can have their horse four years.

ready to run, and it simply does not work that

way.

25

"If you overrun, you are in a hurry, and you will make a mistake and ruin your chances with the horse."

With a career that has seen him train 37 Group One aircraft, including seven of those in the UAE, his lessons are important.

Caerlina won the Prix de Diane (the French Oaks) in France, the country's first classic race for fillies, in 1991, eight years after obtaining his training license.

"That was massive for me as it was my first Group One, and it helped me a lot in my career."

Although he is proud of his career, he does not like to pick favorites, as he sees it as unfair to all the others that have been and will be under his guidance in the future.

"I never like to compare horses; some people ask me who the best horse I ever trained was, but I don’t think it is nice to give a name." Forty years after getting my license, I am sure horses go faster than they used to, and when you see horses like FlightLine winning the Breeders Cup, I am certain that the athletes have changed.

"Although I must admit, I don’t know why mostly fillies have been more successful for me than colts, and I have had some amazing fillies." Queen Maud won three group races in France and won in Hong Kong on International Day.

One horse that he has spoken fondly about is Satwa Queen and what she did for his career after winning a Group One in 2007, the last he won before leaving France for the UAE.

"Well, she was a marvellous mare!

"Satwa Queen’s owner was living in Dubai and the UK, and he named her Satwa Queen because at that time he was living in Satwa in Dubai.

Richie Mul en and Jean De Roual e at Al Ain / Al Jazeera Stables 27

"This filly won this last group one, which was the Prix de la Opera on Arc Day. We had a marvellous time and a lot of fun with her going to Hong Kong and going to the Breeders Cup.

"She won five group races, including two group ones."

The move to the UAE from France came after three attempts to persuade him to relocate, and it was widely publicised at the time.

"My major owner at that time had a lot of horses with me, but he stopped racing for personal reasons, and my other owner passed away." I still had around fifty horses in training at that time.

"I must be honest with you and say that I did not have a positive attitude or feeling about the future. Will I be able to find somebody who is able to find or breed nice horses?

"Because if you don’t have the opportunity to find great horses, training average horses is boring, my friend," the master trainer says, vulnerable and humble but understandably aware of what he brought to the table with his multitude of experience and successes.

"We wake up very early in the morning, and it's a lot of hard work." You have to be passionate—

all trainers will tell you that. And at the same time, they contacted me.

"They came to see me in France three times and made propositions to me, and it was hard for me at the time because I had a lot of staff at the time, so I had to think about everything and everybody in my team."

"I had to get everything organized, and finally the third time they came prepared, and I said yes because what they proposed to me, I could not refuse."

"It was a new adventure for me, and honestly, it would have been silly to refuse."

The adventure led him to being the lead trainer for His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a region that held such respect and passion for the sport on a scale that de Roualle was unaware of.

"That was one of the most exciting things about the decision because I knew the potential that His Highness had as a breeder and what kind of horses I could get."

"Honestly, I only knew about Dubai and the carnival in Dubai; I did not know Abu Dhabi or Arabian horses—so I had to learn and adapt myself to that."

"The prize money is big, and it is very exciting, but there is one thing that is specific to the Middle East, and that is the season is extremely short." In Europe, we used to say, 28

"Let’s give a certain horse some time and run Lately, with horses like Loraa, Rmmas, and

them in the spring or for a certain carnival."

Somoud, I have been very lucky to win four You cannot do that here.

President Cups in a row in six years of

training.

"If your horses are not ready by the end of October, it is going to be very tough! "You cannot miss the season."

"Each year is new for me though—I have some

prospects for this season."

He holds great respect for His Highness,

given the fact that he was not required to Throughout his career, de Roualle has learned

change his training method and that he had

what is truly important in the industry outside

such a great working partnership with the

manager of the stable.

of winning and finding the next big star on the

track.

"Well, I didn't change my training style, to be honest with you. Maybe I work them less

"This industry is one of humility." I have seen hard than I used to train thoroughbreds; you

in some sports people that they have a period

have to respect them when they are young.

of time when they do not win races, but when

"The manager for His Highness' racing

activity throughout Europe and the UAE—we

they do, they act like Napoleon and are better

became friends and worked hand in hand.""I than everybody. You must stay humble

like the attitude and atmosphere between us

because you never know what tomorrow

because it works very well this way."

could bring.

He describes the difference between the

"I was a stupid, arrogant guy when I first thoroughbreds he has trained throughout

started, but I know with my experience and his career and the distinct Arabians he now

trains in the UAE.

hard work I am now no longer arrogant.

Tomorrow is another day, and we had a

"With Arabian horses, when they are three beautiful start last week with four runners, years old, if you push the red button too three winners, and one place, but we don’t early, you find yourself in trouble because know what next week or the next will bring they are not ready."

us, so we have to remain modest and humble."

"These horses really get better and mature at

"I will tell you one thing—when you have a five; I have been told by more experienced period of time as a trainer when you are not

people than myself that if you run a four-winning races, number one, your wife is not year-old too many times or only once

talking to you anymore, which is a problem, against aged horses, you can destroy this

your friends don’t call anymore, and

horse." So, all these things, even though I everybody thinks you are no good.

made a lot of mistakes in the beginning, I adapted myself to.

"You suddenly win a race on a small track in

"They (Arabic horses) fascinate me!"When the middle of nowhere, and your average

they say yes, it means no, and when they say

horse who is a champion in your eyes, and no, it means yes; they are a bit more

this gives you all of a sudden the energy when

complicated to train.

you're driving home on a long, boring road that I fall asleep on every time.""You feel

"But with the horses that His Highness is sending me, the quality is getting better

excited, and there is no little or big race—that

every year."

is the way I see it."

30

When discussing prospects for the upcoming season, de Roualle admits the upcoming campaign will centre around one or two, but looking to the future gets him excited.

He currently has 36 horses in training, a number that de Roualle is happy with.

"Well, I don't have any older horses; I've got Somoud. He has already won three Group One titles, including two President Cups.

The eight-year-old, sired by Munjiz and out of Wadya, will run next in the Jewel Crown.

"He will meet the best Arabian horses in the world there."

"Behind him, I have two children, four and five years old, and I have lots of expectations for them." The two 5YO are called Muraqib and Dareem; they came late last year to me from France, and both won. I have one four-year-old who came to me only this year called Hakkum, who ran and won earlier in the month.

"The rest of them in my stable are three-year-olds, about fifteen to twenty of them." "I have a large crop at that age, so I am really starting fresh for the first time since I have arrived here."

From his team of three-year-olds, he spoke highly and exclusively to us about one of them, in whom he sees a potential future star.

"He could be a star, I think, but we must be very careful and patient with him." He will run on December 2, and his name is Faisal. He is the full brother of three Group One winners: Mabrooka, Joudh, and Rmmas.

"He is a beautiful horse, and the way he is working, he seems to be my best three-year-old. Let’s wait, but I have great expectations for him."

Having turned 69 this year, he still has endless passion, motivation, and drive to keep winning and showing that with experience, humility, and those other attributes, there is no expiry date for what the great trainer Jean de Roualle can do in the sport of kings.

"If you have to wake up early one day and I say it's boring, I have to go to the track again, it's time to stop—you'll get very bad."

"There is no age limit for this; I believe that the more experience you have, the better it is, like a good red wine."If you like competition as much as I do and have the energy and passion that comes from being around horses and your staff, you will be able to perform.

"As long as I wake up with that every morning, I will keep going; if I ever feel the opposite, like I am bored, I will stop."

Peter and Paul Snowden / Peter Snowden

31

Pharitz fFahr trained by Okbah Aashour / Okbah Aashour OKBAH AASHOUR FIRMLY BELIEVES IN,

“QUALITY OVER QUANTITY & BUILD AS

YOU SHOW SUCCESS.”

The Sharjah-based, Pharitz training stable

owner, Okbah Aashour, following on from a

minor success of 4 placings from 26 runs last year in the 2021 – 2022 season, hopes to take on

the bigger stables with 10 quality horses this season.

Okbah Aashour Couldn’t Have Asked For A

Better Season For Aashour, it’s not an impossible task. “I had this experience in the UK in 2014. I only had eight horses, and thankfully, I had eight winners. Each horse won for us that season.” he

said.

“That is not easy to have eight horses and for all of them to be a winner. You can have two winners or three winners, (from eight horses) but to have eight winners, it's not easy believe me.”

34

Planning Ahead For The UAE Season With A Aashour’s Passion - A Family Affair

Stable Of Ten Horses

His love for horses and his desire to be a

“We are going to build it up ourselves step by

trainer began and grew as part of a family step because the horses need staff. You can find people easily, but you cannot find the affair.

experience.

“We have had horses in our family since we

“When you have good staff then you can add

were born and so we grew up with horses,”

more horses to your stable.

Ashour said.

“To focus right now, we accept to have just ten horses this season and for next season,

“My brother was a jockey, and he was here we have a better plan, a stronger plan.”

working with the Millennium stable and now

he is a trainer also. My uncle was with

“I have two horses that are Thoroughbred

and the rest of them are Arabian.

Millennium stable also and now he is training

in Saudi Arabia.”

“One of the thoroughbreds is very good

quality and he is doing better than last

The UK-based stable, Pharitz, he runs as lead

season. We sent him to Saudi Arabia and he

trainer in partnership with his wife.

did very well.

“But when he came back, he was in really

“We are training Arabian horses there and we

bad condition, so he did not race very well have done very well since 2011 until now.”

here. This season after resting here he is back to doing his best. I think he will go back

His focus in training begins when his runners

to being a Group or Listed race-winning

horse.”

are young and builds from there to ensure

they can sustain success and racing careers His stable has in the past included names

long term.

such as Pharitz Al Denari, Major Cinnamon

and Trancaferro and the horse he referred to

“We always try to start very slowly with the as returning to form in African Power - who

is one of two remaining racers from his

babies to get them strong enough very

stable this year.

carefully to do for us very well for a longer time.”

“All the other horses currently in this stable

are new – they just arrived this season.”

Aashour spoke positively about the high-

International Transport – A Daily Affair

quality horses that were recently sent to him

Travelling and moving horses between

to train.

countries and continents has been something

the trainer has learned to make easier for

“Our stable is now small because we don't

everybody.

have that quantity - we don't look for big quantity, so we try to find the quality always.

“That is why I'm very lucky to have horses

“I started to move our horses from place to bred by top owners in the region.”

place in 2011 shifting horses to run in Oman when I was in the Emirates.

35

Okbah Aashour / Okbah Aashour

“We went to Oman, and we won the biggest race there. After that in 2013 in Europe, we started to move horses from the UK - the first one was for the Gr.3 President’s Cup.

“After that I opened the gate to Europe and raced in Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, France, and Italy. We even ran third in a Group One in Turkey and placed fourth in Morocco.

“So, we are happy to move the horses from anywhere to anywhere for the nice races.”

Racing In The UAE

“We bought a horse at Arqana auction that nobody wanted and he became a Group One horse for me and now a breeding stallion.

“The horses are almost ready to race in UAE and we look forward to many successes this season.

“I had one horse who did not like racing in UAE and was rated only 45. I sent him back to UK and he became for us a 113-rated Group-winning horse.

“UAE just does not suit some horses and likewise some horses do not like the turf in UK,” said the experienced trainer Aashour has plans to begin racing on the Sharjah track before the year is out. “The horses are almost ready to race in UAE and we look forward to many successes this season. This season, just like any other trainer, we hope that we can win on Dubai World Cup night,” he said.

Making The Most Of The GCC Racing Season

With stables in the UK and the UAE, Okbah spoke highly of racing in the Middle East but said that no matter where he raced his starters the focus remained the same.

“As a horseman, there is not that big of a difference because it is still competition. And in competition nothing is different.

“Some things have to be taken care of like in the GCC like training early in the morning or late afternoons.

“Now we see races in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the rest of GCC. It is really nice if you have good horses, you can be busy all season,” he said.

Trancafarro trained by Okbah Aashour / Okbah Aashour 38

Saeed Bin Suroor Receiving the Bahrain International Trophy with Danny Tudhope on the side. / Megan Ridgwel REVIEW: SHEIKH MOHAMMED’S

OPERATION SECURES 1-2 IN GR.3 BAHRAIN

INTERNATIONAL TROPHY FEATURE

Godolphin’s Dubai Future edged out stablemate Passion And Glory close to the wire providing

Godolphin with a 1-2 in the Gr.3 Bahrain

International Trophy (2022).

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained duo were

prominently placed throughout the 10-furlong

contest, with Passion And Glory tracking Magny

Cours in second and Dubai Future disputing

third down the inside rail.

Magny Cours kicked for home in the straight as

Passion And Glory and Dubai Future laid down strong challenges to join the long-time leader entering the final furlong.

Dubai Future found a small opening under

Danny Tudhope about half a furlong out, enough

to see off his rallying stable-mate for a three-quarter length success. Riocorvo took third near

the line, a head in front of fourth home Magny 40

Cours.

Bahrain International Trophy (2022) / Megan Ridgwel

Saeed bin Suroor said: “We have tried to win this race for the last two years and it’s a good result for Godolphin to have the first and second.

“Dubai Future has improved a lot this year, winning at Royal Ascot, and he looks better physically and mentally compared to 12 months ago. We felt that he was the right horse to come back here and he ran a big race.”

Danny Tudhope added: “Godolphin had a strong hand in the race and I am delighted that won of them won – thankfully, it was me! I was hopeful with Dubai Future. His last run at Newbury wasn’t too bad and he likes fast going.

Bahrain International Trophy (2022) / Megan Ridgwel 43

Dubai Future led by Godolphin Trainer, Saeed Bin Suroor Credit: Megan Ridgwel

Dubai Future edged out Passion And Glory provided Godolphin with a 1-2 in the G3 Bahrain International Trophy Credit: Megan Ridgwel

Bahrain International Trophy (2022) / Megan Ridgwel