Top Qatari Trainer Al-Jehani to Set Up in Newmarket for Wathnan

The Newmarket training ranks will be boosted by the addition of leading Qatari trainer Hamad Al-Jehani, who is to set up with a “small number” of horses owned by Wathnan Racing, the operation of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. 

Al-Jehani, who will continue to train in Qatar over the winter, will be based in the lower yard at Tom Clover's Kremlin House Stables. The deal has been negotiated by Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock, who has been responsible for buying a number of horses for Wathnan Racing in recent seasons, including the Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was one of two Royal Ascot winners for the operation last season.

Now 35, Al-Jehani is a former international show jumper who was a member of the Qatari national team. He has been training since 2013 and notched his first winner in Qatar the following year. 

Having started out with three racehorses, he now has a string of 80 in Doha and is leading the Qatari trainers' championship on 53 winners, including the Qatar Guineas winner Lil' Frank (GB) (Frankel {GB}), whom he bought from the Tattersalls July Sale last year for 52,000gns. He also saddled the former John and Thady Gosden-trained Jeff Koons (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to win the Qatar Derby in December for Wathnan Racing. 

“I am excited to have the chance to train in Newmarket,” said Al-Jehani. “It's an amazing opportunity for me to work in this historic training centre. I have been attending the sales in Newmarket for many years and have long been an admirer of the world-class facilities. I'm really looking forward to getting started.”

Olly Tait, adviser to Wathnan Racing, added, 'Hamad's had a brilliant first season training Wathnan horses in Qatar and we are delighted to be giving him this experience. Alban de Mieulle, who also trains for Wathnan in Qatar, takes a number of horses to France in the summer and had great success with [dual Listed winner] Bolthole last year. It would be wonderful if Hamad can do something similar in Newmarket.”

Al-Jehani will be assisted at Kremlin House by Tommy Allen, who  has spent the past three years assisting Classic-winning trainer George Boughey.

Boughey said, “I am obviously very sorry to lose Tommy after what has been a hugely successful three years together. But he is leaving very much with our blessing. It's a great chance for him and I've no doubt he will be an enormous asset to Hamad Al-Jehani. Henry Morshead has worked with me and Tommy for the past season and will take over his place.”

During 2023, Wathnan Racing had horses with a variety of trainers in Europe, including John and Thady Gosden, Ralph Beckett and Eve Johnson Houghton in Britain and Carlos and Yann Lerner and Christophe Ferland in France. 

 

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Bill Mott Wins Fourth Eclipse Award

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott won his fourth Eclipse Award as the nation's leading trainer in 2023. The 70-year-old saddled the winners of 10 Grade I races in 2023, including Eclipse finalists Cody's Wish, Elite Power, and Just F Y I, and his stable recorded earnings of $17.43 million–most ever in his storied career. Mott also earned Eclipse championships in 1995, 1996 and 2011.

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Appleby Saddles 1,000th Winner In Britain With Glory Lily

Reigning champion trainer Charlie Appleby saddled his 1,000th British winner, Glory Lily (GB) (Shamardal), at Lingfield on Wednesday. The Godolphin conditioner sent out his first winner just nine years ago in July of 2013. He recently secured his second consecutive trainers' championship on the back of taking his first G1 2000 Guineas with Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). He also enjoyed a stellar Breeders' Cup meeting, sending out three winners–Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf and Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

“It is a great achievement for everybody at Godolphin to ring up the 1,000 in such a short time,” said Appleby. “I am proud to be a part of that and I am forever indebted to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for appointing me to the job as a Godolphin trainer.

“His continued enthusiasm and passion for racing and his horses is what drives all of us every day. His inspiration and backing enables us to keep aiming high in what is such a competitive sport.”

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UK National Hunt Champions Crowned At Sandown

The 2021/22 UK Jumps Champions were crowned during the bet365 Jump Finale at Sandown Park on Saturday.

Brian Hughes, who became only the fourth NH jockey to ride a double century of winners in a season, was named the UK Champion Jumps Jockey for a second time. His win total sits at 204, 99 ahead of Sam Twiston-Davies in second.

Hughes, who won the title in 2019/20 said, “It is something at the start of the season I set out to try and do and it is great that it has come. I've never thought it was signed and sealed and I never wanted to let any sort of complacency set in. I just wanted to keep my head down and keep doing what I have done all season, so I haven't ever accepted that it was happening until it did.”

The Champion Conditional Jockey was Kevin Brogan. Trainer Paul Nicholls and owner JP McManus were once again awarded year-end titles by earnings-their 13th and 15th, respectively.

“It's been tougher [to win the big races] this year but every year is tough. In recent years I've either been neck and neck with Willie [Mullins] or Nicky, but this year it's a bit more relaxed and I can enjoy the day,” said Nicholls.

“I knew we were going to be quiet at Cheltenham but we had a good Aintree with some nice winners there and the horses are flying again now.

“I might have turned 60 recently, but there are absolutely no thoughts from me about retiring. I love what I'm doing and as long as I'm fit and healthy, I've no plans to cut back–I love it.”

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