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Victoria Also Freezes Phoenix Prizemoney

Following on from Friday's news that Racing NSW would place a freeze on prizemoney won by Phoenix Thoroughbreds horses until money laundering allegations are resolved in the U.S., Racing Victoria has followed suit.

Phoenix Founder Amer Abdulaziz was named in a U.S. federal court trial in November 2019 as allegedly being involved in a money laundering operation and as having stolen €100-million from OneCoin, a sham cryptocurrency he purportedly helped to run. Abdulaziz and Phoenix Thoroughbreds have denied the allegations.

A spokesperson for Racing Victoria told TDN AusNZ, “While these legal proceedings remain ongoing, RV has decided to place a freeze on Phoenix Thoroughbreds' portion of prizemoney earned by horses they own or part-own. Should any information come to light via these legal proceedings or other means that warrant further action being taken within our jurisdiction, then we will consider it at the time.”

Phoenix, which was leading buyer at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in partnership with Tony Fung of Aquis with A$11.65-million spent, has been banned from racing in the UK, and reportedly in France. No action has yet been taken in the U.S.

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NSW: Prize Money For Owner Phoenix Thoroughbreds Frozen Over Money Laundering Allegations

Racing New South Wales has frozen the prize money of owner Phoenix Thoroughbreds, reports Just Horse Racing, over allegations the founder Amer Abdulaziz is involved in money laundering.

“Racing NSW has investigated the matter and any allegation made in respect to legal proceedings internationally is denied by Mr. Abdulaziz,” said Racing NSW chairman of stewards Marc Van Gestel. “Pending the outcome of those matters Racing NSW is freezing the prizemoney of horses raced by Phoenix Thoroughbreds.”

Just Horse Racing reports: “In January, Phoenix and Canberra casino owner Tony Fung were the top buyers at the Magic Millions yearlings sale having spent $11.6 million on 19 horses.”

Phoenix also campaigned 2020 Golden Slipper winner Farnan.

Phoenix reportedly is not permitted to race in France, United Arab Emirates or the United Kingdom. No state racing commissions in the United States have taken regulatory action against Phoenix.

Phoenix continues to be active at U.S. bloodstock sales, including the $1.2 million bid by Phoenix agent Gerard Butler to buy out a partner in stakes winner Lady Apple last November at Fasig-Tipton. Shannon Arvin, president and CEO of Keeneland, released the following statement concerning Phoenix being allowed to participate in sales after court documents filed by a federal prosecutor in a money laundering case involving the multi-billion-dollar OneCoin cryptocurrency scam, accused Abdulaziz of being a money launderer for OneCoin.

“Keeneland is aware of the allegations that may involve Phoenix Thoroughbreds and is monitoring the situation,” said Arvin. “However, it is our understanding that Phoenix Thoroughbred has not been indicted by a grand jury, let alone convicted on any allegations. Keeneland will continue to follow any developments in this matter, and certainly will comply with any regulatory or legal action or direction from a governing authority.”

Since the money laundering accusations were made in federal court against Abdulaziz, it is believed that he has not traveled to the United States from Dubai, where he resides.

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Racing NSW Freezes Phoenix Prizemoney

Action has been taken in Australia against Phoenix Thoroughbreds for the first time since the organization's founder Amer Abdulaziz was accused of money laundering in the U.S. in November of 2019, with Racing New South Wales Chief Steward Marc Van Gestel telling ANZ Bloodstock News that it will freeze all prizemoney won by Phoenix horses until the “matter has been resolved in the U.S., or until such time that it's been resolved to our satisfaction.”

Abdulaziz was named in a U.S. federal court trial in November 2019 as allegedly being involved in a money laundering operation and as having stolen €100-million from OneCoin, a sham cryptocurrency he purportedly helped to run. Abdulaziz and Phoenix Thoroughbreds have denied the allegations.

Phoenix announced in August of 2020 that it would no longer race horses on the UK, and the following month was formally banned by the British Horseracing Authority. France Galop reportedly also placed a ban on Phoenix horses last August, though a formal announcement was never made. Around the same time, Australia's Racing NSW, Racing Victoria and Racing Queensland announced investigations were underway, with Racing NSW the first to take action. Phoenix Thoroughbreds is not banned from racing horses in NSW, but for now cannot collect prizemoney.

“Our decision to freeze prizemoney is on the basis that there is an allegation against them, and in those circumstances, until such time that it is resolved, the prudent course of action is to freeze prizemoney until it's resolved,” Van Gestel said. “Everyone is entitled to procedural fairness. We conducted an investigation on the matter, it doesn't happen in five minutes, it's something we've got to be diligent about, and once we had completed that, when we were in a position with the evidence that we had before us, we've made the decision to freeze prizemoney.”

Phoenix has enjoyed racecourse success in Australia with Group 1 winners like Loving Gaby (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) and Farnan (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}), the latter of which it also bred. Phoenix purchased three seven-figure colts by Not A Single Doubt in partnership with Tony Fung at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

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Phoenix Thoroughbreds Barred From Racing in UK

Effective Monday, Sept. 7, Phoenix Thoroughbreds cannot have runners in races in Great Britain until further notice, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Thursday. Phoenix had earlier in August made the decision to leave UK racing and was reportedly banned from racing in France a few days later. Any horse currently entered will not be permitted to be declared in its current ownership. All racing administration accounts of all registered ownership entities that involve Phoenix Thoroughbreds have been suspended. The BHA is in regular correspondence with Phoenix Thoroughbreds, and after reviewing the information available to date, the BHA decided on the suspension of Phoenix entries.

Last November, Phoenix principal Amer Abdulaziz was named in a U.S. federal court trial as being involved in a money-laundering operation. Abdulaziz was also alleged to have stolen money from sham cryptocurrency OneCoin. Phoenix’s U.S. Head of Operations Tom Ludt left the company in August.

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