Autumn Supplement Pt 2 2023
T H E
A R A B I A N
RACEHORSE
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown
'Strength' - Bronze - Edition 1 of 9
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T H E
A R A B I A N
RACEHORSE Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown - 2 0 2 3 4
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown - Past Winners
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Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown - Race History
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Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown - Invited horses
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Sheikh Mansoor Festival UK Overview
Welcome to another special edition of The Arabian Racehorse previewing the 2023 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown, the season highlight of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival and the Wolrd Arabian Horse Racing Forum. Year on year Arabian racing continues to grow around the world and with the increase in prize money for such events, such as the Jewel Crown, the HH The Amir Sword, the Saudi Cup, the Dubai World Cup and the Arc de Triomphe meetings, international interest in these races grows with it.
Nahyan Jewel Crown has been won by many of the world's leading Arabian racehorses, such as last year's winner, First Classs, pictured on the front cover. The Arabian Racehorse is primarily a digital magazine, however print editions may be ordered, you may subscribe to our e-newletters and watch our podcasts, supported by Equine MediRecord on their dedicated YouTube channel. For further information or access to back copies go to our website: www.thearabianracehorse.com
Debbie Burt Since it's inauguration, the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Editor, The Arabian Racehorse
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Unless otherwise stated, all features, reports and photographs are by Debbie Burt (copyright) All rights reserved. Print copies may be ordered. Photographs may be viewed and purchased at www.equinecreativemedia.smugmug.com THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE
UAE President Cup - UK Arabian Derby
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Group 1PA Jewel Crown Previous Winners, Ground, Times: 2022
Group 1PA - 2200m - AED 5 million
2021
NO RACE
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Abbes (FR)
HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani
T Fourcy (FR)
O Peslier
YAS Horseracing Management
X Thomas-Demeaulte (FR) T O'Shea
YAS Horseracing Management
F Sanchez (FR) I Mendizabal
Good to Soft, 2.19.00 2020
Hattal (FR) Good, 2.24.51
2019
Hayyan (FR) Good to Firm, 2.16.89
2018
Rodess Du Loup (FR) Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Attiyah
C Gourdain (FR) C Soumillon
Good, 2.25.08 2017
Nafees (FR)
Royal Cavalry of Oman
C Gourdain (FR) T O'Shea
Langoed Waterland
K Van Den Bos (NL) A De Vries
Good to Soft, 2.20.01 2016
Lightining Bolt (FR) Good, 2.22.05
2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
First Classs (US) Nayef Saad Al Kaabi Distance: 1m2f (2000m) Lady Princess (FR) K bin Sheail Al Kuwari Surface: Turf Messi (BE) Vido Keersmaekers Prize Fund: £80,000 Mashhur Al Khalediah (FR) Athbah Racing Winning Horse: £45,368 Al Shamoos (FR) HH Sh T bin Zayed Al Nahyan Second: £17,200 Muraaqib (FR) HH Sh H Al Maktoum Third: £8,608
Jean de Mieulle Ronan Thomas Age range: 4yo only Thomas Fourcy Jim Crowley Field Safety Limit: 18 Timo Keersmaekers Pat Dobbs Weights: Colts 9st Fillies 8st 10lb Eyquem Philip Collington Jean-Bernard
Good
2.26.74
Good
2.25.26
Good
2.30.65*
Good
1.44.69
(entry) Julien £200:Auge closed July 7 CharlesNomination Gourdain
Good
1.42.18
Supplementary Entries £800: closed AugustGood 13 Francois Rohaut Jim Crowley
1.41.85
2016
RB Burn (US) Fourth:
Declaration: £400 by 1000 hrs on August 16Good HH Sh S bin Zayed Al Nahyan Erix Lemartinel Gerald Avranche £4,288
1.40.44
2015
Kalino (US) Fifth:
HH Sh A bin Khalifa Al Thani £2,152
1.47.39
Sixth:
£1,080
Alban de Mieulle
*In 2020 race distance extended from 1600m to 2200m
Saturday 19th August 2023 THE ARABIAN RACEHORSE
Olivier Peslier
Good
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Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown Race Overview
First run in 2015, the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown is the opening Group 1 race for Purebred Arabians run as part of the new Gulf States racing season. Held as the feature race of the day at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Turf, it is marks end of year highlight for the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival. In 2023 the Festival sponsors 153 races globally, as well as the World Arabian Horse Racing Forum. The draw for the AED 5 million Jewel Crown at the Dusit Thani Hotel opens a week of Arabian racing activities in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday November 28, with the Forum taking place on Wednesday through Thursday. On Friday, attention switches to Al Ain racecourse with seven Arabian races on the card, the highlight being the AED 200,000 Listed PA race over 1800m. There’s an also an Endurance race on Saturday.
The week's celebration of Arabian racing concludes at Abu Dhabi on Sunday with a seven race card, that as well as the Jewel Crown, features the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (Gr3PA) worth AED 500,000 over a mile. As befits an international race of this standing, one of only six Arabian Group1PA races worldwide to have prize money of over a million dollars, the 16 runners are drawn from around the globe. This year across their ownership, breeding and training, there are horses representing France, Great Britain, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the USA, as well as the UAE. Originally, from 2015 to 2019 the Jewel Crown was run over a mile in November, however since 2020, it is now firmly established in the racing calendar at its new distance of 2200m on the first Sunday in December.
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The first UAE owned winner, RB Burn in the paddock in 2016 Right from the outset, the race has attracted some of the world’s best Arabians. Trained by Alban de Mieulle for Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, Kalino the first winner, was best suited by a mile. Having won the Jewel Crown, he was later beaten a nose in the Sheikh Zayed Cup (Gr1PA) at Chelmsford in the UK over the same distance. Then came a win for the home team with another American bred, RB Burn making his UAE debut a winning one. Owned by Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and trained by Eric Lemartinel at Al Asayl, the son of Majd Al Arab already had good form in his native USA and in later in France. He had finished second by a neck to Muraaqib in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments at three years, form that would later come back to haunt him in 2017, when Muraaqib was awarded the Jewel Crown in the Stewards room.
Muraaqib was however, one of the best horses of his generation over a mile, winning a total of seven Group 1PA races across four countries for his owner-breeder Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and trainer Francois Rohaut. This was to be the first of two Jewel Crown wins for jockey, Jim Crowley, who has the best record to date in the race. Al Shamoos became the first filly to win the race in 2018, and a second victory for French breeding. Successful for her breeder Dr Nujaifi and having won the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (GR1PA) on her debut in the colours of Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, after her Jewel Crown win she went on to secure the Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon (Gr1PA) at ParisLongchamp the following year.
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The Jewel Crown's most successful jockey, Jim Crowley, with Ronan Thomas and Antonio Fresu waiting to enter the paddock in 2022. Mashhur Al Khalediah struck a first win for Saudi ownership in Athbah Raacing and a British trainer in Phil Collington in 2019. He had also run well at the Arc meeting on unsuitably soft ground, finishing third to Ebraz in the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1PA). After the Jewel Crown he then travelled to Saudi Arabia to compete at the inaugural Saudi Cup meeting, finishing third in the Obaiya Arabian Classic. In 2020 the race was extended to 2200m. Messi, Belgian bred, owned and trained by the Keersmaeker family had nearly caused a shock upset in the World Cup, when finishing second to Tayf, and beating Ebraz. He proved that was no fluke when giving Pat Dobbs the winning ride in the Jewel Crown, and at eight years of age, became the race’s oldest winner. Lady Princess was already a superstar having secured four Group 1PA races by the time she scored in 2021. She went on to win a further four and was runner-up to First Classs
last year. First Classs marked another milestone for the race and Arabian racing in general as being the first leased horse to be successful in the race, as well as the first gelding. He now bids to be the fourth winner to attempt to retain his crown. Can he go one better than RB Burn and Lady Princess running for a new trainer, a new jockey and back in the colours of his owner-breeder Cre Run Farm?
First Classs wins from Lady Princess in 2022
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Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (Group 1PA) Abu Dhabi, UAE
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Barakka and Ray Dawson finish second in the 2023 Dubai Kahayla Classic ASFAN AL KHALEDIAH OR 126 Currently the highest rated Arabian in training in Saudi Arabia, he is unbeaten in 10 starts. Those wins include this year’s Al Mneefah Cup over 2100m (since upgraded to Group1PA status), the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stakes (LRPA) and most recently the Taif Arabian Horses Derby. This will be his first start outside of Saudi Arabia and he bids to improve on Mubasher Al Khalediah’s fourth for connections in 2020. BARAKKA OR 125 Put last year’s poor performance over course and distance in Round 2 of the Arabian Triple Crown well behind him on his seasonal reappearance, when winning the prep race by three quarters of a length. Won or made the frame in all his starts last year at Meydan over shorter trips when ridden by Ray Dawson, including placing in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Al
Maktoum Challenge and the Dubai Kahayla Classic, all Group 1PA races. Prep race success was for Connor Beasley, breaking well and racing just off the leaders. As the pace quickened going into the home straight, he steadily made ground on the leader HM Jalfane, staying on to win, with Ajrad Athbah a fast closing second. After the race Beasley commented, “We were a bit unsure as to how he would perform on the turf, but he travelled away well and when we turned in and I asked him the question he went about his job really well. It’s all systems go now for the big one.” Bred in the UK and sold as part of the Shadwell dispersal, he is by six times leading UAE sire AF Alburaq, whose stock have a great record at this track. Relatively unexposed, he consistently shaped like a young horse with a future last season and should be a leading player on Sunday night.
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Abbes and Mickael Barzalona win this year's HH The Amir Sword AJRAD ATHBAH OR 124 Placed over the winter of his juvenile/early fouryear-old career in France and has steadily strengthened and improved since arriving in the UAE last season. Won his maiden at Al Ain, but more at home on the Turf at Abu Dhabi, finishing second in the UAE Arabian Derby before winning the Emirates Championship (GR1PA) over this trip on his final start last term, beating Mujeeb and Izadi Star. Another UK bred, this time by Athbah Stud, he could be ‘the one that got away’ from their crop that season. By the recently deceased AF Albahar, his recent course and distance form puts him at the top of the home challengers, along with Barakka, though he’s more exposed than that one. ABBES OR 122 Top class performer, winning 11 of his 21 starts, five at the highest level from 2000m to 2400m
in Qatar, France and the UK. Was unbeaten in Qatar last winter, winning both the Amir Sword and the Gold Sword for new owners Wathnan Racing. Slight surprise to see him edged out by Ch’ezza on his European return in the UAE President Cup – Coupe D’Europe des Chevaux Arabes at ParisLongchamp, though reversed that form when winning the Doha Cup (Prix Manganate) in Deauville in August. Foaled in France at the Haras de Victot and initially raced by Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, his sire TM Fred Texas continues to shine despite limited fertility, with top level Group winners Marid, Methgal, RB Texas Hold Em and Afjan. As he’s matured, Abbes looks to be the best yet and, not seen out since that Deauville win, appears to have been prepared with this race in mind. According to his trainer Alban de Mieulle, his is preference is for good or quicker ground, which was unlikely to have been available in Paris for the Qatar Arabian World Cup and will be guaranteed on Sunday.
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First Classs and Ronan Thomas win the 2022 Jewel Crown FIRST CLASSS OR 121 Had a brilliant run of three $1 million wins in 2022 - the Al Mneefah Cup, the Dubai Kahayla Classic and this race, beating the previous winner, Lady Princess. Form a little patchy since, though his fourth in the Amir Sword to Abbes, and a quickish turnaround to run third to Hayyan in the Kahayla may have taken its toll somewhat. He reappeared in the UK to be a very respectable second to Al Ghadeer in the Qatar International Stakes in the driving rain in August, improving on 2022’s fifth, but his World Cup performance was too bad to be true and is best overlooked for now. One of three invitee’s by Dahess, who was also the sire of 2020 winner Messi (when the race distance was increased), his lease contract has ended and he’ll be back racing in the colours of his US owner-breeders, Cre Run Farm. He also has a new trainer in fellow American Doug Watson, who commented, “He’s settled in really well. He’s been in quarantine, and we got him out over on the main track at Meydan a
few days ago which he really enjoyed. We got him to our stable yesterday and he had his first day on our track for us today and went around really nicely with Pat [Dobbs]. He’s eating well, is fresh and happy and couldn’t have shipped any better, he’s in really good shape and a real nice character to be around. We’re really looking forward to seeing him run.” MUJEEB OR 120 Eighth in this last year but hasn’t been out of the first three at this track since, including when winning the HH The President Cup (Gr1) over this distance, and second to Ajrad Athbah in the Emirates Championship. He placed third in the prep race, like Ajrad Athbah carrying a penalty on his return, but also has a similar profile in that his wins to runs ratio is quite low. An Al Asayl hombred, also by Dahess, his dam Nymphea Du Paon won Rounds 2 and 3 of the Arabian Triple Crown as well as the UAE Arabian Derby, at this trip and further at this track. Mujeeb is her first foal.
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Ch'ezza and Maxime Guyon after finishing third in this year's Qatar Arabian World Cup CH’EZZA OR 118
MUTBAHY ATHBAH OR 118
Lightly raced five-year-old with a good strike rate, he was unbeaten in the lower levels last year. Only half a length behind Group 1PA winner Moshrif on his final start in the French Arabian Breeders Challenge Classic – Sheikh Zayed Cup, he beat Abbes a neck when they reappeared in May in Paris. Abbes avenged that defeat in Deauville, whilst Ch’ezza was a very respectable third behind the four-year-olds Al Ghadeer and Al Doha in the World Cup, giving both of them weight.
All three wins have come at Toulouse, two on good and his most recent, in the French Arabian Breeders Challenge Classic – Sheikh Zayed Cup on soft, was his first Group 1PA win and his first attempt at this trip. It is race that has been a strong source of top-level horses and there he won well beating Elaf (third) and Djafar (sixth) who have also received invites to Abu Dhabi.
A winner of four of his seven races between 2000m and 2100m and placed in the Breeders Challenge Classic over this distance, he is one of the more interesting foreign raiders with a Group 1PA win and three top level placings. The second son of AF Albahar in the line-up, he is from a solid black-type producing Haras de Mandore family of Cherifa.
A lightly raced four-year, this will be his first trip abroad, though his trainer Elizabeth Bernard is adept at overseas raids. Her husband also trained his sire, Jalnar Al Khalediah, gaining a win in the Prix Manganate at Deauville in 2010. Very unexposed and open to improvement, he will be ridden by regular partner, Jean-Bernard Eyquem.
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Nour Al Maury and Oliver Peslier win the 2023 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments NOUR AL MAURY OR 118 Unbeaten in her last four consecutive Group 1PA starts, including on her latest in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments at ParisLongchamp at the end of September. She beat Gorat Aeen by three-quarters of a length, who was subsequently second to Mutbahy Athbah in Toulouse, whilst the fourth, Thakeera Al Shahania also gains an invite here. By Azadi, she is product of the hugely successful Haras Du Maury, with her dam from the immediate family of sire, No Risk Al Maury, and Nacree Al Maury, the dam of Lady Princess and Mister Ginoux. Like Mutbahy Athbah, Thakeera Al Shahania and Joe Star, she bids to be the second four-year-old to win the race and will be stepping up to 2200m for the first time. DJAFAR OR 119 Fifth in this last year and lightly campaigned since, finishing down the field in Saudi and last of six behind Mutbahy Athbah in Toulouse last
month on his return. Prior to that his form was just short of top class, placing third to Lady Princess in the 2022 Qatar Arabian World Cup, as well as third to Samlla in that years’ Qatar International Stakes (Gr1PA) over a mile. Has plenty to prove on that evidence and has yet to win at this level, though did break his maiden in Qatar over 2350m. He is the third horse by Dahess to gain an invite, though his damline is not as strong as the others. However though it looks like he may have had an issue, he will be fresher than many of these on Sunday. HAMEEM OR 117 Without a win since scoring in the prep race for this last year. Has since finished third in this race, and in the HH The President Cup to Mujeeb, though was beaten a long way out in the Kahayla Classic. Sixth on his reappearance in this season’s prep race, and with all bar one of his wins coming over 1600m or less, looks up against it in this field.
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Rajeh and Stephane Pasquier go to post for the Qatar Arabian World Cup in which they were fourth RAJEH OR 117 Bids to become the first nine-year-old to win and though still capable of a top-level victory on dirt, as when winning Round 2 of the Al Maktoum Challenge last year, hasn’t won on Turf since 2020 when trained in Qatar. Made a surprise return to Europe this summer, back into the care of his original trainer Francois Rohaut, finishing fourth in both the Qatar Prix Dragon and the Qatar Arabian World Cup and though not without a chance of a place, would definitely be an outsider to win. ELAF OR 116 Good filly in Europe, finishing second in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments in 2021 and winning the Sheikh Mansoor Festival – Liwa International Stakes (Gr1PA) last year. Has five Group 1PA placings, including when third to Mutbahy Athbah at Toulouse last month. Makes her debut for Eric Lemartinel having recently arrived in the UAE and with only three wins from 17 starts will need to raise her game. THAKEERA AL SHAHANIA OR 114 Lightly race four-year-old filly who won on her
UK debut over a mile in June and despite two poor runs in Belgium, caught the eye when making most of the running in the UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby (Gr1PA). Finishing less than two lengths off the winner Al Doha, she proved that form was no fluke when again just less than two lengths fourth to Nour Al Maury in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments, having been struck into. One of two Al Mourtajez first crop runners to be invited, she also descends from the Haras Du Maury damline of No Risk Al Maury and Nectarine Al Maury. Her trainer Phil Collington won this race with Mashhur Al Khalediah in 2019 for the same connections. Collington commented, “Since Longchamp, with the weather being kind to us, she’s been able to train mostly on the Turf which has freshened her up and she’s really enjoyed it. You’d expect the first three home in the Prep race to come on for that run, and from France, Abbes, Nour Al Maury and Mutbahy Athbah also have strong recent form. “Thakeera has been very straightforward and has done a lot of travelling in her career already, and I think she should stay the 2200m well on that ground which she’ll love.”
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Joe Star and Christian Demuro go to post for the 2022 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains JOE STAR OR 113
his career in the UK.
Most notable as the only horse to bate superstar colt Al Ghadeer, when they met on their debuts as juveniles. Has been beaten by that one twice in France since, but won on his UAE debut last season, and in Round 2 of the Arabian Triple Crown over this course and distance. Fifth on his return in the prep race, he is still very unexposed with only six runs to his name.
Possible Reserves
The other Al Mourtajez product invited to run, however his damline is lacks the depth of Thakeera Al Shahania’s. NADELSHIBA OR 113 Will be making a quick turnaround having been declared for the Bani Yas (Gr2PA) at Meydan on November 24 at Meydan. Having been beaten a long way in last term’s HH The President Cup Prep, he looked more at home over this trip when fourth to Barakka in the prep for this race, though his best form to date is a 2000m or shorter, winning the Al Ain Mile on his final start last year. Shares his sire Majd Al Arab with 2016 winner RB Burn and is another horse to be sold out of the Shadwell Arabian dispersal having started
International competition and the challenges of keeping horses sound usually mean it’s wise to look around at some of the other domestic horses who could be last minute substitutes in case one or two of the original 16 invitees are unable to make the line-up. RB KINGMAKER (OR 114) gained black type success when winning Rounds 1 and 3 of the Arabian Triple Crown last season. He then reappeared in France, finishing fourth to Al Ghadeer in the French Arabian Derby (Gr1PA) and, once back in the UAE, was a relatively close seventh in the prep race. Bred, like RB Burn by Diane Waldron, he will be a first runner in the race for sire, Baseeq Al Khalediah. Multiple Champion UAE trainer Ernst Oertel has been positive of his chances of securing a berth in the race for his American import DIAMOND GEM AA (OR 117). A Darley Champion Juvenile in the USA, he was very disappointing in two starts in France in the summer at Listed and Group 3PA level, and leading US ownerbreeders Joe and Betty Gillis have now switched their sights to the UAE. He is by the speed influence Burning Sand and is yet to race beyond 1900m.
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A R A B I A N R A C I N G O R G A N I S A T I O N The Arabian Racing Organisation Limited (ARO) is the sole Arabian racing agency in the UK, operating under the rules and regulations of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). ARO's programme of Arabian races are fully integrated with the BHA thoroughbred fixtures and take place from the spring through to autumn. This allows owners and breeders to participate at all levels, proving their bloodlines through competition, whilst the ARO International race season allows owners to experience the prestige of racing at some of the UK's leading Grade 1 racecourses.
The Arabian Racing Organisation thanks all its international and domestic sponsors for their support in 2023
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Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival UK Racing Overview
The Sheikh Mansoor Festival has been integral to the grassroots of the sport of Arabian racing in the UK for over ten years. In 2023 their principal support has been through the Wathba Stallions series, with the highlight of their sponsorship being the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup, a Group 3PA contest held over a mile at Haydock, for which the prize fund had been boosted to £20,000 this year. The winner of this year’s HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup was Thaydah Athbah for Athbah Racing, trained by Phil Collington and ridden by Tadhg O’Shea. This was the third win in the race under the Festival’s sponsorship for both Athbah Racing and Collington, as well as a second win for O’Shea. Fittingly for a race that recognises HH Sheikha Fatima, the race has historically only ever been won by fillies or mares, despite being open to all. This year’s winner Thaydah Athbah, had also won the Wathba Stallions Novices Cup at Royal Windsor in June. The Wathba Stallions series also includes a selection of handicap races designed to encourage breeders at the lower and middle end of UK Arabian racing. Two contests, one at Bath and one at Chepstow were won by the
British bred gelding Upstart Crow, as part of a four-race winning streak, which was brought to an end at Haydock by Thaydah Athbah, when he finished a gallant second. Upstart Crow’s success was integral in his gaining the leading UK Arabian award, along with the leading breeder award for John Elliott, and the leading jockey award for Arabian racing newcomer Miss Teagan Padgett. Last year’s leading jockey O’Shea was able to present Padgett with her trophy in the paddock at Haydock prior to the HH Sheikha Fatima Cup taking place, which was a huge thrill for the 18year-old rider in her first season on Arabians. Also winning a Wathba Stallions handicap, this time at Lingfield was another British bred gelding, Al-Hatab, who ended his season winning three consecutive races. He is a full brother to another winner trained by Peter Hammersley for his co-owner-breeder Julie Kellway in Al-Tabari. Their covering fees were funded by their dam Altesse Kossack winning the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship at Newbury back in 2013, which underlines the importance of the Festival’s support to the UK.
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2023 ARO Leading Horse Upstart Crow wins the second of his four races under Teagan Padgett in the Wathba Stallions Cup at Bath 2022 ARO Leading Jockey Tadhg O'Shea hands over the trophy to 2023 winner Teagan Padgett at Haydock in September
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A "First Classs" Jewel is back in Cre Run's Crown
A winner of three $1millon races to date, Cre Run's FIRST CLASSS now heads to the UAE to defend his ‘Crown’ in Abu Dhabi. Following a very successful three year lease with the Al Kaabi family, First Classs will once again carry the Cre Run Farm colours of Deborah Mihaloff and Alan Kirshner. He will make his first start for trainer Doug Watson and jockey Pat Dobbs in the prestigious Group 1PA Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown on December 3. FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM/CRERUNFARM +1 804-227-9491 CRERUNFARM.COM