Mutwahhej Athbah and George Wood win the Emirates Breeders (0-95) Handicap at Doncaster
©Jonathan Hipkiss
Comfortable Doncaster win gives Collington two possible Derby contenders
Saturday 1 June 2024 – Trainer Phil Collington and owners Athbah Racing could be returning to Doncaster on August 17 with two hopefuls for the UAE President Cup – UK Arabian Derby (Gr1PA) following the comfortable win of Mutwahhej Athbah this evening. The four-year-old colt improved for every stride of the Emirates Breeders (0-95) Handicap contest and both trainer, and jockey George Wood, seemed confident that he would get the extra two furlongs of the mile and a quarter trip required for the August contest.
Proven miler Abiyah Athbah set a strong pace from the outset under Phil Dennis. Though challenged by Upstart Crow on the rail entering the final furlong, it was Mutwahhej Athbah who asserted on the far side, going clear to win by an easy length and three quarters. Headed by Upstart Crow, Abiyah Athbah bravely fought back to regain second on the line. Wood had been in the plate when Mutwahhej Athbah had won on his debut last October and was suitably impressed with the colts’ progress over the winter.
Collington and Athbah Racing now have two four-year-old colts that are live Derby candidates following the success of Hadaaya on Lingfield Derby Trials day last month. They also won this corresponding race last year with Thakeera Al Shahania, who went on to finish third in the UK Derby and fourth in the French equivalent of the Arabian Oaks at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend, both top level contests.
Watch Mutwahhej Athbah and George Wood win the Emirates Breeders (0-95) Handicap at Doncaster
Quotes:
George Wood, jockey, 1st: “He’s a very exciting horse, he won well last time at Windsor, he’s really improved a lot, he’s grown up in his mannerisms, everything about him is a lot more professional today. He’s an exciting horse for Phil and the team, I’m very pleased with him.”
Phil Collington, trainer, 1st, 4th: “Mutwahhej Athbah probably ran the sort of race we would have imagined he would if he was good enough to win tonight, which he was. The further he went, the better he went and he looks a proper mile and a quarter horse. George thought he was a nice horse going forward and the further he goes, it plays to his strengths.
“Jameelaty, she perhaps didn’t quite stay, we’ve learned a bit more about her though. Perhaps we’ve just got to drop back in trip with her, but I think she’ll be ok, but it was just the distance that was wrong tonight.”
George Wood, Phil Collington, Mutwahhej Athbah and Victor Darling winners of the Emirates Breeders (0-95) Handicap Stakes at Doncaster, as well as the Racing Welfare Best Turned Out Award
© Jonathan Hipkiss
Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer: “Mutwahhej Athbah certainly looks the sort to progress from the race today and we’ll be delighted to see him step up in trip and class again if he comes back here for the UAE President Cup – UK Derby. We congratulate Athbah Racing, Phil, George and the team at Cedar Lodge, as well as Victor Dearing who also won the Racing Welfare Best Turned Out award presented by Gail Buton-Pye for Mutwahhej Athbah.”
“We now look forward to our next race at Newbury on June 13th.”
Phil Collington receives the trophy for the Emirates Breeders (0-95) Handicap on behalf of Athbah Racing
©Jonathan Hipkiss
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