Arabian Racing Achievements Recognised at HWPA Derby Awards

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was delighted to announce Jessica Quinlan as the recipient of the Arabian Racing Achievement Award, presented as part of the Horserace Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) Annual Derby Awards.

Now in its’ seventh year, the award recognises an individual or organisation for their contribution to UK Arabian racing. Though there was no luncheon and awards ceremony due to the challenges of Covid19, the awards were screened in a 45-minute programme on Sky Sports Racing.

In her first season training racehorses, Quinlan scored with her first runner, Al Shaamikh, who then followed up on his next outing with a five-length win and looks an exciting prospect. Quinlan trained the three-year-old colt, along with stablemate Toufan du Croate from her base in Newmarket for Qatar’s Mohammed Fahad Al-Attiyah who is also new to Arabian racing in the UK.

Watch Al-Shaamikh and Lewis Edmunds win the Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden Stakes at Wolverhampton, giving Jessica Quinlan her first winner as an Arabian trainer

Clearly delighted with the success she commented:

I’m really honoured to receive the HWPA Arabian Achievement Award, I’ve had so much help from the ARO team, my family, the owners and fellow trainers like James Owen. It’s lovely to win as it repays the support I’ve received from everyone.

Having a small string of horses was the perfect introduction, though obviously next year it would be nice to have a few more. This year was obviously really difficult, but I was lucky with the horses that I had as they were relatively straightforward individuals.”

She concluded:

Fundamentally it doesn’t matter if it’s a thoroughbred or an Arabian, keeping them happy and healthy is the key.”

Genny Haynes, ARO Commercial and Finance Director commented:

We thank the Horserace Writers and Photographers Association for their continued support of UK Arabian racing, allowing us to acknowledge the achievements of our participants in this way. We also thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club for supporting the 54th HWPA Annual Derby Awards.

In what has been an extremely challenging year for ARO and for all of the wider horseracing community, it has been great to welcome new people to the sport. Jess has been really appreciative of ARO’s support and we wish her every success in the future.”

Feature image: Jessica Quinlan on Newmarket’s Racecourse Side with the HWPA Arabian Achievement Award
(C) Debbie Burt

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