WINDS OF FORTUNE OPENS UK ACCOUNT IN ARO HANDICAP AT CHEPSTOW

winning the ARO (0-95) Handicap at Chepstow© Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

First UK winner for Deborah Mihaloff and her Cre Run Farm

Monday 2 September 2024 –

It was an historic first UK win for US based Deborah Mihaloff this afternoon in the Arabian Racing Organisation (0-95) Handicap over a mile at Chepstow. Her six-year-old homebred, Winds Of Fortune, ridden by Pat Dobbs and trained by James Owen came home over two lengths ahead of Paramer Angel and Keiran O’Neill, with Upstart Crow and Miss Teagan Padgett in third.

Though slowly away, Dobbs had steadily brought the son of Al Mamun Monlau down the centre of the course to eventually win eased down on rain softened ground, having taking it up from long-time leader Upstart Crow, also trained by Owen, two furlongs out. Paramer Angel, like Upstart Crow, was a former course and distance winner and stayed on gamely to take second, with both Abiyah Athbah and Fareedhat El Izz looking unsuited by the underfoot conditions. Mr and Mrs Kelly’s Assassen also caught the eye trying this much higher grade for the first time to finish fourth.

Winds Of Fortune had spent the winter in the UAE, winning twice in Abu Dhabi for Dobbs when trained by top UAE handler Doug Watson. Mihaloff, a leading owner breeder in the US, has also had global success through the leasing of her homebred multiple million-dollar winner First Classs and is now looking to expand her international interests in her own colours. She brought both Winds Of Fortune and First Classs to the UK this spring to holiday and prepare for a Middle Eastern campaign this winter, when they will return to Watson’s Red Stables in Dubai.

Quotes:

Pat Dobbs, jockey,1^st: “He missed the break, like at Goodwood, and they went pretty quick, but he picked up nicely the last furlong and a half and won with plenty in hand.  It seems like he’s on the up still, so we’ll get back to Dubai and win a few more!”

Deborah Mihaloff, owner, breeder, 1^st: “It was such an exciting race to watch back here in the States. I want to thank James and Pat, as well as the race sponsors. I also want to thank Rhea Betts who looks after him at home, as well as Timmy Murphy and Megan Andrews, who represented me today, who did such a good job with both my horses in pre-training this summer. I’m so grateful for the fabulous care that has always been given to my horses and it shows in their performance on the track.”

Pete Hammersley, trainer, 4^th, 6^th: “Assassen just hasn’t got the pace to go with these very good horses early on, but he handled the ground fine. He probably just wants a mile and quarter, mile and a half back in his own grade. He’ll go to Doncaster next. The ground was just too soft for Abiyah Athbah to show her best.”

Megan Andrews with Winds Of Fortune, Rhea Betts and Pat Dobbs after winning the ARO (0-95) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are thrilled for Deb to gain her first UK winner and delighted that she chose the UK as the best place to summer her horses. We also congratulate Megan Poacher who won the Racing Welfare Best Turned Out Award with Paramer Angel. 

“We now make a quick return to Chepstow racing here tomorrow at 6.05pm with the Wathba Stallions Cup series.” 

Megan Andrews receives the trophy from Willie McFarland for Winds Of Fortune’s win in the ARO Handicap (0-95) Handicap at Chepstow © Debbie Burt- Equine Creative Media

1st: WINDS OF FORTUNE (US)

2nd: Paramer Angel (GB)

3rd: Upstart Crow (GB)

6 ran

Distances: 2.25, 1.5 Time: 1.43.01

Going: Good

Racing Welfare Best Turned Out winners Paramer Angel and Megan Poacher © Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

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