 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |  |
Kahayla Classic and Qatar Champions’ Trophy seven-time winner, trainer Julian Smart has recently moved to Injaz Stud owned by H.H Sheikh Mishal bin Hamad Al Thani& Sons, Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari, and Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari.
After 14 years in Abu Dhabi, Smart moved to Qatar when the HH The President’s Stables closed.
After a lengthy career with al Shahaniya Stud, Smart has once again moved on to a new challenge as both racing trainer and bloodstock manager for the AlKuwaris.
Q: How is Injaz Stud doing?
A: Oh, yeah. They've just won the Gr.1 Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown in Abu Dhabi with Lady Princess (General x Nacree Al Maury). They have some good Arabians.
Q: Please tell us a bit more about your work at Injaaz?
A: I am staying the stud farm, where we have a training track. I'm training racehorses at the farm. But at the same time, I'm also looking after the broodmare band, overseeing the breeding and basically the future of the farms. So, I've got the opportunity to see if we can raise some good, locally bred thoroughbreds and locally bred Arabians. I am hoping to find the future champions of Injaz Stud, if I can.
Q: Well, that’s definitely interesting. So, with Arabians the breeding is a lot easier but how do you breed Thoroughbreds?
A: Injaaz Stud has their own stallion called the Vedevani, which they've used for quite a long time and Al Malhouf is another they will use now. There are a few stallions in Doha that are available to use. Otherwise, what they do tend to do is they buy broodmares in Europe that are in foal. And they bring them to Doha so that they actually have very good pedigrees. The foal in Doha, become locally bred horses and then they raise them here and see how that goes. And then they have obviously good quality pedigreed mares here, which they can then cover with the stallions that are here.
 |
Q: What do you think about the current situation with horses and racing in Qatar?
A: Exactly. And I was part of Al Shahania which is well known for having some of the best Arabian racehorses in the world. We won the races in Europe. And I've won the Kahayla Classic twice with horses from Qatar. We have very, very good horses here. I would really like to see Qatar raise its profile more on the regional and international level with these excellent horses.
Q: Please tell us a bit more about your current horses in training.
A: I've been here for about a month, and I had my first runners yesterday, and my very first runner was actually a winner. And he was a locally bred Thoroughbred. So that was really nice. We're just going to go through the season and try and find a few winners here and there. But the main goal is to concentrate on the youngstock that we have, the broodmare band, you know, the breeding side of things, try and produce some nice locally bred horses. Next season I hope to receive some nice horses that they have purchase outside to complement my string. I've been in Doha for 11 years and I've won the actual Amir Sword Nine of the 11 years and I've won for the last six years in a row. However, unfortunately I probably won't have a horse in the race this year. So it's disappointing, but as I said, my main goal and ambition now is to find another one good enough to run in a race like that.
Q: What about the locally bred horses?
A: The only real pressure is the pressure that I put on myself, which is usually quite a lot. This is a different situation for me. This is something very exciting, because it's not just Arabians and Thoroughbreds. It's learning a new game.