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| Staff Writer |
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The UAE President Cup, now offering an unprecedented AED$8 million purse, marks another milestone in Arabian racing's rapid ascent in the global Thoroughbred landscape. Deborah Mihaloff's Cre Run Farm, a leading force in Arabian racing, has their star performer First Classs primed for this prestigious target, building on his remarkable achievement of securing three US$1 million races in 2022.
"Arabian racing could be even bigger than Thoroughbred racing worldwide," says Mihaloff, reflecting on the sport's potential. "When you think that Thoroughbred racing took almost 100 years to reach a huge purse of a million dollars, Arabians already have 7 US$1 million+ races, and we're in our infancy."
The gelding's remarkable journey includes winning three US$1 million races in 2022 - the Jewel Crown, the Al Mneefah Cup a Saudi Cup Arabian feature, and the Kahayla Classic at Meydan. Recently returned to Doug Watson's yard in Dubai, First Classs demonstrated his enduring class with a strong comeback run November 15, finishing just over a length behind in the UAE President Cup prep race, despite being only two weeks off the plane.
Racing Manager Amanda Roxborough reflects on their star's recent performance, "His prep race was absolutely thrilling for us. It validates the commitment we've put in this summer, as well as Deb's commitment, both financial and time wise. First Classs is a lovely talented horse and we’re hoping for him to perform at the highest level again this coming season."
The decision to geld First Classs proved pivotal in his development, as Mihaloff recalls, "He was a difficult horse. He still isn't an easy horse to ride, which is why he was gelded. We thought he could reach his potential if he were a gelding. And look at what he turned out to be!"
"I believe that the Arabian horse is the most beautiful creature God has created," Mihaloff states with conviction. Her passion for the breed has driven Cre Run Farm's meticulous approach to campaigning their horses internationally. After a successful Middle Eastern campaign, their horses spent the summer in England rather than staying in the Gulf heat.
"Picking England for last summer was primarily to give these horses time to take a step back and get to where they needed to be, physically and emotionally," Roxborough explains. "That takes commitment and dedication, and Deb was instrumental in putting that to the forefront."
Mihaloff adds, "We've learned that resting our horses in the Middle East during summer isn't conducive to getting the best out of an athlete. In the future, we will send our horses to France or England to let their heads down and be horses."
The team's success stems from a carefully coordinated effort across multiple jurisdictions. "The number one thing is it all starts at the top with Deb Mihaloff and her commitment to the animal as a horse and athlete," Roxborough emphasizes. "You can't just manage them with a timetable. It's a lot of kid-glove managing, which takes a team to ensure everything in the barn is done right for each individual athlete."
Cre Run Farm's breeding philosophy is centred on continuous improvement and strategic outcrossing. Mihaloff, who previously represented Dahess in the United States, is now focusing on introducing speed through her stallion Our Machine, a Darley winner and the sire of a Darley winner.
"We've got to outcross these lines for the good of Arabian horse racing," Mihaloff emphasizes. "If you keep breeding the same lines repeatedly, you will start decreasing your size and enhancing faults in the bloodline. As a breeder, that's not what you want to do. You want to outcross to get yourself a hybrid vigour."
The breeding programme's success extends beyond racing, showcasing the versatility of their bloodlines. Their mare, Treasured Moments, has achieved remarkable success in endurance racing after a successful race career. "Having Treasured Moments achieve what she achieved in her greatness is remarkable. She's won Tevis twice, and last year, when she won it, she did it in 15 hours and 14 minutes—a time totally unheard of—and she did it bridleless with her new owner and rider Jeremy Reynolds," Mihaloff proudly notes. The world took notice of these achievements and last year Treasured Moments was awarded the presticous WAHO trophy.
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The stable's second string, Winds of Fortune, an Al Mamun Monlau son, is also showing considerable promise. Roxborough details his progress, "Last season in the UAE he was very promising winning 2 races at Abu Dhabi Turf Club. After a few months rest in England, he had good race in the Gr 1 Qatar Arabian World Cup at Goodwood; he was only beaten nine lengths by Al Ghadeer, which, as a young horse - we were very impressed with finishing sixth, so that was exciting. He then won a race in September and I think he's definitely ready to springboard into the group races this coming season."
Looking to the future, Mihaloff is particularly excited about two prospects: A Special Class, a full sister to First Classs, and Blue Moon Monlau, a filly by Al Mamun Monlau out of the multiple stakes winner Our Princess. "There's nothing more exciting than watching a horse that you have birthed out and nurtured, then taking it to its next level of discipline and watching it become very successful," she reflects.
The development of young talent requires patience and understanding. "It's very difficult to understand and predict what a horse's greatness will amount to," Mihaloff observes. "They must want it. They must feel comfortable and happy doing it, or they won't perform for you."
The UAE racing season presents numerous opportunities, with 23 Pattern races scheduled from November through April. Roxborough outlines their ambitious plans, "There are seven Group One races, four Group Two races, five Group Three races, and several listed races to choose from in the UAE circuit. The opportunity there to pick something up for your horse - there's no better place to be to try to get your horses to group races."
The scale of competition in the Middle East is significant. As Mihaloff notes, "Their maiden races have 80 horses nominated for a single race. I am hopeful that this year, racing over there will have expanded their numbers of races to accommodate those horses."
For First Classs specifically, Roxborough details their targets, "Obviously, Kahayla Classic is in April this year. The Maktoum Challenge is something we'd like to try this year, which would give him another race on the dirt before the Kahayla Classic."
The international aspect of Arabian racing continues to evolve, particularly in the Middle East. "When I invite people to watch the races with me, they see it looks very much like any other racetrack, with ladies wearing hats and pretty dresses. It gives a broader perspective on racing, particularly in areas like the Middle East," Mihaloff observes. “Simulcasting and global coverage of Arabian racing and the media awareness generated thru platforms such as this magazine are fantastic for our breed and sport.”
"Planning their schedule is the most important part of benefiting the programme," Roxborough concludes. "We try to make the best business decisions, lay a plan, and work with their physical goals to put them in the right races where they can be successful. That keeps the ball rolling."
The combination of Mihaloff's breeding expertise, Roxborough's management skills, and their shared commitment to horse welfare has positioned Cre Run Farm at the forefront of Arabian racing's global expansion. With First Classs leading their charge into another ambitious UAE season, the operation looks set to continue its significant contribution to the sport's growing international prestige.