Phoenix Thoroughbreds

Phoenix Thoroughbreds and Phoenix Ladies Syndicate have been barred from racing in Dubai, the Racing Post reported on Thursday. Phoenix, which is already prevented from racing in the UK and France, does not have any runners in Dubai yet and last raced in the UAE in 2020. In November of 2019, Phoenix's founder, Amer Abdulaziz Salman was named in an alleged money laundering and fraud scandal in New York in connection to the crypto currency Ponzi scheme OneCoin. Phoenix denies all claims. "We have the horses in the stable but...

Saratoga's GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. winner Volatile (Violence-Melody Lady, by Unbridled's Song) has been injured with a hairline fracture of his right front cannon bone and has been retired. He will stand the 2021 season at Three Chimneys in Central Kentucky. While competing for the partnership of Three Chimneys Farm and Phoenix Thoroughbreds, Volatile was undefeated in three starts in 2020. In addition to his Vanderbilt win July 25, in which he clocked a final quarter in :22.94, the fastest in the race's history, the gray also captured Churchill's...

A day after the British Horseracing Authority announced that Phoenix Thoroughbreds had been barred from having runners in the UK, Phoenix released a statement on the matter. It read, "Following Phoenix Thoroughbred's recent decision to leave UK racing, the British Horseracing Authority have confirmed that there will be a temporary suspension on our runners in the UK whilst a review of our operations are conducted. We are in direct contact with the BHA and are working with them very closely during this review period and see it as a chance...

Phoenix Thoroughbreds and the Phoenix Ladies Syndicate have been allegedly banned from running horses in France, Racing Post reported late on Friday. France Galop has not confirmed the ban. Phoenix Thoroughbreds has been shrouded in controversy since last November when its founder and chief executive officer Amer Abdulaziz Salman was named in a U.S. federal court trial as being involved in a money-laundering operation. Abdulaziz was also accused of stealing money from sham cryptocurrency OneCoin, which he purportedly helped to run. Abdulaziz has repeatedly denied the allegations. Phoenix announced earlier...

Phoenix Thoroughbreds has announced that it will end its racing operations in the UK with immediate effect. Phoenix Thoroughbreds has been embroiled in controversy since last November when its chief executive officer Amer Abdulaziz Salman was named in a U.S. federal court trial as being involved in a money-laundering operation. Abdulaziz was also accused of stealing money from sham cryptocurrency OneCoin, which he purportedly helped to run. Abdulaziz has repeatedly denied the allegations. A statement from Phoenix on Tuesday read in part, "everybody at Phoenix Thoroughbreds is keen for investment...

Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) worked her way out of a tough spot in the lane to blow away the field in Sunday's Runhappy Debutante S. at Ellis and earn the 'TDN Rising Star' nod. The grey was one of now three good-looking debut winners for Ken McPeek so far this meet when she ran to 19-10 favoritism going long on the lawn July 5, and she was the public's tepid pick in this full field to handle a different surface and sharper trip. Sluggish at the start and ridden along...

Tom Ludt, who joined Phoenix Thoroughbreds as head of U.S. operations in December of 2017, has left the company, Racing Post reported. According to Ludt, he accepted a termination agreement offered by Phoenix's creator, Amer Abdulaziz Salman. Abdulaziz's brainchild operates on multiple continents and has enjoyed Group 1/I success, but first came under investigation in November of 2019, as first reported by Racing Post. Abdulaziz allegedly stole €100 million from sham cryptocurrency OneCoin-which he allegedly helped operate as an international Ponzi scheme-and reinvested those funds into thoroughbreds through Phoenix. The...

Deja (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}), recent winner of the Old Newton Cup for Phoenix Thoroughbreds, could be heading to Australia later this year after being given entries for the G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup. The winner of five of his eight starts to date, the 5-year-old, who is trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam, has been raised seven pounds for his most recent victory and looks likely to carry top weight in the Ebor H. at York on Saturday, Aug. 22. "We have had it on our mind all year to...

Phoenix Thoroughbreds has expanded its roster of U.S.-based trainers over the last few weeks to include Ken McPeek and Brendan Walsh. McPeek has already saddled a winner for the Dubai-based operation, sending out Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) to an impressive and popular debut victory in a one-mile turf maiden at Ellis Park July 5. The gray filly was acquired for $250,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October Sale. The conditioner will also call the shots on a Speightster colt that just came into the barn last week and he also trained...

The Archie Watson-trained Jojo Rabbit (GB) (Due Diligence) will carry the colours of the Phoenix Ladies Syndicate in Friday's G2 Norfolk S. after the group purchased the colt in a private deal. Jojo Rabbit has run twice already on the all-weather this truncated season, finishing second on debut at Lingfield on June 8 before breaking his maiden at Wolverhampton four days later. "We're thrilled to have bought a 2-year-old with such promise," said Phoenix Ladies Syndicate Principal Pamela Cordina. "His two performances really caught our attention and we're sure there...

Signora Cabello (Ire) (Camacho {GB}), winner of the G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot in 2018, has been scanned in foal to Galileo (Ire) for her first mating. "We're thrilled that this special filly is in foal to Europe's leading sire," said Phoenix Thoroughbreds CEO Amer Abdulaziz, owner of Signora Cabello. "She showed tremendous speed on the track during her career and we've seen how that can be a potent weapon when paired with all that Galileo has to offer. We are confident that in time she can become...

Scolding (f, 3, Carpe Diem--Rebuke, by Carson City), a $475,000 OBSAPR breezer (:20 3/5), lived up to the billing with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance on debut on the GI Arkansas Derby undercard at Oaklawn Park. The even-money favorite broke well from her five draw and secured a perfect spot to sit a pressing second from the outside through an opening quarter in :21.77. Under a snug hold approaching the quarter pole with Ricardo Santana Jr. taking a look around for the competition, Scolding gained command without being asked, turned...