AWelsh trainer creating a stir in the world of Arabian racing
Congratulations to Wales’ leading Arabian horse owner and trainer Delyth Thomas on receiving the Champion Purebred Arabian Horse Trophy for 2016.
Her consistent Callymay won three races on the bounce for her during the season.
Aberkenfig-based Delyth also finished second in the owners’ championship and third in the trainers’ championship – and the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) has announced her as one of the nominees for the coveted HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Darley Awards, now in their sixth year, recognising the high achievement of women in Arabian horse-racing during 2016.
Maesteg-born Delyth was 16 when she started riding very successfully at flapping (unlicenced) meetings, and she has been involved in horseracing of some sort or another ever since, saddling winners between the flags, under rules and, of course, Arabian horse-racing.
Some enthusiasts will associate her with Am I Blue, a controversial winner at Hereford races in 2010.
The glittering awards ceremony and gala weekend will be held at the 31st Annual Darley Awards from March 31-April 2 in Hollywood, California, sponsored by the HH Sheik Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Horse Racing Festival.
However, Delyth, who has a fear of flying, has in the past turned down an all-expenses-paid trip to the USA, so she is unlikely to be present this time either, which is a great shame as her Callymay is a nominee for the Best Older Mare award.
According to festival director Lara Sawaya, the Darley Awards will be presented on March 31 at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre in front of 3,000 invited guests. On April 1 the Grade 1 HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Darley Awards Stakes will be run at Santa Anita Park and on the evening of Sunday, April 2 the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Darley Awards Gala Dinner will be held at the Beverly Hills Wilshire, Rodeo Drive.
Meanwhile, last Wednesday, Vale of Glamorgan trainer Evan Williams celebrated St David’s Day in fine style. His Silver Streak made the 418-mile trip to Musselburgh and, ridden by TJ O’Brien, the promising four-year-old landed the Totepool Betting At BetFred.Com Handicap Hurdle at odds of 7-2. On the same day and nearer to home, Williams won the opener at Ffos Las with Swift Crusador.
Longest-priced winner at Ffos Las was Jaunty Warrior, which won the bumper (National Hunt Flat Race) at odds of 66-1. Jaunty Warrior is trained by Brecon’s Brian Eckley, a former point-to-point rider of note.
Welsh point-to-point riders have been in good form of late. Evan David was successful on Scorpion Star at North Norfolk and on Tailspin at Garthorpe.
Lorcan Williams won a Taunton hunter chase on Monsieur Gibraltar and the club members’ novice riders race at Badbury Rings aboard Tom Barton, while Byron Moorcroft was successful on Spencer Moon at the East Cornwall meeting.
Can anyone answer a reader who asks what the racing colours were of Glanville Jones’ Norther, which won the 1965 Welsh Grand National at Chepstow? Norther, a former Welsh point-to-pointer, was the last horse actually trained in Wales to win the Welsh Grand National and was ridden in point-to-points by Evan Williams’ late father Rhys Williams.
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