The Yas Management silks were everywhere during the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend. The ball was opened on Friday by Mutaz, a 3-year-old colt by Munjiz, who won his third consecutive race in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (Gr1 PA) at Saint-Cloud, trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte and ridden by Guillaume Guedj-Gay. This was followed by Are'ej's victory in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (Gr1 PA) at ParisLongchamp, again for trainer Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, with Alexis Pouchin in the saddle and the successful weekend continued with two more victories at Toulouse the following Tuesday.
Like many racehorse owners, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, founder of Yas, inherited his passion for racing from his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Sheikh Mansour has been Vice-President of the United Arab Emirates since March 2023 and owns Manchester United Football Club.
The yellow and green silks associated with Sheikh Mansour's name were first seen in 1987 when he created his first racing banner, Wathba Stud Farm, following the purchase of Haras de Clairefeuille near the Haras du Pin. The red and green checked silks of Yas Horse Racing Management only appeared on racecards from 2017 onwards. This new Abu Dhabi-based entity has since represented the racing interests of Sheikh Mansour, who no longer appears in his own name.
Yas Horse Racing Management boasts some impressive figures! In the UAE, it comprises four stud farms, three private trainers and three public trainers. In France, this network includes the 350-hectare Haras de Clairefeuille, recently joined by Haras de Ginai, and horses in training with a dozen trainers. Three hundred employees look after Sheikh Mansour's horses between France and the UAE. In the first half of 2024, there were precisely 1,212 horses in the organisation.
With the arrival of Gérard Larrieu as General Manager of Al Wathba Stables (UAE), Yas Horse Racing (UAE & France) and Wathba Stud Farm (France) on 1 July 2024, a new dynamic has been injected. Within a few months, the number of horses has been reduced by around four hundred, which will continue in the coming months. The aim is to focus on a top-class bloodstock portfolio and to restructure internally. A new team has been formed, with Mathilde Baurens as racing manager in France, Claude Piccioni as racing manager in UAE, and Dominique Boulard as general advisor for breeding and racing.
"To become the Juddmonte of Purebred Arabian racing" is the guiding principle set by Gérard Larrieu. And to achieve this, new projects need to be launched. Starting with the acquisition of Haras de Ginai, which will be the new five-star structure for breaking, pre-training and resting Yas horses, and which will also be open to external clients. In addition, horses born in the UAE will come to enjoy the Normandy grass to support their growth and will only leave after they have been broken in to participate in races for Indigenous horses.
Yas will give access to its bloodlines by becoming more commercial. The principle is simple: to draw inspiration from the model of the great English Thoroughbred houses, such as those of the Aga Khan, Juddmonte, Darley, etc. It should not be forgotten that Sheikh Mansour is the biggest sponsor of the Purebred Arabian sector! This contribution supports the sustainability and development of the breed.
The success of Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe week seems to validate the direction of the new team formed by Sheikh Mansour under the lucky star of the Bani Yas, founders of Abu Dhabi.