9 December 2015, UK ~ Shadwell Arabians is proud to announce the engagement of two new trainers for their UK based training operation following the recent retirement of flagship trainer Gillian Duffield.

Gill Duffield has trained horses running in the colors of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum since 1987 in both the UAE and UK. Her record includes 198 winners in the UAE and an astonishing 800 winners in the UK, including Kahayla Classic winners KAOLINO and MADJANI.

On her 2015 retirement from training, Gill commented: “I would like to thank HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum for giving me the chance to train such quality horses for him and also the many UAE owners such Khalid al Nabooda, Sheikh Hamid bin Butti, and many others including Margreet de Ruiter from Holland. We had so many special times.”

Gill will be succeeded by James Owen and Phil Collington who will continue the tradition of training Sheikh Hamdan’s Arabian horses in Newmarket. Phil Collington has been the leading jockey of Arabian horses in the UK several times in recent years as well as being Gill Duffield’s Assistant Trainer. James Owen, also an ex-jockey of Arabian horses, is a relative newcomer to the training ranks but showed his skill and promise with horses like BON BAISER DE FAUST in 2015.

Richard Lancaster, who spearheads the Arabian racing and breeding operation at Shadwell, commented:

“We are delighted to welcome James and Phil to the training ranks. They are both young and determined and we are looking forward to them carrying on the mantel of Gill Duffield whose tireless professionalism and enthusiasm will be missed greatly. We wish them every success in their new roles and look forward to a successful 2016 season.”

~ end press release