Phoenix Thoroughbreds rises quickly on Derby, Oaks trails

Phoenix Thoroughbreds, a new ownership group formed as an investment fund, is already on the 2018 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks trail in it’s first year with Mourinho and Dream Tree.

A recent America’s Best Racing report included an interview Amer Abdulaziz, the CEO of Phoenix Thoroughbreds, about the group's fast start. Between the American and European sales in 2017, Phoenix Thoroughbreds spent more than $25 million, picking up Mourinho for $625,000 and Dream Tree for $750,000.

Mourinho was a 3 ¼-length winner of the Smarty Jones Stakes and is back as the favorite to contend Oaklawn Park’s Grade 3 Southwest Stakes on Monday. Dream Tree, who wrapped up her 2-year-old season by winning the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes, most recently  ran away with the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes as well, making her unbeaten in four starts. From just 10 U.S. starts, Phoenix runners have won seven overall.

“Certainly, we could not be happier with the results so far,” Abdulaziz told America’s Best Racing. “I love horses. They are beautiful animals, and I have been around them all my life, but this is a business model and America is the biggest market and is going to be our focus. To be in line for the Kentucky Oaks and, hopefully, the Kentucky Derby, those are the kind of races that are our targets, and so we have to be pleased to be in this position right away.”

Abdulaziz is a Dubai resident originally from Bahrain, with Phoenix Thoroughbreds formed in Luxemborg and registered in London. His family had already been involved in Arabian racing before he saw Thoroughbreds at Golden Gate Fields while studying at the University of California at Berkeley. Abdulaziz is now teamed up with bloodstock adviser Kerri Radcliffe after years of planning and brought in investors last year.

In addition to Mourinho and Dream Tree, Phoenix Thoroughbreds also picked up $1.7 million purchase Diamondsandpearls, who was a 6 ¼-length debut winner. Over in Europe, they bought Gronkowski a two-time winner who made his 3-year-old debut in England. His next goal is part of a new Kentucky Derby-qualifying series on March 1 at Kempton Park.

“He is a brilliant horse -- a lovely horse,” Abdulaziz told America’s Best Racing of Gronkowski, named for the New England Patriots’ tight end. “We will give him another race [in England] to try and qualify him and we will take it from there. If he runs well, he will definitely be going to America.”