Phoenix Thoroughbreds Banned from Racing in France

Phoenix Thoroughbreds has been banned from racing horses in France with immediate effect, the latest blow to the beleaguered operation which this week said it was withdrawing from Britain.

Big-spending Phoenix has been under intense scrutiny since its founder, Amer Abdulaziz Salman, was alleged in a U.S. court to be a key money launderer for the fake cryptocurrency scam OneCoin.

Phoenix and Abdulaziz deny the allegations, but a string of high-profile racing professionals and key associates have cut ties with the organization since the allegations emerged in a New York court in November.

France Galop has yet to officially confirm the ban, but evidence of its impact came Aug. 14 as two entries for the Archie Watson-trained Jojo Rabbit in forthcoming races, including Saturday's Prix de la Vallee d'Auge at Deauville, were canceled by the regulator. Watson did not respond to a request for comment.

The Racing Post understands that the ban, which applies to Phoenix Thoroughbreds and the affiliated Phoenix Ladies Syndicate, came about due to concerns over the source of Phoenix's funds.

It is the first time official action has been taken by a racing authority against Phoenix and Abdulaziz since the money laundering allegations emerged nine months ago. 

Nevertheless, Phoenix continues to have a significant global presence with the operation having interests in racehorses, broodmares, stallions, and youngstock spanning Australia, America, Britain, Ireland, and the United Arab Emirates.

This week, Phoenix announced Britain would no longer be a part of its plans, with the group planning to cease racing operations "with immediate effect," although it continues to have entries and runners.

The Racing Post understands France Galop has written to the British Horseracing Authority to provide an update on the ban and reiterate that no entries will be accepted for Phoenix horses trained in Britain. On Friday, the BHA offered no comment on the exit of Phoenix or on the French restrictions.

No Phoenix-owned horses are trained in France, but since exploding onto the scene in March 2017, the group has enjoyed significant success in the country with the likes of last year's Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1) scorer Advertise.

With Phoenix exiting Britain and banned from France, it is increasingly turning to other racing nations for expansion and Thursday outlined a commitment to Australia, where it revealed in a statement that it remains an active purchaser at sales and in private despite not officially appearing as buyer at any auction this year.

Two of Phoenix's leading Australian representatives, Longines Golden Slipper (G1) winner Farnan and Prague, on Friday geared up for returns to the racecourse with success in barrier trials, while Loving Gaby, a group 1 winner for Phoenix, is being targeted at The Tab Everest, the world's richest turf race with a prize fund of AU$15 million (£8.2m).

Following the Racing Post's reporting of the allegations against Abdulaziz—along with the subsequent revelation that Abdulaziz's Luxembourg-registered fund, Phoenix Luxembourg Fund SICAV-RAIF, was in voluntary liquidation having never been regulated or operational—a number of associates have cut ties with the organization, including trainers Bob Baffert and Martyn Meade.

Abdulaziz and Pamela Cordina, the manager of the Phoenix Ladies Syndicate, did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

In a statement released in November, Phoenix said: "Phoenix Fund Investments LLC categorically denies all allegations made against it and its owner, Mr Amer Abdulaziz, in legal proceedings against OneCoin and its conspirators in the U.S.

"Phoenix Fund Investments LLC believes that the firm and Mr Amer Abdulaziz have acted according to the law at all times and will vigorously contest all allegations of wrongdoing."