Ali Al Bedwawi to join DRC training roster

Ali Al Bedwawi has joined the expanding roster of trainers at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai Racing Club has announced.

Al Bedwawi will run horses in his own name for the first time during the forthcoming UAE season, which gets underway on October 28^th. The Emirati brings with him a wealth of experience to the role, having spent the last six years as assistant to former UAE Champion Trainer Erwan Charpy.

“Thank you to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to Dubai Racing Club, to Sheikh Rashid Bin Dalmook for giving me the opportunity to become a trainer,” said Al Bedwawi. I would like to also extend my thanks to Erwan Charpy for all he taught me and to the team at Green Stables. I am so happy to be working with them.

“This is a dream for me, I hope that we will do well and win big races”

Prior to joining Charpy, Al Bedwawi learned his trade as a groom and exercise rider, starting with trainer Rod Simpson at Ghantoot in 2002. Originally from Hatta, like Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, Al Bedwawi was bitten by the horse bug at a young age.

“I didn’t have horses as a child but I was always coming here to Dubai to see the horses. And then my friend was in Ghantoot, so I went there. After Rod Simpson went to England I joined him there, in Lambourn, and also worked for trainer John Hills. He suggested I went to the British Racing School and I did that and got my license. Then, after the season ended in Dubai, I went to Lebanon for four months. I rode six races and came third, fourth but I didn’t manage to win.”

Al Bedwawi, who also enjoyed three months with trainer Mick Halford in Ireland, further benefited from DRC’s programme of sending young nationals to study abroad; heading to the US during the summer months.

“They sent me to Richard Mandella to learn more about the dirt. He taught me about the entries and what happens at the races,” he explains. “I did two months in Santa Anita and one in Del Mar. I met Bob Baffert there too and he was also a lot of help to me.”

Bedwawi currently has a team of around 12 horses, but hopes to expand on that ahead of the new season. “Many owners are calling me, so I hope that, Ensha’Allah, more horses will come in September.”

Al Bedwawi is the second new recruit to the DRC’s training team this summer, following the appointment of Ahmed Al Shemaili who will train at nearby Grandstand Stables.

Meydan Racecourse, the UAE’s flagship racing venue, hosts its first meeting of the 2022/23 season on Friday, November 4^th. The 2023 Dubai World Cup meeting takes place on Saturday, March 25^th.