Despite a significant reduction in his string of horses, from a peak of 250 down to just 30 in training, veteran trainer Saeed bin Suroor is relishing his presence on the grandest stage. This sentiment was powerfully underscored by the victory of Arabian Story (Invincible Spirit) in the Britannia Stakes, expertly ridden by Oisin Murphy, whom the trainer lauded as being in a “different class.”
Carrying the iconic Godolphin blue, Arabian Story made a memorable debut on turf in this prestigious three-year-old handicap, just over two weeks after breaking his maiden on the all-weather at Chelmsford. This audacious plan clearly paid off.
The win marked another significant triumph for the trainer-jockey partnership. Bin Suroor and Murphy have previously celebrated numerous high-level victories together, including with notable horses like Benbatl and Mawj. Their success at Royal Ascot also echoes their win in the Royal Hunt Cup twelve months prior with Wild Tiger.
“We took him to Dubai over the winter, and he improved physically a lot out there,” Bin Suroor explained. “Oisin rode him at Chelmsford, and I told him that he works really well in the mornings. I told him to keep him handy that day, and I said the same thing today. He won well, and he gave him a good ride. Oisin is the best. He’s the best jockey in the world. He’s different class. He’s the three-time champion jockey in Britain.”
Bin Suroor reflected on his current stable size: “I used to have 250 horses in the past, and quality. But now we have around 30 horses in the stable, and many of those are old, and the younger ones are backward. Dubai Future is a nine-year-old but is still trying hard and won races in Dubai and finished third in the Gold Cup today. We try to do the best with what we have in the stable.” When asked if he still loved the sport as much as ever, the trainer concluded with a resounding “always!”
Murphy’s exceptional skill was evident in the Britannia Stakes. He guided Arabian Story to victory by a mere neck, a head, and another neck over his closest rivals in a tightly contested finish. Murphy revealed that when Bin Suroor approached him to ride Arabian Story at Chelmsford, he had a strong premonition that the trainer had something special in mind.
“Saeed told me a couple of weeks ago that I should go to Chelmsford to ride him in a novice. He said he was a very nice horse,” Murphy commented. “After his novice, Saeed said, ‘how good is he?’ I said, ‘I like him,’ so he said, ‘let’s go to the Britannia.’ So this plan was a long time coming, and the horse was perfect, and I’m delighted to win. We’ve had many big wins together, and I’m over the moon.”
Saeed bin Suroor is well acquainted with Arabian Story’s lineage, as he also trains the horse’s half-brother, Olympic Star, who has achieved two wins and reached a respectable rating of 88. Arabian Story’s dam is the Sepoy mare Delphinidae, who is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner and established stallion, Territories.
Ascot, 5th Race, £120,000, Handicap, June 19th, 3-year-old colts/geldings, 8 furlongs on turf, 1:38.80, going good to firm. ARABIAN STORY (IRE) (colt, 3, Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Delphinidae {Ire}, by Sepoy {Aus}) Lifetime Record: 4 starts, 2 wins, 0 places, 0 shows, $91,666. Owner: Godolphin; Breeder: Godolphin (IRE); Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor.
ARABIAN STORY WINS THE BRITANNIA STAKES! #ROYALASCOT pic.twitter.com/HVG1BemiwL
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 19, 2025
This victory is a powerful reminder of Saeed bin Suroor’s enduring expertise and his ability to nurture talent, even with a smaller stable. Combined with Oisin Murphy’s exceptional riding prowess, it highlights a partnership that continues to achieve significant success on the racing circuit.
