PHOENIX Thoroughbreds is free to continue having runners in Ireland, The Irish Field has learned.

The Dubai-based racing operation has been forced to withdraw horses from Britain and France following a decision taken by the racing authorities in those countries to stop taking entries for Phoenix-owned horses.

This week the British Horseracing Authority followed the lead of France Galop by announcing that “the racing administration accounts of all registered ownership entities that involve Phoenix Thoroughbreds have been suspended.”

No reason was given by the BHA and no official comment was made by Phoenix Thoroughbreds, but it widely believed that the suspensions are linked to allegations made in a US court last November that Phoenix founder Amer Abdulaziz was involved in laundering money from a cryptocurrency fraud. Abdulaziz and Phoenix strongly deny any wrongdoing.

Phoenix Thoroughbreds is best known in Europe as the owner of multiple Group 1 winner Advertise, who was trained in England. They have horses with a handful of trainers in Ireland and The Irish Field understands these trainers have not been notified of any change in arrangements by either Phoenix or Horse Racing Ireland this week.