Bhupat Seemar takes over at Zabeel Stables following his uncle's suspension

Bhupat Seemar has been appointed as the new trainer at the exclusive Zabeel Stables by the Dubai Racing Club, replacing his uncle Satish, who was suspended last year after being placed on the US sanctions list due to his association with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

Built in 1992 close to Nad Al Sheba racecourse on the direction of Sheikh Mohammed, Zabeel Stables had been run since its inception by Satish Seemar, who landed six UAE trainers' titles.

However, in November last year, Seemar had his licence suspended by the Emirates Racing Authority after being placed on the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control list having trained in North America for Kadyrov, who was placed on the US OFAC list in 2017.

According to the OFAC listing, Seemar "materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial material, or technological support for, or goods and services to or in support of, Kadyrov".

Bhupat Seemar, 45, ran the stable on a temporary basis last season having previously assisted his father for nearly two decades, and landed the Group 1 Golden Shaheen on Dubai World Cup night with Switzerland, as well as saddling Summer Is Tomorrow in the Kentucky Derby in May.

Bhupat Seemar won the Golden Shaheen with Switzerland when temporarily holding the fort in MarchCredit: Edward Whitaker

In a press release to acknowledge his appointment, which made no reference to his uncle, Bhupat Seemar said: "I am honoured to be the permanent trainer at Zabeel Stables, where I have worked for almost 20 years since arriving from California.

"I am looking forward to the upcoming season as we have a great team behind us and some outstanding clients who have invested in some very good bloodstock from all over the world."

As well as racing North America in Dubai, Kadyrov owned Bankable and Mourilyan, both Listed winners in Britain for trainer Gary Moore and jockey Ryan Moore during 2009.

Kadyrov is the head of the Chechen Republic and an ally of Russia's president Vladimir Putin.

He and his associates, known as the Kadyrovtsy, are alleged by America to have engaged in "serious human rights abuses" including "extrajudicial killing, torture and kidnapping, including members of the LGBTI population in the Chechen Republic".

Read this next:

Forest fires force the evacuation of hundreds of horses from training centre

Hong Kong season review: Zac Purton shines at end of dramatic and gruelling year

O'Brien ends long wait for Papin success as Blackbeard leads home stable 1-2

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.