Racing’s powerful figures responded with silence on Sunday when questions were asked about how a valuable racehorse was transferred recently to GodolphinRacing’s powerful figures responded with silence on Sunday when questions were asked about how a valuable racehorse was transferred recently from the ownership of Princess Haya to that of Godolphin, the racing vehicle of her former husband, Sheikh Mohammed, from whom she fled last year seeking protection from the English courts. Related: Love comfortably collects sixth 1,000 Guineas for Aidan O'Brien Chelmsford12.00 Ventura Vision 12.30 Rock Boy Grey (nb) 1.00 Monarch Maid 1.30 Bristol Missile 2.00 Disco Fever 2.30 Maria Rosa 3.05 Exotic Escape 3.40 Fieldsman 4.10 Dapper Man 4.40 Mayfair SpiritHaydock 12.15 Meshakel 12.45 Gobi Sunset 1.15 Dear Power...
Winning bid for Dubawi half-brother to Barney Roy was the highest price paid for a yearling in Europe this yearThe fierce rivalry between Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation and John Magnier’s Coolmore Stud moved from the racecourse to the sales ring, as the sport’s biggest players engaged in a bidding war for a Dubawi half-brother to Group One winner Barney Roy on the first day of Tattersalls’ prestigious Book 1 sale. The winning bid of 3.6m gns [£3.78m], eventually made on behalf of Godolphin, was the highest price paid for a yearling in Europe this year.He is the most expensive purchase for Godolphin at Book 1 since Sheikh Mohammed paid 4m gns for the filly Gloam in 2017. Related: Talking Horses:...
Wednesday’s Classic trial offers a clash of the Godolphin stables. Plus best bets for Tuesday’s action at NewmarketGodolphin’s two Newmarket stables go head to head in Wednesday’s Craven Stakes, the highlight event as racing returns to the town after its winter break. Zakouski, from the Charlie Appleby yard that won last year’s Craven with Masar, is 2-1 favourite while next in the betting is Royal Marine, trained by Saeed bin Suroor.That surprised Appleby, who said: “I would have thought Saeed’s horse would be favourite, to be honest. He’s a Group One performer already and the one that we’ve all got to beat. Related: Charlie Fellowes confirms purchase of Luca Cumani’s Newmarket stable Related: Talking Horses: Connor Brace is latest promising...
After huge success in Dubai in spring, Saeed bin Suroor has yet to get his European season out of the starting stallsI take a keen interest in trainer form, though it doesn’t always do me a power of good and I have noticed a remarkable tendency for trainers to win lots of races right after I’ve pointed out that they’re not doing very well. It’s time, I think, for that kind of turnaround in the fortunes of Saeed bin Suroor, whose European season has started so sluggishly, it’s barely got out of the starting stalls. Related: Old Persian set for Irish Derby as Charlie Appleby extends golden run Chepstow Continue reading...
It is difficult to imagine where British racing might be now without the staggering sums that have found their way into the sport since Sheikh Mohammed took a train to Brighton in 1977 to watch his first winnerThe British Horseracing Authority and the executives at tracks such as Ascot and Goodwood have – quite understandably – had little or nothing to say so far about the developing crisis in the Gulf, which places British racing’s two biggest benefactors from the region on opposite sides of a blockade.Godolphin’s Sheikh Mohammed is the defence minister of the United Arab Emirates, part of a coalition led by Saudi Arabia which has cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar. Land, sea and air links...