Imad Al Sagar | Horse Racing Free Tips

Blue Diamond Stud’s Group 1 Producer Pearling Passes At 17

Pearling (Storm Cat–Mariah's Storm, by Rahy), the dam of triple Group 1 winner and stallion Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), passed away this week, Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud announced on Tuesday. The 17-year-old, who was set to return to Frankel this season, foaled a Frankel (GB) filly this week, the stud confirmed to the TDN.

“Very sad to lose Pearling this week,” the stud tweeted. “She was one of the first mares to join Blue Diamond and gave us a true star in Decorated Knight. She leaves a lasting legacy with us and we are lucky to have three of her daughters.”

Bred by Pacelco in Kentucky, she ran second in two starts Stateside, and was offered by Highclere Stud during the 2011 Tattersalls December Mares Sale in foal to Galileo. She brought 1.3 million gns from Tony Nerses on behalf of Saleh Al Homaizi and Al Sagar who ran Blue Diamond Stud jointly at that time. The foal she was carrying was Decorated Knight. Put back through the ring at the 2018 edition of that sale also in foal to Galileo to dissolve their partnership, she hammered for 2.4 million to Blue Diamond Stud Farm UK, which is now operated solely by Al Sagar.

She also has the winning Ambrosia (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who went to WinStar for 1.3 million gns at Tattersalls December that year. In total, Pearling produced seven foals, with her latest pair the 5-year-old mare Blue Diamond (Ire), a full-sister to Decorated Knight, and filly Haute Couture (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who arrived in 2021. Blue Diamond was offered at the 2018 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, and was picked up by Blue Diamond for 1.7 million gns.

A full-sister to six-time Group 1 winner and 'Iron Horse' Giant's Causeway who would go on to stallion success in America, Pearling is also a full to outstanding producer You'resothrilling, a dual group winner. The latter has seven black-type winners to her name, led by dual Classic winner and sire Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

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Doyle Anticipating Return Sooner Than Expected

Top jockey Hollie Doyle, who has been recovering from an elbow injury suffered in a fall at Wolverhampton on Jan. 17, could be back in action before previously thought. The 26-year-old rider was expected to be out for several weeks, but has been rehabilitating at Oaksey House in Lambourne since the injury and increasing her chances of an earlier return.

“I saw a specialist yesterday and he said things couldn't be any better for the stage we are at,” she told Sky Sports Racing on Friday.

A six-time Group 1-winning rider, who was the first female to win a Classic aboard Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Prix Du Diane last year and is the retained rider for owner Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud, said she has a four- to five-week timeframe to return but hopes to be back in the saddle sooner.

“I'm hoping within the next few weeks I'll be back on track,” Doyle said. “I dislocated my elbow and ruptured both ligaments around my elbow–and fractured it as well–but thankfully it put itself back into place which was good and I haven't had to have it operated on.

“Worst case scenario is another four or five weeks off, but I'm hoping to be back sooner than that.”

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Al Sagar Bullish On Nashwa, Who Will Return Next Year

Veteran owner/breeder Imad Al Sagar is hoping for a positive run from his dual Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland on Saturday. They bay, who was third in the G1 Cazoo Oaks prior to taking the G1 Prix de Diane in June and the G1 Nassau S. in July, enters the 1 3/16-mile race on the back of a good second-place run in the G1 Prix de l'Opera in October. She will leave from stall three with regular rider Hollie Doyle in the irons.

“I think the distance at the Breeders' Cup will suit her very much,” Al Sagar said. “Nashwa has a very strong cruising speed and a good turn of foot. She demonstrated her speed at Haydock over 1-mile in April, so this trip will suit her and so will the track at Keeneland. I have had two runners previously at the Breeders' Cup. Araafa (Ire) at Churchill Downs in 2006 and Decorated Knight (GB) at Del Mar in 2017. I would go through the roof if Nashwa were to win at the Breeders' Cup. It would make me very happy.”

Of his retained rider Hollie Doyle, who won her first Classic aboard Nashwa in the Diane, he said, “It is a dream for any jockey to win a Classic, so for Hollie to achieve that at 25 made me very happy and proud. Her discipline and love for her job is what makes her so good. Hollie is a very dedicated jockey, and she is very disciplined from all angles, and she loves her job. She is a very positive person. She looks at the positive side of everything and is always looking forward to her next ride. That eagerness for success has paid off.”

The John and Thady Gosden trainee has made all bar one of her seven starts this season, and she will remain in training in 2023.

He added, “I have decided to keep Nashwa in training as a 4-year-old. I think she will be a better filly at four. The whole family thrive with age, and I think she will be stronger next year. We are excited that Blue Diamond Stud will soon have a full sister to Nashwa, with Nashwa's dam Princess Loulou (Ire) currently in foal to Frankel with a filly.”

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Mishriff And Nashwa Primed For Breeders’ Cup Bids

Multiple Group 1-winning duo Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {Ire}) pleased co-trainers John and Thady Gosden in their final gallops on Friday ahead of the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. Racing in the colours of Prince Faisal and Imad Al Sagar, respectively, the pair are part of a 23-strong British contingent that is making the trip to Kentucky on Saturday for the two-day meeting on Nov. 4 and 5.

The 5-year-old entire, who will stand under the Sumbe banner at Haras de Montfort et Preaux in France after his GI Breeders' Cup Turf bid, has won Group 1s is France, the UAE and the UK, as well as the first edition of the $20-million Saudi Cup. From six runs this season, he's placed in the G1 Eclipse S., G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., and G1 Juddmonte International S. Fourth in the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown in September, Mishriff was unplaced in very soft ground in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

“You have to have the horse that can travel, that has the mind and the strength for it, and that versatility of distance and surface, and he's certainly managed to do that,” Gosden reflected. “When you have a horse who can handle those variations, it's fine.”

After several tardy breaks this season, the Clarehaven team had worked with Mishriff on the issue and Gosden said, “He broke well in his last start, he was very good, and the one before, the Juddmonte International. So he has been much better at that and we actually jumped him out yesterday and he was very much on the ball and broke well, so hopefully he's put that well behind him.”

Nashwa has yet to be off the board in seven starts under Hollie Doyle, and sports victories in the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. after running third in the G1 Oaks this term. She was a narrow second in the G1 Prix de l'Opera at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 2 when last seen. She holds an entry for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

John Gosden said, “She's a very strong filly for a 3-year-old. Three-years'-old often is early enough to be going to a Breeders' Cup, but as you saw today, she's up for it, she's strong, a very purposeful filly.

“We've planned since the Nassau S. at Goodwood to go for the Opera and then the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. It's a mile and three sixteenths this year, we would prefer it if it were a mile and a quarter but that's the layout of the track. If she breaks well and gets a nice position, she'll run a big race.”

If either of the Gosdens' pair prevail, it would be the elder's fifth Breeders' Cup victory, and his son's first.

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