Two-time Grade I winner Defunded (Dialed In) will point towards the G1 Saudi Cup for new connections after having been privately purchased. The news, announced Saturday evening via a release, notes that the colt was bought for an undisclosed sum by Dr. Muhaideb Abdullah Almuhaideb's HDB Racing Stable, a new Saudi Arabian owner, and arrived in Saudi Arabia Dec. 18.
“He is an exceptional horse and has the profile, hopefully, to be a great asset to Riyadh racing and to do well in the Saudi Cup,” said Khalid Mishref.
In addition to the Saudi Cup, the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse is also possible.
Dual Classic winner Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}–Gale Force {GB}, by Shirocco {Ger}) will stand in 2024 under Coolmore's National Hunt banner after being purchased from Godolphin this week.
Bred by Philippa Cooper's Normandie Stud and born and raised at Coolmore, the three-time Group 1 winner was purchased by Godolphin for 200,000gns out of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1. Sent into training with Charlie Appleby, the March foal broke his maiden at first asking at Newmarket in October of 2020, and was an undefeated winner of the G2 Dante S., his third start, in 2021. Third in the G1 Derby, Hurricane Lane rattled off the G1 Irish Derby, G1 Grand Prix de Paris, and the G1 St Leger in succession later that summer and was a close third in the G1 Grand Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Kept in training at four, he added a third in the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot and was also first in the G2 Jockey Club S. at five. His record stands at 13-7-0-3 with $2,792,161 in earnings.
“We are delighted to get Hurricane Lane,” Coolmore's Cathal Murphy said. “He's a fine, big, good-moving horse with a pedigree and race record to match. He's one of the best sons of Frankel to date and comes from a leading Aga Khan family. His dam by Shirocco won a listed race at Saint-Cloud and her half-sister Seal Of Approval (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) won a Group 1 on British Champions Day.”
A full-brother to the stakes-placed mare Frankel's Storm (GB), Hurricane Lane is from the extended family of dual Derby winner and sire Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
“Hurricane Lane is a very good-looking son of Frankel with plenty of scope and a good action,” added Appleby. “He showed a great constitution throughout his career and was a wonderful racehorse who gave us many great days.”
