Tag: Shared News Europe

The Queen Visits British Racing School For Its 40th Anniversary

Her Majesty The Queen paid a rescheduled visit to the British Racing School in Newmarket on Thursday, June 1, to mark the school's 40th anniversary.

The Queen was given a full tour of the school, met current students, staff and horses, and then unveiled a special plaque to commemorate her visit and celebrate the school's four decades, during which it has trained thousands of young people to be able to excel in Britain's second biggest spectator sport, horse racing. She also visited the Newmarket Pony Academy, a community project run by the school and met students aged 14-17 from the Riding A Dream Academy, which supports young people from diverse ethnic communities and disadvantaged backgrounds, and who were undertaking a week's Residential Course, among other activities.

Andrew Braithwaite, Chief Executive of the British Racing School said, “It was a huge honour to welcome Her Majesty The Queen to the British Racing School today and to be able to celebrate our 40th anniversary in her presence. Her Majesty has been a huge supporter of British Horseracing and it was wonderful to be able to show her the multitude of ways that the School contributes so much to the sport through the world class courses that we offer to young people from all across the country.”

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‘The Horse We’ve Been Waiting For’ – Sprewell’s Owner On Derby Claims

He may be one of the biggest supercar collectors in the world, but Sprewell's owner Mohamed Khalid Abdulrahim admits that it is the inability to predict what is underneath the bonnet of a racehorse that is the main lure for him to the sport. 

The 35-year-old is looking forward to his first Derby runner at Epsom on Saturday with the Jessica Harrington-trained Sprewell (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}). Bred by his father Khalid Abdul Rahaim, who also raced the dam Lahaleeb (Ire) (Redback {GB}), Sprewell has been described by the Bahraini-based owner as the horse his family have been waiting for ahead of Saturday's big race. 

“I'm very excited, trust me,” Abdulrahim said. “I have been waiting a long time for this horse. It is going to be a huge day for my father and I and, as I said, we have been looking forward for a really long time for a horse like Sprewell. We're very fortunate.”

He added, “Team Harrington keep telling us that Sprewell is probably the best colt that they have ever had over this distance, honestly. I mean, I couldn't believe it, but that's what Jessica thinks. 

“They have done a fantastic job with the horse and we're delighted, obviously. They are an amazing team and Jessica is obviously a super tough woman, which makes this story even better. I would be so happy for them if we can win the Derby, not just for my father and I, but for the Harringtons as well.”

Sprewell was bred at Friarstown Stud in Kildare, which is owned by Khalid Abdul Rahaim, who also has farms in the United Kingdom and on home shores in Bahrain. According to Abdulrahim, who runs the racing arm of the operation and has a penchant for fast cars as well as horses, the plan is to grow the ownership model in Europe. 

He said, “I have been involved in racing for four years now but my father has been breeding and racing horses for over 30 years now. So I have been only four years in racing and I come across a horse like this. Talk about luck. My Dad does the breeding and I run the racing side of things. It's a good team and I am very fortunate that my father breeds horses.”

Abdulrahim added, “This is what makes it even better, to be honest. You could buy and breed a lot of horses and you may not come across a horse of the standard of Sprewell. Horse racing is a weird game. A lot of luck involved. But I love it and it is a part of us now.

“We own Friarstown Stud in Kildare. We have 15 mares there. We also have operations in the UK and in Bahrain as well. In Bahrain, we do the weekly races and use a stud farm over there, but we still haven't sold anything yet! I am trying to get that operation moving because, up until now, it has been used privately for us. 

“We just breed for ourselves and race the horses right now. But, in the coming years, we could race and sell. We have horses with Kevin Philippart de Foy, including El Habeeb (Ire) (Al Rifai {Ire}), another 110-rated performer, and three or four with team Harrington as well. I am thinking of doing more. That is going to grow.”

Abdulrahim races horses in Bahrain under the banner of MKAR Racing. Sprewell and El Habeeb, who is by the family's homebred stallion Al Rifai, have performed to a high level in Europe already and Abdul Rahim admits that the breeding-to-race aspect of the operation is what excites him most. 

He explained, “Lahaleeb raced in my father's colours. I can remember when he bought her, I was studying in the UK, and it was all over the news how much he paid for her at the sales. “Nowadays, what he paid for her [1,000,000gns], is not that much but I remember it caused a big stir at the time. Lahaleeb is the dam of Al Rifai, who is the sire of El Habeeb, but Sprewell is the best out of her for sure.”

Asked if the success with Sprewell is made more special given the pedigree has been nurtured by his father, Abdulrahim said, “It makes it the world more special, trust me. For us, breeding a horse makes it much better than buying one. All of the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to produce a racehorse, all the trial and error that you go through in trying breed a superstar horse, it's all worth it. Hopefully we have found one now in Sprewell.

“The Derby is the biggest Classic there is. It's everyone's dream to win the Derby. The track is extremely tough and the horse needs to be tough to finish the race, not only to win, so we know how hard it is going to be. It is one of the biggest races for my father and I and we are very excited to have a runner.”

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Tosen Stardom Share Anchors Tattersalls Online June Sale

The complete catalogue for the Tattersalls Online June Sale, featuring a 1/50th share in Ireland-based stallion Tosen Stardom (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), has been released.

Set for June 7-8, the sale will offer a stallion share in the aforementioned multiple Group 1 winner as lot 45. The stallion is currently standing at Zenith Stallion Station in Ireland where he stands for €7,000. In addition to a 20-strong breeze-up session, 24 more lots divided between 15 horses in- and out-of-training, two broodmares, and a Tasleet (GB) yearling will also go under the hammer.

Among the other lots on offer include recent juvenile winner Tears Of A Clown (GB) (Pearl Secret {GB}) (lot 31); multiple winner Sympathise (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire) (lot 30); and Akela Moon (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) (lot 44), herself a half-sister to stakes winner Audacia (Ire) (Sixties Icon {GB}) and her Sands Of Mali (Fr) filly foal.

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The Oaks: Where Did They Come From?

Looks can be deceiving, but it is hard to argue with Savethelastdance's 22-length winning margin in the Listed Cheshire Oaks. The Coolmore filly faces 10 rivals in Friday's G1 Betfred Oaks, among them G3 Musidora S. heroine Soul Sister for Lady Bamford.

BE HAPPY (IRE), Camelot (GB) – Frequential (GB) (Dansili {GB})
Owner: M Tabor, D Smith, Mrs J Magnier & Westerberg
Breeder: Lynch Bages Ltd & Longfield Stud
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

A 340,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase, she is a sister to the Group 3-placed Hector De Maris (Ire) and hails from the family of Classic winners Galileo (Ire), Sea the Stars (Ire) and King's Best, her fourth dam being Allegretta (GB). Runner-up to the supplemented Eternal Hope in the Lingfield Derby Trial and not without a chance.

BRIGHT DIAMOND (IRE), El Kabeir – Starlite Sienna (Ire) (Elusive Pimpernel)
TDN Rising Star.
Owner: Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum
Breeder: T Molan
Trainer: Karl Burke

A graduate of the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-up Sale for €52,000, she is out of a half-sister to Group 3 winner Realtra (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and was a highly impressive maiden winner on debut last year before finishing third in the G1 Fillies' Mile. Down the field in fifth but not beaten far in the Lingfield Oaks Trial on her only start this year.

CAERNARFON (GB), Cityscape (GB) – Royal Ffanci (GB) (Royal Applause {GB})
Owner: Hunscote Stud, P Humphreys & J Sweeney
Breeder: Hunscote Stud
Trainer: Jack Channon

A full-sister to the G3 Fred Darling winner Dan's Dream (GB) out of an unraced mare, she won the Listed Montrose Fillies' S. over a mile on the last of her seven starts at two, and came out strongly on debut this season to take fourth in the 1,000 Guineas. What she lacks in size she makes up for in toughness. The Oaks trip may just be a stretch.

ETERNAL HOPE (IRE), Teofilo (Ire) – Voice Of Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Charlie Appleby

The second foal of a half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Rio De La Plata (Arg), and all three of her runs have come this year. She won on her second start at Chelmsford in February then took to the turf with aplomb to win the Lingfield Oaks Trial, thereby demanding to be supplemented for this Classic test. Big chance. 

HEARTACHE TONIGHT (FR), Recorder (GB) – Salvation (GB) (Montjeu {Ire})
Owner: Chris Wright and Andy MacDonald
Breeder: Sylvain Vidal
Trainer David Menuisier

A first British Classic runner for her trainer and for her French-based sire, she is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight (Fr) and bred on very similar lines to the 2019 Oaks winner Anapurna (GB) (Frankel {GB}). One for the placepot.

MAMAN JOON (IRE), Sea the Stars (Ire) – Dorcas Lane (GB) (Norse Dancer {Ire})
Owner: Amo Racing Ltd
Breeder: Barnane Stud Ltd
Trainer: Richard Hannon

A half-sister to the Royal Ascot winners Candleford (Ire) and Atty Persse (Ire), she was bought for 400,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1. She has raced just once to date when second, more than nine lengths adrift of Gather Ye Rosebuds (Ire), in a 10-furlong Newbury maiden in April. Stamina won't be a problem but this is a dive into the deep end for an inexperienced filly.

RED RIDING HOOD (IRE), Justify – Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owners: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

From a deep Coolmore family and one Aidan O'Brien knows well, as he sent out her dam Ballydoyle to win the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and finish second in the 1,000 Guineas. Dam is a sister to Misty For Me (Ire), a four-time Group 1 winner and the dam of US Navy Flag, as well as Twirl (Ire) and April Showers (Ire). It's a mouthwatering pedigree but she appears to be the Ballydoyle third string and improvement is required.

RUNNING LION (GB), Roaring Lion – Bella Nouf (GB) (Dansili {GB})
Owner: D P Howden
Breeder: The Bella Nouf Partnership
Trainers: John and Thady Gosden

A half-sister to Group 3 winner Majestic Glory (GB) (Frankel {GB}), her dam is a dual-winning half-sister to three black-type performers. Ultra-impressive winner at Newmarket back in May and forms part of a strong Gosden hand in the race. She is one of two Classic runners at Epsom from the sole crop of Roaring Lion, along with Dubai Mile (Ire) in the Derby.

 

SAVETHELASTDANCE (IRE), Galileo (Ire) – Daddy's Lil Darling (Scat Daddy)
Owners: Mrs John Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Westerberg
Breeder: Daddys Lil Darling Syndicate
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

The family has unfinished business in this race given the dam Daddys Lil Darling bolted to the start and was withdrawn from the 2017 Oaks after getting loose. The mare was a top performer in America, won at the highest level, and Savethelastdance appears to have inherited all of her ability and more judging by a breathtaking 22-length win in the Cheshire Oaks. Deserving favourite.

 

SEA OF ROSES (GB), Sea The Moon (Ger) – Plume Rose (GB) (Marchand De Sable)
Owner: Weldspec Glasgow Limited
Breeder: Overbury Stallions Ltd
Trainer: Andrew Balding

Bought by Grangemore Stud for 115,000gns at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in 2020. Reoffered at Book 1 and sold for 170,000gns to Andrew Balding. A half-sister to five winners, including the classy Desert Icon (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Gardol City (Fr) (Elusive City). Lots to find on form and ratings.

SOUL SISTER (IRE), Frankel (GB) – Dream Peace (Ire) (Dansili {GB})
Owner/breeder: Lady Bamford
Trainers: John & Thady Gosden

Lady Bamford's homebred is a sister to the Australian performer Herman Hesse (GB) and Dreamflight (GB), and a half-sister to Questionaire (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Traces back to Kilfrish Stud's successful matriarch Arctique Royale (GB). Ticks a lot of boxes on paper, couldn't have been more impressive in winning the G3 Musidora S., and provides the final ride in the Oaks for Frankie Dettori.

 

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