Group 1 winner Zazou (Ger) (Shamardal), who stands at Darhorse Stud in the Czech Republic, was stolen on Friday evening and information on his recovery is being sought by the Czech authorities, according to published reports.
The stallion is part of the sanctioned assets of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who is an ally of Vladimir Putin. The sanctions on Kadyrov were invoked following Russia's invasion of the Ukrainian Crimea in 2014. An attempt to kidnap Zazou, and G2 Dubai City Of Gold hero Mikhail Glinka (Ire) Galileo {Ire}) was made last January, but failed according to Czech Radio.
Popular in the Czech Republic, the stallion was based near Roudnice nad Labem, approximately 50km (31 miles) north of Prague. Bred by Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof, the 16-year-old's final races were in the colors of Kadyrov and he was trained by Waldemar Hickst in Germany. He won the G1 Premio Roma in Italy and placed second in the G1 German Derby.
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