Ahmad Al Shaikh

Richard Kingscote, who won the G1 Derby aboard Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in 2022, will become the new retained jockey for Ahmad Al Shaikh's Green Team Racing. The jockey, who will continue his association with trainer Sir Michael Stoute, already celebrated his first victory in the Green Team colours, when Sayedaty Sadaty (Ire) (Anodin {Ire}) won a novice at Kempton on Wednesday. Kingscote's other notable wins include the G1 Champion S. aboard Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}), as well as the G1 Irish St Leger aboard Brown Panther...

Group 1 winner Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion) sustained an injury to his near-hind fetlock in a piece of work at Martyn and Freddie Meade's on Monday, and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. "We were preparing him to run in the [G2] Sky Bet York S. when he suffered a conjugal fracture on his near-hind fetlock, so it is an absolute tragedy," Martyn Meade told the Press Association. "We were giving him his last bit of work yesterday on our watered peat moss gallop, which...

Ahmad Al Shaikh's Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion--Beach Bunny {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) backed up victories at Windsor and Kempton in August with a half-length second in last month's G2 Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket and stepped forward to register a determined success in Saturday's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, becoming the first Group 1 winner from the lone crop of his sire (by Kitten's Joy). The 49-10 chance was swiftly into stride and led through the early fractions of this 10-furlong test. Headed on the turn for home, he...

Ahmad Al Shaikh's twice-raced 2-year-old colt Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion--Beach Bunny {Ire}, by High Chaparral {Ire}), a €20,000 Goffs Orby graduate, notched a landmark score for Mark Johnston when making all in Wednesday's British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice S. at Kempton. The March-foaled chestnut, who was let go as the 6-5 favourite, became the trainer's 5,000th winner when annexing the one-mile test by an impressive four lengths from 13-8 market rival Super Mo (Uncle Mo). 1st-Kempton, £6,800, Nov, 8-24, 2yo, 8f (AWT), 1:42.35, st/sl. DUBAI MILE (IRE) (c,...

LONDON, UK--There has been an awful lot of water under the bridge since Goffs UK last convened its London Sale in the royal parks, but somehow the bloodstock market has meanwhile stayed buoyantly afloat. In this country, demand for horses in training has remained a priceless lifeline, and the additional kudos of a Royal Ascot entry for the majority of lots elevated the bidding along with the thermometer as summer made a timely arrival in Kensington Palace Gardens. That proved equally true among those defending reserves and those managing to...

In racing, as in life, it's always good to have a dream, and for owner Ahmad Al Shaikh, it's a simple one. "It has always been my dream to win the Derby," says the Dubaian businessman.  To that end, he is not doing too badly, especially not for an owner with a relatively small string of horses. Al Shaikh has been represented in the last two Derbys, with the 2020 runner-up Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}), and last year by the G3 Chester Vase winner Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot...

If you are a regular viewer of British racing then the chances are you will have seen plenty of interviews last season with jockey Marco Ghiani. He's the one who is always smiling, with the kind of impish face, dimples and all, that could soften even the sternest of stewards. In 2021, he had much to smile about.  With 101 winners under his belt, more than four times as many as his previous seasonal best, Ghiani was crowned champion apprentice at Ascot, receiving his trophy from Lester Piggott on QIPCO...

It was tight at the end of Saturday's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock, with Andrea Atzeni celebrating a black-type treble on the day on Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) who denied Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in a photo. Revived of late, the 5-year-old who had been second in the five-furlong G1 Nunthorpe S. at York Aug. 20 tanked along early off the pace but had plenty left to take over approaching the final furlong. Clinging on late as the even-money favourite found his stride...

Darley's Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when the Karl Burke-trained 9-4 favourite Almohandesah (GB) graduated in Sunday's EBF Fillies' Restricted Novice going six furlongs at Pontefract. The 18,000gns Tattersalls December foal and 16,500gns Tattersalls February yearling prevailed by a head from Shouldavbeenmore (Fr) (Penny's Picnic {Ire}). 1st-Pontefract, £6,000, Nov, 6-20, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:17.13, g/f. ALMOHANDESAH (GB) (f, 2, Postponed {Ire}--Chocolate Hills {Fr}, by Exceed and Excel {Aus}), a June 1 debut runner-up over this distance at Redcar in her only prior...

Bouncing back from a fourth in last month's Listed Feilden S. at Newmarket on seasonal comeback, Ahmad Al Shaikh's Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) dented a number of Classic aspirations with a determined victory in Wednesday's G3 Chester Vase. He had bettered a debut fourth over seven furlongs at Haydock when annexing a hot Newmarket maiden tackling the same trip next time and hit the board contesting Goodwood's July 28 G2 Vintage S. in the last of three juvenile outings. The April-foaled bay was let go at 15-2 and settled...

Ahmad Al Shaikh's Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}), the 50-1 runner-up in the G1 Investec Derby, will target the G3 Gordon S. at Goodwood on July 30, should he come through a work later this week in good order. Khalifa Sat had earmarked himself as a potential talent when winning the Listed Cocked Hat S. also at Goodwood in June, and cemented that status in the Derby. "There's a possibility he could run in the Gordon S. at Goodwood next week, depending on how he comes through a bit...