Imad Al Sagar

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a half-sister to Classic heroine Mangoustine. 5.40 Kempton, Mdn, £6,800, 2yo, 8f (AWT) SANDIRELLA (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) is the sixth foal out of Zotilla (Ire) (Zamindar), a half-sister to the high-class Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast) who cost just €75,000 at the 2019 Arqana December...

Providing the perfect follow-up for the reintroduction of his half-sister Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the feature G1 Sun Chariot Stakes, Imad Al Sagar's newcomer Nebras (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}--Princess Loulou {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) lit up Newmarket's Saturday card by becoming his sire's 45th TDN Rising Star in the mile maiden. Purchased for 725,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1, the John and Thady Gosden-trained chestnut was switched off in rear early by Hollie Doyle whose body language spoke volumes preparing for the downhill slide into the dip. Picking up with...

We may bemoan the fact that Flat horses come and go in what feels like the blink of an eye, but this season we are fortunate to be welcoming back not just the Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) but the four best fillies and mares in the world last year: Liberty Island (Jpn), Inspiral (GB), Emily Upjohn (GB) and Nashwa (GB). The last three named are all trained at John and Thady Gosden's Clarehaven Stables and both Emily Upjohn and Nashwa will make their return to the track next weekend...

As we approach the opening of the 2024 breeding season, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Today we caught up with Imad Al Sagar of Blue Diamond Stud, who added a Kentucky base, Stonereath Farm, in August.    "The acquisition of Stonereath Farm in Kentucky last summer has allowed us great opportunity to diversify," Al Sagar said. "A handful of Blue Diamond mares already resided in Kentucky but with the addition of...

Multiple Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will run in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day, owner Blue Diamond Stud announced via X (Twitter) on Wednesday evening. "Confirmed: Nashwa will run in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday," Imad Al Sagar's operation tweeted. Al Sagar's homebred won both the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. as a 3-year-old for John and Thady Gosden. She added her third Group 1 in the Falmouth S. this July, and has...

Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud silks will be carried by his star filly Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for another year, but the multiple Group 1 winner will skip the Breeders' Cup in favour of competing at QIPCO British Champions Day later this month, The Sun reported on Thursday. Both the one-mile G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. or the 1 1/4-mile G1 QIPCO Champion S. are under consideration for the 4-year-old at Ascot on Oct. 21. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the regular mount of Hollie Doyle was third...

Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud is the new owner of Stonereath Farm in Kentucky in a purchase which "underlines the intention of the stud to compete on the world stage". The Kuwaiti-born owner-breeder of Group 1 winners Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) has a burgeoning involvement in racing and breeding in North America, where his Blue Diamond Stud has been represented this season by the homebred Wonderful Justice (Justify), winner of the Black Gold S. at Fair Grounds. The 3-year-old colt is trained by...

Imad Al Sagar's dual Group 1-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Princess Loulou {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) wrested defeat from the jaws of victory in last month's G3 Hoppings S., but was a different proposition facing a stellar cast in Friday's G1 Tattersalls Falmouth S. at Newmarket and back on song to dish out a wide-margin beating in the one-mile distaffers' test. Persistent drizzle had fallen at Headquarters throughout the day, easing the official going to good, and enticed connections into rubber-stamping the participation of last week's G1 Pretty...

Imad Al Sagar's Classic winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has been supplemented at a cost of £20,000 to the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket on July 14. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the dual Group 1 winner captured both the Prix de Diane and Nassau S. after running third in the G1 Oaks at Epsom last term. A good second in the G1 Prix de l'Opera that October, she ended her season with a fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in the U.S. Now four,...

Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who ran fourth in the G2 Prix Corrida on the weekend, is likely to skip Royal Ascot and instead target the G1 Pretty Polly in Ireland on July 1, according to owner Imad Al Sagar's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe. "The Prince of Wales's is an option but I would say, at the moment, talking to Imad this morning and to [trainer] John [Gosden], the preferred option would be the Pretty Polly. "I hope it might be easier to win! There are going to...

Dual Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who took the 2022 G1 Prix de Diane with Hollie Doyle aboard, is pointing toward the May 18 G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S. at York for her 4-year-old bow. Trained by John and Thady Gosden for Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud, the bay is in good form, and, if the ground is unsuitable at York, she could be re-routed to the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury two days later. "She stays in training and has wintered well," said...

Top jockey Hollie Doyle, who has been recovering from an elbow injury suffered in a fall at Wolverhampton on Jan. 17, is set to make her return to the saddle on Friday at Newcastle after over two months on the sidelines. The 26-year-old rider will pilot the Archie Watson-trained Rhythm N Hooves (GB) (Pearl Secret {GB}) at Newcastle, while her weekend rides at Doncaster include Richard Spencer's Revich (Ire) (Requinto {Ire}) in the Lincoln, and Wilderness Girl (Ire) (No Nay Never), trained by Adrian Nicholls, in the Cammidge Trophy. The...