Prince Faisal

A consequence of massive book sizes is that it has become even harder for a less obvious prospective stallion to break into the elite tier. However, just as many seemingly excellent stallion prospects over the years have failed to make the grade, and there is still scope for a stallion to succeed against the odds, to 'pull himself up by his bootstraps', to join the elite after having started out considerably farther down the ladder. One such has been the admirable Invincible Spirit (Ire), whose retirement from active service at...

Invincible Spirit (Ire), the sire of 22 individual Group 1 winners worldwide, has been retired from covering duties, the Irish National Stud announced on Wednesday. Now 27, Invincible Spirit was a fixture on the Irish National Stud roster of stallions for 22 consecutive seasons, starting in 2003 after his breakthrough Group 1 victory in the Sprint Cup at Haydock the previous autumn. As a racehorse he won seven of his 17 starts for trainer John Dunlop and owner-breeder Prince Faisal, with his other wins including the Duke Of York Stakes...

In the previous four runnings of the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup, American-based horses have--surprisingly--passed the post in first on a single occasion while finishing second on each occasion. That 'victory' came in the much-discussed inaugural running in 2020, a result that seems likely to soon be overturned, albeit to the benefit of another American horse. So, even though the U.S. is the epicenter of world dirt racing, its five representatives this year arguably still have something to prove when a field of 14 loads the gate around 12:40 p.m. ET...

Brothers Mark and Clint Cornett, who race under the name of C2 Racing Stable, have taken on HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia as a partner in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio (Race Day). The 5-year-old will make his next in the Feb. 24 running of the G1 Saudi Cup. Mark Cornett said that C2 remains the majority owner, but declined to say how big of a percentage was sold. The story was first reported by the Daily Racing Form's...

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens, who relocated to Saudi Arabia earlier this year to take up a position as private trainer to Prince Faisal bin Khalid Al Saud, was represented by his first winner when  Honky Tonk Man (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) won a 1400-meter allowance Saturday afternoon at King Khalid Racecourse in Ta'if, about 500 miles southwest of Riyadh. Ridden by former U.S.-based jockey Wigberto Ramos from gate 16, Honky Tonk Man--who was second to fellow American-bred Chiefdom (The Factor) when becoming Jerkens's first runner in a 0-90 handicap July 15--raced with...

Veteran New York trainer Jimmy Jerkens, 64, whose stable has been slumping in recent years, has agreed to train in Saudi Arabia for Prince Faisal bin Khalid Al Saud. Jerkens said he will likely start his new job in Saudi Arabia in mid-May. The Daily Racing Form's David Grening was first with the story. Jerkens, the son of Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens, has been around the New York tracks for nearly 50 years. After working for his father as an assistant, he went out on his own in 1997....

Offered as lot 182 by Baroda Stud, multiple group winner Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) changed hands for €1 million to Ted Voute at Arqana. Purchased for Nawara Stud's Prince Faisal of Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) fame, the triple Group 3 winner also ran third in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac among her numerous stakes placings. Group winners Galeota (Ire) (Mujadil), Burnt Sugar (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Brown Sugar (Ire) (Tamayuz) are under the third dam. Voute indicated to the Arqana sales team that the dark bay...

Multiple Group 1 winners Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) are adapting well to Lexington in advance of their Breeders' Cup engagements on Saturday at Keeneland, according to trainer John Gosden. Aiming for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, the Prince Faisal colourbearer has won three times at the highest level in France, Dubai and the UK. Mishriff enters off a 13th in deep ground in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Frankie Dettori was aboard Mishriff, while Hollie Doyle was in the irons for...

Multiple Group 1-winning duo Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {Ire}) pleased co-trainers John and Thady Gosden in their final gallops on Friday ahead of the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. Racing in the colours of Prince Faisal and Imad Al Sagar, respectively, the pair are part of a 23-strong British contingent that is making the trip to Kentucky on Saturday for the two-day meeting on Nov. 4 and 5. The 5-year-old entire, who will stand under the Sumbe banner at Haras de Montfort et Preaux in France...

William Buick is likely to ride John and Thady Gosden's Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the Paris Longchamp in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was ruled out of the race in favour of the G1 Champion S. at Ascot. Prince Faisal's 5-year-old is a Group 1 winner in France, Dubai, and the UK, and, although he has yet to win in 2022, he has been in the top three in three of his four starts. Runner-up to Arc rival Vadeni (Fr)...

David Egan is not being retained by owner Prince Faisal as stable jockey any longer. The association has come to an immediate end with James Doyle booked to ride the Roger Varian-trained Sajwaan (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) at Newbury on Saturday. Egan, 23, is best known as the rider of Prince Faisal's Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), and partnered him to his maiden victory at Nottingham in November 2019. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, he missed out on Mishriff's 2020 G1 French Derby win with Ioritz Mendizabal deputising. In the bay's next...

Listed winner Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) will go to Epsom to test his aptitude for the course during the Cazoo Derby Gallops Morning on May 23, Prince Faisal's racing manager Ted Voute revealed. Depending on his results, that will see the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas fourth take his chances in the G1 Cazoo Derby on June 4. Alternatively, he will be re-routed to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club in France one day later. Voute said, "He'll go on Monday to Epsom and have a little piece of work...