Qatar Racing

Saddled with a five-pound penalty as a result of his G1 2000 Guineas triumph, Qatar Racing's Kameko (Kitten's Joy) proved himself one of the better winners of that Classic in recent times when overcoming the extra burden to take the G2 Shadwell Joel S. over the same Newmarket mile on Friday. Settled behind the leading duo early by Oisin Murphy, the 85-40 second favourite needed rousing to get to last year's winner Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) but responded by usurping that rival with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. At the line,...

Group winner The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) will resurface in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket on Sept. 26. The Qatar Racing runner was originally slated for a return in the G2 Flyer Childers S. earlier this month, but was a non-runner that day. After winning the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot in June, the colt missed by only a short head in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chanitlly in mid-July and was third promoted to second in the Aug. 9 G1 Phoenix S....

Classic winner Kameko (Kitten's Joy), who landed the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas in June, will start next in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on British Champions Day, Oct. 17. The Qatar Racing colourbearer saluted in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. on the all-weather as a juvenile and won the Newmarket Classic by a neck on June 6. Since then, he has rolled a trio of fours in the July 4 G1 Investec Derby, July 29 G1 Qatar Sussex S. and the Aug. 19 G1 Juddmonte International S. Trainer...

2019 Champion Apprentice Cieren Fallon has accepted a position as second jockey for Qatar Racing on Wednesday morning. The 21-year-old's new role is for two years and he joins reigning champion jockey Oisin Murphy, who has first call for Sheikh Fahad's operation. Fallon rode out his claim last Friday. He also booted home his first Group 1 winner aboard Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) in the G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket last month. Qatar Racing is expanding its jockey pool due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic which...

G2 Norfolk S. hero The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) will start next in either the G2 Flying Childers S. at Doncaster on Sept. 11 or the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket on Sept. 26. Runner-up by only a short head in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly on July 19, the bay was third, promoted to second, in the G1 Phoenix S. at The Curragh on Aug. 9. Qatar Racing purchased The Lir Jet after a winning debut at Yarmouth. Bell said, "He's come out...

Godolphin's MG1SW Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who defeated dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) when last seen in the G1 Coral-Eclipse S. at Sandown in early July, faces just five opponents in the G1 Juddmonte International S. at York on Aug. 19. However, four of the quintet have also won at the highest level. Ghaiyyath faces the Qatar Racing pair of MG1SW Kameko (Kitten's Joy), who won the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas this term, as well as G3 Musidora S. heroine Rose of Kildare...

Qatar Racing has privately purchased last-out G3 Musidora S. winner Rose Of Kildare (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}-Cruck Realta {GB}, by Sixties Icon {GB}). She will be leased back to ownership group Kingsley Park 14 for the remainder of the season before joining Qatar Racing's broodmare band. Selected by trainer Mark Johnston's son and assistant Charlie for just €3,000 from the 2018 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, Rose Of Kildare made an admirable 12 starts at two last year and saved the best for last, winning the G3 Firth Of Clyde...

Trainer Johnny Murtagh has the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend Sept. 12 as a goal for two fillies in his stable, though one has another hurdle to clear beforehand. Qatar Racing homebred Know It All (GB) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) punched her ticket when following up a victory in the G3 Derrinstown Stud Fillies S. with a third-place finish in the G1 Prix Rothschild on Aug. 2. Last out listed winner Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}), meanwhile, will take the next step in the G3 Fairy Bridge...

G2 Norfolk S. winner The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince Of Lir {Ire}), beaten a head when second in the July 19 G2 Prix Robert Papin, is set for next Sunday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh. The Qatar Racing colourbearer was originally slated for the Aug. 21 Nunthorpe S. against elders, but trainer Michael Bell said that is likely off the table now. "The Lir Jet worked well this morning," Bell said. "He is likely to go to Ireland now for the Phoenix S. as plans have been made...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Insights features the return of pricey 'TDN Rising Star' Darain (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). 2.50 Newmarket, Novice, £5,400, 3yo/up, 10fT DARAIN (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bids to build on an impressive winning debut at Newbury earlier this month, where the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 Sale topper earned...

Royal Ascot hero The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), second by only a nose in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly on Sunday, will make his next start against elders in the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. in August. Originally campaigned by Nick Bell and trained by Michel Bell, the bay sparkled on debut at Yarmouth on June 3 and was subsequently purchased privately by Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing. The acquisition proved a shrewd one, as The Lir Jet captured the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot on...

Kameko (Kitten's Joy) and Siskin (First Defence), winners respectively of the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas and G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, are set to meet in the G1 Sussex S. on July 29. Kameko was last seen finishing fourth in the G1 Investec Derby on July 4, while Siskin comes in off his Curragh Classic win on June 12. David Redvers, racing and bloodstock advisor to Kameko's owner Qatar Racing, told Nick Luck's Daily podcast that the Sussex would be used as a stepping stone to the G1 Juddmonte International...