Qatar Racing

It may have taken time to see him in action, but Qatar Racing and Watership Down Stud's 3.5million gns 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 Sale topper Darain (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) made the wait worthwhile with a command performance to earn TDN Rising Star status on his debut on Wednesday's evening card at Newbury. Sent off the 2-1 favourite for division two of the 10-furlong Oakley Coachbuilders Super Sport Novice S., the bay was allowed to bowl along on the front end by Oisin Murphy and ambled along with...

The next big aim for Kameko (Kitten's Joy) remains the G1 Juddmonte International on Aug. 19, but the G1 2000 Guineas winner could take in the G1 Sussex S. en route on July 29, trainer Andrew Balding revealed the day after the colt finished fourth as the post time favourite in the G1 Investec Derby. "Obviously it was slightly disappointing, because we had huge expectations, but that's why it is such an important and special race--you only get one chance at it, and it is very difficult to win," Balding...

Trainer Andrew Balding said he has "been really pleased" with Kameko (Kitten's Joy) since his victory in the June 6 G1 2000 Guineas, and that the Qatar Racing colorbearer came through a racecourse gallop at Kempton on Wednesday well. He is aiming for the July 4 G1 Investec Derby. "He went to Kempton [on Wednesday] for a gallop, which we did before Newmarket 10 days prior, and it went well," Balding said. "We had the option of going to Epsom, they kindly offered, but I felt he needed a decent...

It's Royal Ascot once again, but not as we know it. No crowds, no fashion, no Queen. It is a case of "Royal Ascot At Home" for virtually everybody this year, even for the main players whose money makes it all possible. That said, at least there is still Frankie, Aidan O'Brien, Wesley Ward, Sir Michael Stoute and Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and all the other working equine and human cast and crew that make this week so special. One of Britain's most brilliant racehorses of recent years, Battaash...

In bloodstock circles, plenty of air is devoted to rueing the unforgiving nature of the market, not least the tendency to toss a mare out with the bath water should she fail to sparkle with her first few foals. When Kameko (Kitten's Joy) won the G1 2000 Guineas on June 6, he made a fairly strong case for perseverance. His dam, the well-bred graded stakes winner Sweeter Still (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), had been the co-second highest priced lot at Keeneland's January Sale in 2014 at $750,000 in foal...

The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) will carry Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing silks in next week's G2 Norfolk S. after a private deal was done for the track record-setting maiden winner, Racing Post reports. The Lir Jet was a €9,500 foal turned £8,000 Doncaster yearling before being purchased privately by Nick Bell. He was set to go through the ring at the Tattersalls Ascot Breeze-Up Sale in late April before that date was scuppered by COVID-19, and instead he went into training with Nick Bell's father Michael Bell....

There was a real buzz surrounding Qatar Racing's Kameko (Kitten's Joy) as the delayed G1 QIPCO 2,000 Guineas approached and the G1 Futurity Trophy winner justified all the expectation as he swooped to conquer the Newmarket Classic on Saturday. Arriving at the forefront of his generation with an emphatic win in Doncaster's traditional juvenile feature which was re-arranged on Newcastle's Tapeta in November, the bay had earned rave reviews from Andrew Balding's Kingsclere base during this year's prolonged waiting period. In mid-division on the rail as the pace proved strong...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Sheriff Bianco (c, 2, by Speightster--Summer Rules, by Perfect Soul {Ire}), a strong second after a tardy beginning and wide trip on debut for trainer Wesley Ward at Churchill Downs May 22, will look to earn his diploma at the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting. Drawn on the extreme outside in post 11 going 4 1/2 furlongs over the main track beneath the Twin Spires, the Qatar Racing colorbearer...

Trainer Andrew Balding had a positive report regarding G1SW Kameko (Kitten's Joy) in advance of the G1 English 2000 Guineas on June 6, Racing TV reported on Tuesday. The Qatar Racing runner galloped at Kempton last week. A last out winner of the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. over the Newcastle all-weather, the big bay opened his career with a debut win at Sandown, before a pair of runner-up efforts in the G3 Solario S. and the G2 Royal Lodge S. "He had a gallop at Kempton last week and...

After it was announced that QIPCO had ended its sponsorship of the G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Prix du Jockey Club,  Leopardstown thanked QIPCO for their support on Thursday. QIPCO had assisted with Longines Irish Champions Weekend since it began in 2014, but is now turning its focus toward its sponsorship activities in Britain. (Click here for some highlights of the Irish Champion S.) "I would like to thank QIPCO and Sheikh Fahad for their incredible support of the Irish Champion S. for the past six years," said Leopardstown...

Longholes Stud, located just outside Newmarket and owned by Sheikh Fahad since 2013, has been listed for sale with an asking price of £6-million. Sheikh Fahad redeveloped the 217-acre property as a state-of-the-art rehabilitation and pre-training centre for both racehorses and sport horses. The property includes 88 stables, extensive railed paddocks and about 100 acres of open pasture, horse walkers and lunge ring, a 2 1/2 furlong canter and a six-furlong woodchip gallop. There is a farmhouse, cottage and four staff houses. Windsor Clive International, Knight Frank's London and Bishops...

Last year's G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy winner Kameko (Kitten's Joy) is, like the rest of the Classic cohort, ticking over in winter quarters as connections await news of the resumption of racing. David Redvers, advisor to owner Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing, said on Thursday that the dark bay is in "incredibly good form" at trainer Andrew Balding's Kingsclere stable as he prepares for a run in the G1 2000 Guineas on a date yet to be confirmed. "We couldn't be happier with the horse; he's done magnificently physically," Redvers said....