Sheikh Hamdan

Paul Hanagan is nearing a return to race riding following an extended stay on the sidelines after breaking his back in a fall at Newcastle in February. The two-time champion jockey and retained rider to Sheikh Hamdan is nearing two milestones: his 40th birthday on Sept. 8 and his 2000th winner. He is 24 shy of the latter. Hanagan said he has "been riding out nearly every day for three weeks now." "It couldn't be going better," he added. "I've still not got a date for coming back, but it's...

1.30 Gowran Park, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, 8fT Aidan O'Brien trainee HARVARD (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}), who is kin to MGISW GI Breeders' Cup Mile and G1 Queen Anne S. heroine Tepin (Bernstein) and MGSW GI Wood Memorial and GI Forego S. third Vyjack (Into Mischief), shaped with a deal of promise when a close-up fourth tackling seven furlongs at Leopardstown on debut last month and gets a second chance to shed maiden status upped in trip for this one. His opposition features Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's hitherto unraced Wuqood...

Tabdeed (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire})'s connections are mulling a start for the group winner in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup S. at Haydock on Sept. 5. The six-furlong event would be the gelding's first crack at the top level. Representing the blue-and-white silks of Sheikh Hamdan, the sparingly raced 5-year-old ran second in a Newcastle all-weather handicap on June 27, and earned his first group win in the G3 Hackwood S. at Newbury back on grass on July 18. Trainer Owen Burrows said, "We will give him an entry in...

Last week's G1 Sussex S. winner Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) is aiming for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on Champions Day as his next big target, with trainer Marcus Tregoning as-yet undecided as to whether the 4-year-old will have another start prior. "His end-of-season target will be the QEII," said Tregoning. "Whether something slots in before that we're not sure yet, but Ascot is his main target. "We could have really done with the [G1 Prix Jacques le] Marois being a week later than it is. There isn't anything...

MGSW Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) is the highest-rated horse at 112 in the 774-strong inaugural Tattersalls August Sale catalogue, which was released on Sunday. Consigned by Richard Hannon's East Everleigh Stables for Cheveley Park Stud as lot 469, the chestnut is one of 541 colts and geldings in and out of training set to go under the hammer from Aug. 24-26. There are also 214 fillies in and out of training, as well as 19 broodmares set to sell in Newmarket. A winner of the G2 Gimcrack S. and the...

Denied a clear run when seventh in Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Anne S., Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) gained some measure of compensation in the G2 Summer Mile back at the Berkshire venue earlier this month and produced an explosive turn of foot to secure a career high in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood. The well-backed 3-1 second choice was handily placed in fourth after an alert getaway, but slipped one spot at halfway. Shuffled back to last of the seven runners when...

Sheikh Hamdan's G1 Falmouth S. winner Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) looks set to race outside Britain for the first time, with Deauville's G1 Prix Rothschild on Aug. 2 her likely next target. "We're looking at the Prix Rothschild, but we are just going to look at the Nassau as well in case we can't get to France for any reason," confirmed the sheikh's racing manager Angus Gold. "The first priority has always been Deauville, but she'll probably be in the Nassau." He added of the 4-year-old filly, "I'm sure...

Among some memorable performances at Royal Ascot last week, two that stood out at opposite ends of the distance spectrum were provided by Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). The sprinter and the stayer may be poles apart in some respects, but what they share is the fact that, at the age of six, they have been around long enough to be taken to the hearts of the racing public. Six also unites their respective jockeys, Jim Crowley and Frankie Dettori, as that was...

It was another big day in the careers of Jean-Claude Rouget and Cristian Demuro at Chantilly on Sunday as Shadwell's Tawkeel (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) brought up a group 1 double for the trainer-jockey combination when extending her unbeaten run in style in the G1 Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary. Always travelling on an even keel in third, the winner of three minor all-weather events rushed by the G3 Prix Vanteaux winner Magic Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) with 350 metres to race and on to a five-length success from that rival,...

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum enjoyed a year to remember on the racecourse in 2019, with the record-setting Group 1 sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) leading a charge that also included the G1 Lockinge S. winner Mustashry (GB) (Tamayuz {GB}) and the admirable staying filly Enbihaar (Ire) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}), the winner of three consecutive Group 2s. Attraction (GB)'s high-profile son Elarqam (GB) and G1 Investec Derby runner-up Madhmoon (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) also won pattern races in the blue and white. The Shadwell owner will have to wait a...

With racing in Britain suspended until at least the end of April, just days before the Guineas would have been run at Newmarket, the one certain thing in an uncertain world is that there will be some disruption to the Classic programme this season. Hopefully that will merely be some date changes. The last time there was a significant change to the British Classics was 25 years ago, when the Derby was moved from its traditional Wednesday slot to a Saturday. It still rankles in some quarters, though in this...

The Shadwell Stable horses currently in training with Kiaran McLaughlin will be moved to Todd Pletcher, Shadwell Vice President and General Manager Rick Nichols announced Thursday. The farm's statement came in response to Wednesday's announcement that McLaughlin was retiring from training at the end of this month to become the agent for jockey Luis Saez as of Apr. 1. Nichol's statement read as follows: "On behalf of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan and all of us at Shadwell, we would like to thank Kiaran McLaughlin and his staff for all of the...