Issue 792

BLOODSTOCK adiyat racing plus.com 20 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 792 Thursday 6th April 2023 By Duane Fonseca Furious bidding wars ensued at the Emirates Racing Authority’s Horses in Training Sale - April 2023 at Meydan Racecourse Tuesday night with Godolphin’s blue bred castaways commanding the highest of the prices being offered. A total of 172 lots had been offered initially with nine scratched off before the bidding process could begin, with just two Purebred Arabians among the total horses that went under the gavel during the sale which was conducted by renowned British and European bloodstock auctioneers Tattersalls in association with the Emirates Racing Authority, the body governing the sport of horse racing in the UAE. While 32 horses were withdrawn, a mere six were not sold. And with buyers keen on snapping up some truly well bred horses, the picks were made well in advance with a few of the names garnering a lot of attention and the bidding process generating immense excitement both for those watching and raising their paddles. One of the most-anticipated names on offer was that of former Charlie Appleby trainee Sovereign Prince (Lot 50), a 4yo Dubawi gelding with an impeccable UAE record. Rated 105 on turf and 100 on dirt by the ERA, Sovereign Prince has three wins to his name in four starts on UAE soil. He remains unbeaten at Meydan in three starts, which includes a victory in the Listed Jumeirah Classic trial on turf in 2022. Last seen finishing a distant 11th in the Group 3 Jebel Ali Mile, Sovereign Prince was a close fifth in last year’s Group 3 Saudi Derby at Riyadh and commanded the highest price of Dh1.3million, which was paid by Hadi for Najd Stud. His former teammate and stable companion Walk Of Stars (Lot 52), another 4yo gelded SOVEREIGN PRINCE’S MEYDAN REIGN CONTINUES IN SALES RING son of Dubawi trained by Appleby, went for Dh1.2m to Athbah Racing. Rated 107 on both turf and dirt, Walk Of Stars won two of his eight starts and was dispatched as favourite for the 2400m Dubai Racing Club Classic on the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival programme in January, but he failed to show up and finished eighth behind Enemy, who went on to seal the runners-up spot in the Group 3 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap at Riyadh in February. The third-highest sum of Dh1.1m was commanded by another Appleby trainee, Bay Of Honour (Lot 41), a 4yo Shamardal gelding rated 99 on both surfaces, who ran thrice on the DWC Carnival programme this year without distinction, but has a pair of wins over a mile to his name back in Britain. Sovereign Prince (Dhs1,300,000) SOVEREIGN PRINCE WAS A CLOSE FIFTH IN LAST YEAR’S GROUP 3 SAUDI DERBY AT RIYADH AND COMMANDED THE HIGHEST PRICE OF DH1.3MILLION, WHICH WAS PAID BY HADI FOR NAJD STUD.

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