Goodwood maiden winner Mansa Musa (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) looks poised to continue his career overseas, according to his Irish-based trainer Diego Dias.
“I was going to supplement him for the Phoenix S. at the Curragh on Saturday, but I think we have sold him and he is probably heading to Hong Kong,” he said.
Bred by the Cullen family's Middlelane Farm, the juvenile was offered at the Goffs Dubai Breeze-up Sale in March but was bought back by his partners in Star Bloodstock, who had given 55,000gns for him as a yearling.
“It's nice to work with horses like him,” said Dias, a former jockey who now operates as a breeze-up consignor as well as being a licensed trainer.
Mansa Musa made his debut at Naas on July 8, finishing almost seven lengths adrift of the winner when taking sixth place. He got up by a short-head at Glorious Goodwood to win the British EBF-sponsored six-furlong maiden from Juddmonte's Array (Ire) (No Nay Never) at odds of 20-1.
“He was showing plenty at home and we thought he was a proper little horse who could win first time out,” Dias added.
“He improved a lot at Goodwood and the form is good. The second horse is a nice horse who they think a lot of and it was a hot maiden.
Dias still hopes to be represented in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. by the dual listed-placed Gaenari (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}). A £23,000 yearling, she was bought in at the Goffs UK Breeze-up for just £3,000.
He said, “She was second in Deauville last time, but she came back home and she's fresh and happy and we will probably give her a run in the Phoenix. She looks fine and the race at Deauville did not take much out of her, so she's in great form.
“She's been unfortunate not to get her head in front yet, she's been second three times now and two times in listed races.”
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