Angus Gold

DUBAI, UAE--In the week building up to Dubai's major race day, a growing throng of owners and trainers arrive at Meydan to see their horses in action, and perhaps shoot the breeze with the press pack gathered trackside. At a quiet remove behind the back stretch is the training track favoured by the European horses, with a grass circuit and a Tapeta surface, each to be enjoyed without the hullabaloo of the main racecourse, and with few onlookers present. It is here on Thursday morning that Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al...

Almighwar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a twice-winning son of Sheikh Hamdan's G1 Oaks and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Taghrooda (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), enters stud this year at Garryrichard Stud in a deal brokered by Luke Lillingston. Almighwar won twice going a mile and a half at Kempton as a 3-year-old and was placed in a Newbury conditions race going a shade over two miles last April. He traces back to the excellent Aga Khan family of Group 1 and Classic-winners Estimate (Ire), Enzeli (Ire),...

Shadwell's exciting 2-year-old Ehraz (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) may have an excuse for his last-of-five finish in last week's G3 Acomb S. at York after scoping unsatisfactorily after the race. The Richard Hannon-trained Ehraz broke his maiden at second asking at Ascot by 4 1/4 lengths on July 23, but trailed in by 7 1/2 lengths at York behind Highclere's Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). "We've just got to put a line through that; he didn't scope very well," said Shadwell Racing Manager Angus Gold. "It was too bad to...

Shadwell group winners Raabihah (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) are targetting the Oct. 3 G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Sept. 5 G1 Prix du Moulin, respectively, Shadwell Racing Manager Angus Gold revealed on Monday. A 4-year-old filly, Raabihah was fifth in the 2020 Arc after taking the G3 Prix de Psyche last August and running second in the Sept. 13 G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille. Prior to her victory in Sunday's G2 Prix de Pomone, the chestnut was second thrice as the...

Champion sprinter and four-time Group 1 winner Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}), has been retired from racing, connections announced on Saturday. The 7-year-old gelding raced in the Shadwell colours for the late Sheikh Hamdan and in 2021, his daughter, Sheikha Hissa. His final start was a seventh-place run aiming for a fifth-straight win in the G2 King George Qatar S. at Goodwood on Friday. Racing Manager Angus Gold said on behalf of Shadwell Estate Company, Ltd., "Following telephone conversations with HH Sheikha Hissa Bint Hamdan...

Shadwell's progressive 3-year-old Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) could resurface next in Goodwood's G2 Celebration Mile on Aug. 28, according to Racing Manager Angus Gold, though connections are not yet closing the door on the G3 Thoroughbred S. at Glorious Goodwood on July 30 or the Aug. 15 G1 Prix Jacques le Marois in Deauville. Trained by William Haggas, Baaeed broke his maiden at first asking on Leicester on June 7 before taking a Newmarket novice race by 7 1/2 lengths on June 19. He returned to the July...

Shadwell's Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will miss the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. on July 24 and is set to be gelded, according to Racing Manager Angus Gold. The 4-year-old began his campaign with back-to-back Group 3 wins in the John Porter S. and Aston Park S. for trainer William Haggas, but settled for second in both the G1 Coronation Cup and G2 Princess of Wales's S. most recently. "Al Aasy had every chance to go and win the race last week and you've...

Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum, daughter of the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will continue her father's legacy at Shadwell Estate, with Angus Gold, Shadwell's longtime racing manager, telling Racing Post that Sheikha Hissa will take over as head of the powerful racing and breeding operation. The news comes on the heels of Monday's announcement that Shadwell Stud Director Richard Lancaster would step down. "We've been communicating with Sheikha Hissa over the past couple of months since Sheikh Hamdan sadly died and I'm currently on my way back...

Denied a tilt at the G1 Epsom Derby due to the eve-of-race downpour, Shadwell's Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) had luck on his side on Thursday and after the overnight thunderstorm had bypassed Ascot duly showed his wares in the G3 Hampton Court S. Anchored towards the back early by Jim Crowley, the 11-8 favourite had to come five-wide on the home bend but had the engine to get to the front passing two out as Roman Empire (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) stuck close by. Drifting away from the whip and across...

Evergreen sprinter Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is in good form in advance of a title defense in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot. Also a winner of the G2 King George S. last July and the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. at York on Aug. 21, the 7-year-old Charlie Hills trainee is fully healed from an injury picked up over the winter. "His trainer will tell you he's definitely on course for Ascot," said Shadwell Racing Manager Angus Gold. "It's been well documented he was late going back...

The scene is set for an electrifying 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast, May 25-27. The appearance of record-breaking mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands (Aus) was announced earlier this year, and she will be joined by a host of other top-class mares and fillies. The sale will also feature the Shadwell Australia dispersal for mares and weanlings. TDN's Gary King caught up with Barry Bowditch before the action kicked off in Queensland. GK: Congratulations on putting together such a strong catalogue. It must be an extremely...

Shadwell's Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is aiming to defend his G1 King's Stand S. title at Royal Ascot and is training well trainer Charlie Hills reports. The 7-year-old gelding is thriving at Hills's yard in Lamborne after recovering from a small fracture sustained in the off season. The bay was undefeated in three starts last term, beginning in with the King's Stand in June, followed by the July 31 G2 King George Qatar S. and the Aug. 21 G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. "Battaash has been back with us a...