Blue Diamond Stud

Nashwa Returns to the Races; Her Dam Returns to Frankel

We may bemoan the fact that Flat horses come and go in what feels like the blink of an eye, but this season we are fortunate to be welcoming back not just the Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) but the four best fillies and mares in the world last year: Liberty Island (Jpn), Inspiral (GB), Emily Upjohn (GB) and Nashwa (GB). The last three named are all trained at John and Thady Gosden's Clarehaven Stables and both Emily Upjohn and Nashwa will make their return to the track next weekend...

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Mating Plans, Presented By Spendthrift Farm: Blue Diamond's Stonereath Mares

As we approach the opening of the 2024 breeding season, the TDN staff is once again sitting down with leading breeders to find out what stallions they have chosen for their mares, and why. Today we caught up with Imad Al Sagar of Blue Diamond Stud, who added a Kentucky base, Stonereath Farm, in August.    "The acquisition of Stonereath Farm in Kentucky last summer has allowed us great opportunity to diversify," Al Sagar said. "A handful of Blue Diamond mares already resided in Kentucky but with the addition of...

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GBRI Releases Part 1 of 'Be A Part of It: Breeding in Britain' Series

Great British Racing International (GBRI) launched the first episode in a new five-part video series entitled 'Be A Part Of It: Breeding In Britain'--Juddmonte: Banstead Manor Stud. The remaining four episodes will drop daily through Nov. 25. Episode 1 features one of the most prolific stud farms in the world, Banstead Manor Stud, home of Juddmonte. General Manager Simon Mockridge discusses how Prince Khalid Abdullah first came to purchase the stud in 1987. Among its illustrious residents, Frankel (GB) is poised to win his second Champion Sire title in the...

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Stakes Winning Daughter of Temple City Heads Book 4 Finale

Stakes winner Ocean Safari (Temple City) (Hip 2451) led the proceedings with a $190,000 final bid from Hugo Merry Bloodstock during Tuesday's seventh session of the Keeneland November Sale in Lexington. Purchased on behalf of Blue Diamond Stud, the 4-year-old, who was offered as a racing or broodmare prospect, was consigned by Taylor Made Sales, also the session's leading consignor with sales of $1,374,000 for 38 horses. A daughter of Media Access (Devil's Bag), the dark bay is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Access to Charlie (Indian Charlie) and...

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QEII The Pick For Nashwa On Saturday

Multiple Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will run in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day, owner Blue Diamond Stud announced via X (Twitter) on Wednesday evening. "Confirmed: Nashwa will run in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday," Imad Al Sagar's operation tweeted. Al Sagar's homebred won both the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. as a 3-year-old for John and Thady Gosden. She added her third Group 1 in the Falmouth S. this July, and has...

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Nashwa Will Skip Breeders' Cup In Favour Of Champions Day; Will Remain In Training Next Year

Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud silks will be carried by his star filly Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for another year, but the multiple Group 1 winner will skip the Breeders' Cup in favour of competing at QIPCO British Champions Day later this month, The Sun reported on Thursday. Both the one-mile G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. or the 1 1/4-mile G1 QIPCO Champion S. are under consideration for the 4-year-old at Ascot on Oct. 21. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the regular mount of Hollie Doyle was third...

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'He Is What It Says On The Tin': Nashwa's Dubawi Half-Brother Among Stellar Lots at Tattersalls

NEWMARKET, UK--Whether up top or down below, the consignors at Park Paddocks all agree that the major redevelopment work that has been carried out by Tattersalls over the last few years has been a huge boost. The extended yards of R, S and T in the Somerville Paddock seem to have almost doubled in size during the levelling-up process, with extra rubber runways making the business of showing and viewing horses that bit easier. Gerry Meehan, the yearling manager of Blue Diamond Stud, is delighted with the position for his...

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Blue Diamond Stud Branches Out With Acquisition of Kentucky's Stonereath Farm

Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud is the new owner of Stonereath Farm in Kentucky in a purchase which "underlines the intention of the stud to compete on the world stage". The Kuwaiti-born owner-breeder of Group 1 winners Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) has a burgeoning involvement in racing and breeding in North America, where his Blue Diamond Stud has been represented this season by the homebred Wonderful Justice (Justify), winner of the Black Gold S. at Fair Grounds. The 3-year-old colt is trained by...

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Classic Heroine Nashwa Supplemented To Falmouth

Imad Al Sagar's Classic winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has been supplemented at a cost of £20,000 to the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket on July 14. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the dual Group 1 winner captured both the Prix de Diane and Nassau S. after running third in the G1 Oaks at Epsom last term. A good second in the G1 Prix de l'Opera that October, she ended her season with a fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in the U.S. Now four,...

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Nashwa Likely To Skip Royal Ascot In Favour Of Pretty Polly

Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who ran fourth in the G2 Prix Corrida on the weekend, is likely to skip Royal Ascot and instead target the G1 Pretty Polly in Ireland on July 1, according to owner Imad Al Sagar's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe. "The Prince of Wales's is an option but I would say, at the moment, talking to Imad this morning and to [trainer] John [Gosden], the preferred option would be the Pretty Polly. "I hope it might be easier to win! There are going to...

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Doyle Set For Newcastle Return Friday

Top jockey Hollie Doyle, who has been recovering from an elbow injury suffered in a fall at Wolverhampton on Jan. 17, is set to make her return to the saddle on Friday at Newcastle after over two months on the sidelines. The 26-year-old rider will pilot the Archie Watson-trained Rhythm N Hooves (GB) (Pearl Secret {GB}) at Newcastle, while her weekend rides at Doncaster include Richard Spencer's Revich (Ire) (Requinto {Ire}) in the Lincoln, and Wilderness Girl (Ire) (No Nay Never), trained by Adrian Nicholls, in the Cammidge Trophy. The...

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Blue Diamond Stud's Group 1 Producer Pearling Passes At 17

Pearling (Storm Cat--Mariah's Storm, by Rahy), the dam of triple Group 1 winner and stallion Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), passed away this week, Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud announced on Tuesday. The 17-year-old, who was set to return to Frankel this season, foaled a Frankel (GB) filly this week, the stud confirmed to the TDN. "Very sad to lose Pearling this week," the stud tweeted. "She was one of the first mares to join Blue Diamond and gave us a true star in Decorated Knight. She leaves a lasting...

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