Imad Al Sagar

Blue Diamond Stud is by no means a new name in the industry, and it has been in the news plenty this season courtesy of the dual Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), but where it has not been seen before is on the list of yearling consignors. That changes this week with the stud's debut selling yearlings under its own banner at the Arqana August Sale. And as debuts go, it is a pretty dazzling one as the stud's owner Imad Al Sagar will be offering a sibling...

Goodwood's trio of Group 1 races all went the way of owner-breeders, results that are both pleasing to see for the people who invest so much thought and money into the sport over generations, and which also highlight how hard it can be for prospective owners to get into horses at the top level. This season, ten European Classics have been won by homebreds, with two of those, Sammarco (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), having been offered for sale by their breeders but bought back. Only...

Class has told all week so far at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and on Thursday it was the turn of TDN Rising Star Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to excel in the G1 Qatar Nassau S. Sent off the 6-5 favourite having loped to post like an old hand under Hollie Doyle, Imad Al Sagar's G1 Prix de Diane heroine cruised from rear down the outer to swoop on the front end with a furlong remaining and assert for an ultimately-comfortable 1 3/4-length success from the 40-1 outsider Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner...

Just when you thought a fully-charged Royal Ascot couldn't be topped, along came Hollie Doyle.  The royal meeting was sadly missing The Queen for all five days this year but, France's republican tendencies aside, there are few in the racing world who would deny that Doyle is now the queen of Chantilly after reaching yet another milestone to become the first woman to ride a Group 1 Classic winner in Europe. Her great triumph came aboard Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for Imad Al Sagar, who was achieving an important landmark...

If riding Classic winners came down to sheer ability alone, there was never a question that Hollie Doyle would achieve the landmark sometime soon but even the best need the horse to get it done and on Sunday she had just that as Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) conquered Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane Longines. So good by this point, Doyle has almost transcended the subject of female jockeys winning Europe's monuments but it still had to happen and in Imad Al Sagar's TDN Rising Star she had the ideal portal...

It is 15 years since Authorized (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) streaked down the hill at Epsom to give Frankie Dettori his first win in the Derby. For the colt's owners Imad Al Sagar and Saleh Al Homaizi it was also a first Derby victory, but it was their second Classic winner in as many years as Araafa (Ire) (Mull Of Kintyre {Ire})) had landed the previous season's Irish 2,000 Guineas before going on to win the St James's Palace S. Such success at the highest level for the duo who had...

Listed winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will take part in the June 3 G1 Cazoo Oaks, owner Imad Al Sagar's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe confirmed on Saturday. The Blue Diamond Stud homebred is two-for-three, running third in a Newmarket maiden last autumn, before trotting up over a mile at Haydock en route to 'TDN Risingstardom' on Apr. 23. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the daughter of listed winner and G1 Prix Jean Romanet runner-up Princess Loulou (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) then delivered a 1 3/4-length victory under Hollie Doyle in...

Suddenly, it looks like the Gosdens have a quandary regarding the Oaks after Imad Al Sagar's TDN Rising Star Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) threw her hat into the ring with a sparkling display in Newbury's Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies' Trial S. on Saturday. With much of the space available for the Epsom Classic already taken up with the stable's Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), it may be to Chantilly that this talented individual heads for the June 19 G1 Prix de Diane so as to avoid a...

A few weeks ago the bookmaker Fitzdares made Dubawi (Ire) favourite to be champion sire this year for the first time, and perhaps no horse deserves it more than Darley's utterly dependable 20-year-old. However, the race to the top will not be easy, particularly judging by the apparent strength in depth of the challenge of Frankel's offspring for this year's major races. Though the reigning champion, as well as the Gosden stable and owner-breeders Cheveley Park Stud, were dealt a blow by the withdrawal of Inspiral (GB) from Sunday's QIPCO...

Imad Al Sagar's 3-year-old filly Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) ran third contesting a hot Newmarket novices' heat over seven furlongs in her only prior start last October and illuminated Haydock's Saturday fixture with an impressive 6 1/2-length romp to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status on seasonal return in the Pendleton EBF Fillies' Novice S., going just shy of one mile. The eventual winner was reined back to employ patient tactics behind the leaders in fifth after a sharp getaway. Looming large out wide on the bridle passing the quarter-mile marker,...

Lord 'Teddy' Grimthorpe has been appointed as racing manager to Imad Al Sagar, whose Blue Diamond Stud has recently undergone a major restructure.  A widely respected figure in the racing world who last November took on the role of chairman of the National Stud, Grimthorpe was racing manager for more than 20 years to Prince Khalid Abdullah of Juddmonte Farms, who died a year ago this week.  Grimthorpe has replaced Tony Nerses and will begin in his new position in February. In addition to his National Stud role, he is...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a daughter of former racetrack and sales ring star Seta. 1.30 Doncaster, Mdn, £7,000, 2yo, f, 8fT ONE EVENING (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of two newcomers from John and Thady Gosden's set-up, which took this race with Lady Bamford's subsequent G1 Prix de Diane heroine...