Nashwa

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...

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...

We've a while to wait before any firm conclusions can be drawn about this year's crop of first-season stallions, though Darley's Blue Point (Ire) and Ballyhane Stud's Soldier's Call (GB) are pulling ever clearer in what has developed into something of a duel at the half-way stage of the Flat season. In the Coolmore camp, Calyx (GB) was the first to strike with a group winner when Persian Dreamer won Friday's G2 Duchess of Cambridge S.  As an aside, one wonders how much the clamour to run two-year-olds at Royal...

Beaten but unbowed. That is the mood in the Gosden camp after dual Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) suffered a surprise defeat on the all-weather at Newcastle on Friday. The four-year-old is reported to have come out of the race in good shape, however, and Gosden is hoping the real Nashwa can show up as the season progresses.  "I wasn't too unhappy with her. She will be fine. She is taking her time to come to herself. A lot of fillies can take time," John Gosden said. He...

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...

With two of the Blue Diamond Stud broodmares having produced European Classic winners last season, there is much to look forward to at the Newmarket farm, including a full-sibling to the Prix de Diane and Nassau S. winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Stud owner Imad Al Sagar is also branching out by buying some new blood in America, and he talks us through his mating plans for 2023.   ABSCOND (m 6, Blame--Solitary Life, by Grand Slam), booked to Not This Time We were keen to invest in a Roberto-line...

Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), one of the shining lights of the Flat season, is set to tackle the G1 Prix de l'Opera on her next start while fellow John and Thady Gosden-trained filly Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will take on the boys in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville on Sunday after pleasing connections in a key workout on Tuesday.  The Prix de Diane winner Nashwa lit up Goodwood when successful in the Nassau S. and, according to Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for the filly's owner Imad Al...

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...

Aside from perhaps the odd delay at the Channel Tunnel for British-based visitors heading to Deauville, the Arqana August Sale should be just about back to normal this year for the first time since 2019. A loaded plane will jet in direct from Saratoga on Thursday morning, when the scene will be set for three days of trade at the auction which routinely acts as the bellwether for the European yearling market. Small changes to the format can be found this year in the fact that the August Sale is...

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...

Plans for G1 Prix de Diane runner-up La Parisienne (Fr) (Zarak {Ire}) to race in America are on hold with connections opening the door to a tilt at the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after their star filly went down fighting behind Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at Chantilly on Sunday.  It had been suggested that La Parisienne would be trained in America at some point in her career but part-owner Peter Bradley revealed on Monday that the filly will remain in the care of the father and son team...

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...