Al Shaqab Acquires Share of Ectot

Al Shaqab Racing has purchased a 50% share of last year’s G1 Criterium International winner Ectot (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), it was announced yesterday. Off with an injury since beating the subsequent G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Karakontie (Jpn) (Bernstein) in Longchamp’s G3 Prix de Fontainebleau Apr. 13, the Elie Lellouche-trained colt will stay in his current stable and the other half-share will remain with Gerard Augustin-Normand and Elisabeth Vidal. The deal also included riding arrangements, which were explained by Al Shaqab’s Racing Manager Harry Herbert. “In the contract, it is stated that he will be ridden by Gregory Benoist for his next two races, with the G2 Prix Niel [at Longchamp on Sunday] the first of those,” he explained. “If he runs in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe [at Longchamp Oct. 5] and Benoist decides to ride the filly Avenir Certain (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Frankie Dettori will be on board.”