Al Shaqab Racing

Continuing the purple patch of Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle, the progressive Limestone (New Bay) edged the photo at the end of Wednesday's G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. One for the St Leger candidates, the mile-and-three-quarter contest lacked a clear-cut candidate this year and it was only in the dying strides that the colt who races for Valmont, Al Shaqab and Ballylinch Stud put his name on the honour roll ahead of Godolphin's Del Maro (Camelot). The official margin was a nose, with the long-time leader and outsider...

Al Shaqab Racing's homebred three-year-old colt Alam (Zelzal) entered Tuesday's G3 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud as a three-race maiden and justified a G1 Prix du Jockey Club entry with a snug 1 1/4-length triumph in the 10 1/2-furlong contest. The honour roll features Darshaan, Peintre Celebre, Montjeu, et al, and Alam becomes the second winner of the race for Mikel Delzangles, who had previously struck with subsequent Jockey Club fourth Kesampour in 2012. "He ran very well at the same track [and trip] last time, he has improved since and...

Francis Graffard trainee Demah (Mehmas), Al Shaqab Racing's homebred half-sister to last term's G1 Prix du Moulin hero Sahlan (Wootton Bassett), made a winning debut in Wednesday's Prix de Brunehaut at Chantilly. Recovering from a slow start to race in midfield for most of the one-mile debutantes' heat, the 6-4 favourite launched her challenge inside the final quarter-mile and kept on well in the closing stages to comfortably outpoint Nina's Victoria (Victor Ludorum) by two lengths. Demah is the second foal and scorer out of Listed Berenberg Cup victrix Wasmya...

Bentornato (Valiant Minister), winner of last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, was named the 2025 Florida-bred Horse of the Year, it was announced at the FTBOA Awards Gala held Monday night at the Circle Square Cultural Center in Ocala. Bentornato, chosen as champion by a vote by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association board of directors, was the sixth Florida-bred to win the Sprint and the 30th from the state to win a Breeders' Cup race. The 2025 FTBOA Breeder of the Year, also as voted by the FTBOA...

Coming into Tuesday's G3 Prix Djebel with two runs already under his belt this year, Al Shaqab's Afandy (Mehmas) made that count as he led from the break to take Deauville's Classic trial. Already gelded and unable to contest the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained homebred who had surrendered his unbeaten record to the filly Baklawa (Stunning Spirit) in Cagnes-sur-Mer's Listed Prix de la Californie in February showed abundant zest from the outset under Cristian Demuro. A sitting duck for all the big contenders up the centre of...

Zelzal has been deemed fully fit to cover mares in 2026 following an examination. The Haras de Bouquetot resident's 2025 season was disrupted due to health reasons. Amelie Lemercier, sales manager at Haras de Bouquetot, said, "Leader among sires of two-year-olds in France and responsible for 10 black-type performers in 2025, Zelzal confirms his position as one of the most dependable stallions in France thanks to the quality and consistency of his progeny, both on the track and in the sales ring. There are very few proven stallions, in France...

   Zelzal, who will stand for an unchanged fee of €10,000, anchors Al Shaqab Racing's Haras de Bouquetot roster next year. Jour de Galop first reported the news. The 12-year-old son of Sea The Stars has sired 11 stakes winners to date and has a trio of Group/Grade 3 winners to his credit in Dolce Zel, Short Final and Ouraika. Wooded, who sired G1 Prix Jean Prat hero Woodshauna this season, will also stand for his 2025 price at €7,000. Priced at €5,000 in his first year at stud, Al...

There was much consternation when only three new Flat stallions retired to stand in Britain for the 2025 season. It remains to be seen whether this was a blip, but if it becomes a trend then obviously it is cause for concern. It is easy to understand why, in an increasingly commercial sphere, breeders would either flock to the proven elite (for those with mares good enough and pockets deep enough) or to the next first-season sire on the block who may be forgiven for a year or two until...

Coming into Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp very much under the radar, Al Shaqab's Sahlan (Wootton Bassett) became the latest of Francis Graffard's brigade to enter the spotlight during the trainer's unforgettable year. Edging a tight photo ahead of Rosallion (Blue Point), the highly-regarded three-year-old whose finest hour prior to this had been a latest win in the G3 Prix Daphnis landed odds of 16-1 from racing's relentless hard-luck story. Securing an unexpected eighth top-level victory for the stable in 2025, Mickael Barzalona thrust him to a...

Al Shaqab Racing and Trevor Stewart's 2-year-old colt Andab (Saxon Warrior), a full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Victoria Road, made a winning debut in Monday's Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden over six furlong at the Curragh. Let go at odds of 8-1, he pulled clear in the closing stages to register an impressive 4 3/4-length success.   👀 Andab (Saxon Warrior) is a brother to @BreedersCup Juvenile winner Victoria Road and makes a very likeable start in the @AlShaqabRacing silks for the @JosephOBrien2 team @curraghrace |...

New Al Shaqab stallion Al Hakeem (GB) has six of his first seven mares bred scanned in foal, Al Shaqab Racing announced on Wednesday. The multiple group-winning son of Siyouni (Fr) is standing his first season at Haras de Bouquetot in France for €5,000 this year. Among the first mares in foal is Al Johrah (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), placed at group level and a half-sister to multiple Group 1-placed Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic). Cacimar (Fr) (Cacique {Ire}) is another confirmed in foal. She is out of the stakes...

The first reported foals for multiple group winner Lusail (Ire) have arrived, Al Shaqab Racing revealed on Friday. A filly out of Evertogether (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was the initial arrival and was bred by Haras de Castillon. She is from the family of group performers Mind Of Madness (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) and Dragon Pulse (Ire) (Kyllachy {GB}). SCEA des Prairies welcomed a filly out of War Story (Fr) (Sunday Break {Jpn}), who is a stakes producer. Breeder Thomas Jeffroy said, "War Story's Lusail filly is splendid. Given the mare's previous...