One of racing’s biggest owners has abruptly cut ties with one of its most successful trainers. Qatar Racing has developed into a highly successful racing and breeding operation with worldwide interests, fronted by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, since its establishment in 2012.
Star horses have included multiple Group 1 winner Roaring Lion, Sussex Stakes winner Lightning Spear and Kameko, winner of the 2020 2,000 Guineas. Kameko was trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by four-time champion jockey Oisin Murphy, who is Qatar Racing’s retained rider.
It was confirmed on Friday that Qatar Racing had removed its horses from Balding’s Kingsclere stables near Newbury a day after New Century, a Group 1-winning two-year-old last year, had finished fifth in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket.
The Balding team has been in brilliant form in the last fortnight with a dozen winners and added another success Berkshire Whisper captured the BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap at Newcastle on Friday.
Speaking to the Racing Post at Newcastle, Balding’s wife Anna Lisa said: “All good things come to an end.
“Sheikh Fahad has been an amazing supporter of the yard. We’re very grateful to him. We’ve had four individual Group 1 winners for him in Elm Park, Side Glance, Kameko and New Century.
“It’s been a great relationship but things have changed and we wish all the horses luck in their new homes.”
Speaking later to ITV, she added: “It’s desperately sad. Sheikh Fahad and Andrew had a lot of success together. We are very grateful for the support he’s given us. They just had differences with plans for some horses and it was just decided it was probably best to try something else.”
Despite the split It is understood the association between Murphy, who also rides most of the Balding horses, and Qatar Racing is unaffected.
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