Qatar Racing and Andrew Balding have parted ways with Sheikh Fahad removing his horses from the trainer’s Kingsclere base April 17.
Anna Lisa Balding, wife of Andrew, confirmed Qatar Racing had taken its horses, including grade 1 winner and Craven Stakes fifth New Century , from the yard. Six horses had been listed in training with Balding on the trainer’s website.
As a juvenile last season, New Century captured the Summer Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine and then finished fourth, just two lengths behind winner Henri Matisse (IRE), in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Del Mar.
Speaking at Newcastle, where Kentucky-bred Kameko scored a group 1 Futurity success for the yard in the Qatar Racing colors six years ago, Anna Lisa Balding 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.”
New Century is listed as being in training with James Ferguson in Newmarket. Contacted by the Racing Post, Ferguson said the 3-year-old was due to travel to the United States in less than a week to continue his career.
Sheikh Fahad, who operates Qatar Racing with his brothers Sheikh Hamad and Sheikh Suhaim, has had horses with Balding since 2011 having initially raced them under his own Pearl Bloodstock banner. Balding became one of Qatar Racing’s first trainers when the organization was born in 2012 and has been one of the operation’s flagbearers in the 13 years since its creation, the highlight being the 2020 Two Thousand Guineas (G1) victory for Kameko.
This story may be updated.
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