Sheikh sees champions settle into new home

SHEIKH Fahad, John Gosden and Oisin Murphy attended the prestigious unveiling of Roaring Lion as the new flagship stallion for a Gloucestershire stud.

The four-time Group One winner, named Cartier Horse of the Year earlier this week, was paraded before the press at Tweenhills, Hartpury, where he will pass on his genes for £40,000 a cover in 2019.

Sheikh Fahad arrived by helicopter to see his world champion threeyear-old and Lightning Spear, a force in the key European mile races for the past four seasons, in their new home.

A barn opposite David Redvers’ house has been converted into two light, airy and spacious stables for the stallions, as one of the world’s most influential racing operations takes the breeding aspect to new heights.

Even though Roaring Lion has

I am sure Roaring Lion and Lightning Spear will sire good horses SHEIKH FAHAD

been in Gloucestershire a matter of days, he is already in demand as breeders put forward their best mares to him.

“This horse will take our operation and Qatar Racing to another level,” said Redvers.

“There’s barely a mare in Europe this horse can’t cover. He’s a perfect match for pretty much everything.

“For him to be crowned horse of the year and top three-year-old is a dream come true.”

Tweenhills, which also has a beef cattle business, has steadily grown to its current estate of around 750 acres across five farms.

It has been in existence since 1995 but really started to take off after Redvers was appointed racing and bloodstock adviser to the then 21-year-old Sheikh Fahad Al Thani in 2010.

Qatar Racing has grown into a global operation, enjoying success around the world, from the UK and Ireland to Australia and North America

Tweenhills is home to Qatar Racing stallions and also the bulk of the operation’s mares, foals and young stock.

It is estimated Sheikh Fahad has around 250 horses and as well as Roaring Lion, who was purchased as a yearling by Redvers in 2016 for $160,000, he will be able to send mares here to Australian champion first season sire Zoustar.

The top three-year-old sprinter sired a one-two-three in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington last month and adds further strength in depth.

The business has come a very long way since Redvers paid just 400 guineas for Lady Rebecca, an incredible mare with a record of 13 wins from 19 starts. She ended her racing career in January 2001 by winning the Grade One Cleeve Hurdle for the third successive season and retired to Tweenhills.

“I’m not even sure if she hadn’t done what she did we wouldn’t be here today,” Redvers told Sky Sports in 2013 after she died at the age of 21.

He told guests at Thursday’s event: “Eight years ago Sheikh Fahad got in contact with me through my little sister. Initially he said he wanted to buy one or two horses to dip his toe into the water. As you can see he had fun.”

Sheikh Fahad said he always had faith John Gosden would get Roaring Lion to blossom but what he achieved, with wins in races like the Coral Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes, he exceeded expectations. “He’s a horse of a lifetime,” he said. “He just needed time to blossom. We knew he was a top mile and a quarter horse but to step back to a mile in the QEII, it was sensational.

“I am sure Roaring Lion and Lightning Spear will sire good horses.”

Gosden described Roaring Lion’s new stable as “like going to the Ritz”, before giving him a pat and wishing him well in his new career.

Tweenhills is offering a free return to any breeder producing a stakes winner by one of their stallions, including the highest-rated son of Kitten’s Joy.

“I think David (Simcock, trainer of Lightning Spear) and I are going to face the fact they (the horses) look a lot happier than when they were with us,”. said Gosden.

“He’s just been delightful. It’s not often you use the Guineas to get a horse fit but we did.

“He is a magnificent horse who got bigger and stronger.”