Tag Archive for: Spirit Dancer

Spirit Dancer on track for Riyadh repeat

Richard Fahey is preparing the globetrotting Spirit Dancer for a return to Saudi Arabia next month.

The eight-year-old has carried the red and white silks of former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson with distinction on foreign soil, notching back-to-back wins in the lucrative Bahrain International Trophy as well as claiming victory in the Neom Turf Cup in Riyadh last February.

He has also performed well in defeat in Dubai and was last seen finishing down the field in the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin in December.

Spirit Dancer kicked off his 2024 campaign by placing fourth in the Group One Jebel Hatta at Meydan in late January, but Fahey is taking a different approach this year.

“He’s going back to Riyadh for the Neom Turf Cup and we’re quite happy to go straight there,” said the Musley Bank handler.

“We ran in the Jebel Hatta beforehand last year, but he’s had two trips away this time, going to Bahrain and Hong Kong, so I wanted to give him a bit of time off before getting ready for Saudi.

“In Hong Kong they don’t go a great gallop which doesn’t suit him. They sort of pull the races up and sprint and he loves them to go quick and grind it out.

“He’s come back in great nick, everything is good and we can always look at going to Dubai after Saudi if things go well.”



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Dancer back in good spirits ahead of Hong Kong challenge

Hong Kong is calling for Spirit Dancer after picking up his latest globetrotting prize in Bahrain recently.

Richard Fahey’s seven-year-old, who is part-owned and bred by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, gave his connections a winter to remember when winning the Bahrain International Trophy 12 months ago before following up in Saudi Arabia’s Neom Turf Cup.

With a repeat of those achievements and seeking further international riches becoming the focus, all efforts went into returning Spirit Dancer to the Persian Gulf in peak condition.

The result was a phenomenal display as he stormed home hard held under Oisin Orr to pick up Bahrain’s feature prize for the second year running in what was arguably a career-best performance.

Spirit Dancer will now head to Sha Tin, where he faces the mammoth task of stopping Danny Shum’s local hero Romantic Warrior from securing a third-straight Hong Kong Cup triumph.

“He’s fine and the plan is to probably go to Hong Kong if we can,” said Fahey.

“It’s always tough going to Hong Kong but he’s lightly raced this year and the plan was to have an overseas trip, so that is what we are doing.

“It’s all about opinions but the time in the Bahrain International Trophy was four seconds faster than the year before and on similar ground, so the clock says it was a better performance than the year before.

“It’s been a wonderful experience and trip and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.”

Spirit Dancer with Richard Fahey, Ged Mason, jockey Oisin Orr and Sir Alex Ferguson
Spirit Dancer with Richard Fahey, Ged Mason, jockey Oisin Orr and Sir Alex Ferguson (Steven Cargill/Bahrain Turf Club)

Far East dreams threatened to be curtailed when Spirit Dancer was unable to make his scheduled flight back to Fahey’s Musley Bank set-up due to a colic scare.

However, the son of Frankel has quickly recovered and is now on course to head straight to Hong Kong to prepare for his December 8 assignment.

“He was due to fly back to England and then fly to Hong Kong but he was taken off the plane with a touch of colic,” continued Fahey.

“He’s been fine since and he’s cantered three times in Bahrain since. The horse that was third (Calif) is also flying to Hong Kong, so he’s going to fly straight from Bahrain to Hong Kong now.”



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Spirit Dancer gets up in Fergie time for Bahrain repeat

There were more Middle Eastern celebrations for Sir Alex Ferguson as Spirit Dancer saw off all comers to retain his title in the Bahrain International Trophy.

Richard Fahey’s seven-year-old landed the race last season to kick-start a spell in the region during which he also won the Neom Turf Cup.

Due to an injury picked up in Dubai, he had then run just once since returning from his travels, but his beaten effort in the Darley Stakes at Newmarket clearly set him up perfectly for a repeat of last year’s heroics.

The gelding was ridden by Oisin Orr for an ownership group made up of Ferguson, Fred Done and Ged Mason in a field of 12 that included fellow British-trained entrants Alflaila, Nations Pride and Lead Artist.

Having broken from stall 11, Spirit Dancer remained on the outside and had ground to make up turning for home, but gradually he reeled in John and Thady Gosden’s Lead Artist to score neatly.

Ferguson, who also bred the horse alongside Niall McLoughlin, said: “It’s unbelievable, he was so far behind I said ‘he’s not going to do it’. I don’t know where he got it from. It was fantastic and he’s a fantastic jockey.

“He’s had to find something like four lengths to catch the leading horse and somehow he got there.

“It was fantastic and I’m really proud of him and proud of the jockey because he sat motionless and didn’t panic at all.”

Spirit Dancer winning the Bahrain International Trophy

Co-owner Mason added: “You think lightning wouldn’t strike twice but it has today and it is a fantastic feat what Richard and the team back home have done.

“Credit to them for getting him back from his injury, it’s fantastic. I’m so happy for this fella (Ferguson), who bred him and last year it was a bit of a tonic after we sadly lost Lady Cathy (Ferguson’s late wife), who we said rode him last time and I think she rode him again.”

Fahey commented: “The horse was in great form and he loves the place. It’s horses for courses and he seems to love this place and the trip is ideal.

“But it was a different race to watch this year. At three out, I thought ‘we’ll trot up’, but then the second horse kicked clear and we were struggling to get by him.

“I was sort of thinking he’d run a good race to finish second but then the last hundred yards I did shout him home – it was wonderful, great. A great race for us to watch anyway, maybe not for the second.

“It’s exceptional for us, and what I do like is how much enjoyment Ged, Sir Alex and Peter Done get out of it. They are extremely successful men and to see the enjoyment they get is unbelievable. I’m with them this year and am really, really excited – it’s fantastic.”

On future plans, the trainer said: “I want to see how he is after this race but I haven’t drawn a line through going to Hong Kong, all his paperwork is in place and I want to go, so we’ll see.

“But the most important one is done and anything after this is a bonus.”



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Hopes high Spirit Dancer can give Ferguson and company another big day

All eyes will be on Spirit Dancer as he returns to the Middle East on Friday looking to repeat last year’s thrilling victory in the Bahrain International Trophy.

With former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson both his breeder and among the gelding’s owners, the son of Frankel gave connections a day to remember when plundering the 10-furlong event which this year is worth $1million and run as a Group Two.

Trained by Richard Fahey, Spirit Dancer’s Bahrain success was leg one of a phenomenal winter double which also saw him land a valuable prize in Saudi Arabia in the early part of 2024.

He has followed a similar path back to the region by tuning up at Newmarket last month and Fahey is excited to see how his charge performs in a deeper contest this time around, with Ferguson one of those flying in to witness the race.

Fahey said: “He’s in great form and he’s a fresh horse who goes there in great order.

“He’s always a horse that we feel runs a better race if he’s had a race to bring him on and clear his wind and he’s had that.

“He’s travelled really well this year and he’s eating and drinking loads and we’re really pleased with him.

“It’s a tougher race this year, but he did win well last year so we will see.”

Spirit Dancer exited stall 11 when thriving in Bahrain 12 months ago and in a case of Deja vu has been handed the same spot this time around, as he faces off against the likes of Aidan O’Brien’s Point Lonsdale and Owen Burrows Alflaila, who missed last year’s race through a late setback.

Fahey continued: “It’s incredible he’s in the same stall really. We were a bit disappointed with that draw last year, but there is no point getting disappointed this time as he showed it is possible, so we will see.

“The owners arrived in the early hours of Thursday morning and were straight out on the track. They are here and enjoying themselves and enjoying this horse as well.”

Other British representation in a truly international line-up includes Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting Nations Pride, who was seventh behind Spirit Dancer last year but arrives having won the Arlington Million at Colonial Downs in the summer.

Lead Artist was a good winner at Newmarket last month
Lead Artist was a good winner at Newmarket last month (Nigel French/PA)

There is also John and Thady Gosden’s Lead Artist who is the only three-year-old in the reckoning and had the defending champion just over 13 lengths in arrears when striking in the Darley Stakes at Newmarket 34 days ago.

“We’re looking foreword to seeing him run, it’s another step up the ladder but he’s had a good season and I though he was impressive in his last win,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“He’s taking on older horses which will be a challenge and he’s the only three-year-old in the field, but he’s in good form and he’s a horse we have always liked a lot. We’re hopeful of a good run.

“I think John and Thady were keen to travel him to give him that experience he needs for next year. He’s gone through the motions this year and ran at Newmarket a few times and been down to Goodwood, but this will give him that little bit more experience which will stand to him next year.”



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Dancer to kick off Bahrain prep with Darley date

Spirit Dancer will follow the same route as 12 months ago and tune up for his defence of the Bahrain International Trophy at Newmarket next week.

Co-owned by former Manchester United manger Sir Alex Ferguson, Spirit Dancer has previously enjoyed a profitable time in the Middle East, winning in Bahrain before also lifting the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Connections will bid for further riches on the international stage this winter but first the seven-year-old son of Frankel – who was also bred by Ferguson – will head to the Rowley Mile to run in the Space Blues Darley Stakes on October 12, a race in which he finished fourth last year.

Fahey said: “Spirit Dancer is in great form. He will have a prep run at Newmarket in the Darley Stakes, following the same route that he took last year.

“We all had an amazing trip and experience in Bahrain and the team are really looking forward to going back this year.”

There are 61 initial entries for the $1million Bahrain International Trophy on November 15, with notable names including Aidan O’Brien’s Luxembourg, John and Thady Gosden’s Nashwa and James Fanshawe’s Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly.



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Newmarket run on the cards for Spirit Dancer before Middle East adventure

Spirit Dancer is set to follow the same route to his successful campaign in the Middle East last winter, with a tune-up run at Newmarket before heading off on his globetrotting adventure.

The seven-year-old, who carries the red and white silks of part-owner and breeder Sir Alex Ferguson, took his career earnings to over £1.7million following victory in the Bahrain International Trophy in November before landing the even more lucrative Neom Turf Cup in Riyadh in February.

He was last seen in Meydan for the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic in March, but the Frankel gelding was unable to land a blow on Dubai World Cup night, finishing 11th of 12 runners.

Spirit Dancer did sustain an injury on his last appearance, which has seen a delay to his reappearance. However, trainer Richard Fahey has set out a path for his stable star.

The Musley Bank handler confirmed his charge will travel to Newmarket for the Group Three Darley Stakes in October, as he did last year when finishing five and half lengths behind Highland Avenue in fourth.

Attention is mainly on the Middle East for Fahey and Spirit Dancer, though, as they aim to retain their money-spinning titles.

“he’s good. He’s had a bit of an easy period, but he’s been back cantering for two months. He’s had a good rest and the plan was to give him a break so we’ve given him one,” Fahey said.

Highland Avenue and William Buick coming home to win the Earthlight Darley Stakes at Newmarket
Spirit Dancer, second left in red, will return to Newmarket before travelling to the Middle East (Nigel French/PA)

“He will head back to the Middle East, probably run at Newmarket before and head back to Bahrain.

“To be honest his focus is the Middle East. We will see, he’s had a tough enough year this year. He’s had a such a busy time that he needed a break. We’ll probably run him at Newmarket in that Group Three, the Darley Stakes, and then head to Bahrain.

“I did try him at a mile and half, but he had a bit of a setback in that race so it’s a bit inconclusive. I can’t see why we would change it from a mile and quarter at the moment.”



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Spirit Dancer set for well-deserved holiday after Dubai run

Spirit Dancer is set for a well-earned break after finishing lame in his bid for further international honours in Saturday’s Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan.

Richard Fahey’s charge has enjoyed a hugely productive winter on foreign soil, carrying the red and white silks of part-owner and breeder Sir Alex Ferguson to victory in the Bahrain International Trophy before claiming an even more lucrative success in the Neom Turf Cup in Riyadh.

The seven-year-old was unable to land a blow when stepped up in class on Dubai World Cup night, finishing 11th of 12 runners, but was subsequently found to have sustained an injury.

“He has a chip in his joint I’m afraid, so he did pull up lame,” Fahey said on Tuesday.

“It (injury) won’t have helped. It was a messy sort of race as he sort of dropped in and never got back into it, but that can’t have helped.

“He was due for a holiday anyway and he’ll get it now. He’s fit enough to travel and we’ll sort him out when we get him home.

“It’s been a fantastic winter with him and he’s got the money in the bank to prove it!”

Sir Alex Ferguson (centre) at the Cheltenham Festival
Sir Alex Ferguson (centre) at the Cheltenham Festival (Joe Giddens/PA)

While Fahey is keen to get his charge back to his North Yorkshire base before committing to future targets, there is every chance Spirit Dancer will be stamping his passport again later in the year.

The trainer added: “I’d be keen to go back there (Dubai) again next year, so all roads and plans will lead to go there.

“I’ve got Hong Kong in my mind as well, so we’ll see. He could have a couple of runs over here and then head back over there.”



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Fergie enjoying time in the sun with Spirit Dancer

Sir Alex Ferguson has said it is “an honour” to have bred a horse good enough to run in a race such as the Dubai Sheema Classic with Spirit Dancer, who is chasing an overseas treble.

Trained by Richard Fahey, the seven-year-old has been a real late bloomer and a plan hatched after a victory in a Group Three at York has well and truly come to fruition.

Victories in the Bahrain Trophy and the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia have propelled the Frankel gelding into the highest company and he is now taking on the likes of dual Derby and Breeders’ Cup winner Auguste Rodin and Japanese filly Liberty Island.

“He’s looking great, I think he’s enjoying it out here actually, who wouldn’t, the climate is fantastic,” Ferguson told the Dubai Racing Club.

“It’s been success all the way, there’s been improvement every race. We’re honoured to be here, the type of race he’s going to be in, it’s outstanding opposition.”

It will be Spirit Dancer’s first run over a mile and a half but it is something Fahey has been keen to try for some time.

Ferguson added: “We’re quietly confident. In fairness, Richard has said all along that he thinks he’s a mile and a half horse. His Frankel pedigree suggests he should be able to cope with it, so we’re hopeful in that respect, but we don’t know.

“It’s an honour to have a horse in a race of this magnitude that you’ve bred yourself.

“When he won at York, Richard told us we were going to Bahrain and I said ‘Bahrain! What do we want to go there for?’ – and he said there was a great race there for him, so he’s the architect and we’re not going to argue with what he’s doing.

“We’ve enjoyed it, we’ve had a few days in Bahrain, a few days in Saudi and now a week here. It’s fantastic.”

It has been one success after another for Ferguson, who as well as enjoying victories abroad with Spirit Dancer, celebrated a Cheltenham Festival double earlier this month.



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Fergie eyeing lucrative treble with Spirit Dancer

Having broken his Cheltenham Festival duck with a dream double when Monmiral and Protektorat scored, Sir Alex Ferguson is chasing more glory with Spirit Dancer in the Dubai Sheema Classic on Saturday.

Bred by Ferguson himself, the Richard Fahey-trained seven-year-old has enjoyed a memorable 12 months.

He started last season in handicaps off a mark of 97, his winning spree began at York in July, was followed by a Racing League success at Windsor and he returned to the Knavesmire to claim the Group Three Strensall Stakes.

Spirit Dancer appears to love racing abroad even more, though, as in November he bagged the Bahrain Trophy and last month he won the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia, taking his career earnings to over £1.7million.

“Everything’s going great. Looking at the videos and speaking to the lad out there, I believe he’s come on in his coat and his demeanour, he’s in very good form,” said Fahey.

“He did have five weeks to acclimatise from his first run this season to the Neom Turf Cup and it’s nearly another five weeks again.

“We’re very lucky to be able to have him there because it’s more or less the same climate in the Middle East and he’s had time to settle into a good routine – he’s loving his time there. It’s an easier preparation to do it there than from here.

“It was always in the back of my mind to go to a mile and a half. You’d have every confidence that he should stay. He relaxes and in all his races he’s always finished well.

“We are in at Group One level, so it will be a huge ask, but we’ve had a nice prep and it’s always nice coming there off the back of a win. I’m really looking forward to seeing him run.”



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Spirit Dancer to chase Dubai riches for Sir Alex Ferguson

Spirit Dancer is firmly on course for a Dubai World Cup night outing after providing Sir Alex Ferguson with further international success in Saudi Arabia.

The Richard Fahey-trained seven-year-old gave the former Manchester United manager – along with co-owners Ged Mason and Peter Done – a day to remember when scoring in the Bahrain International Trophy in November and hit the target once again in the Middle East in the Neom Turf Cup.

Having scooped a first-prize of just shy of £1million when downing the likes of Aidan O’Brien’s Luxembourg in Riyadh, the son of Frankel will now return to Dubai, where he has spent the majority of the winter and will be prepared for Meydan action on March 30.

“It has been a great winter with him and he’s progressing well,” said Fahey.

“He’s taken to us to another level of enjoyment there and the whole thing has been great. It’s very exciting.

“We flew him into Dubai for his last run (in the Jebel Hatta) and left him there and now he has flown back to Dubai. We will see how he is, but he looks well and is summering well in Dubai. He’s in great form and enjoying life at the moment competing at the very highest level.

“Definitely, all being well, you will see him on World Cup night.”

Spirit Dancer’s latest victory came over an extended 10 furlongs and Fahey now has to decide whether Spirit Dancer stretches out to a mile and a half for the first time to take part in the Dubai Sheema Classic or drops back to nine furlongs for the Dubai Turf.

Fahey added: “I haven’t decided which race yet and it will be either be the nine-furlong race or the mile and a half. I’ll see how he is training and I have to make a decision soon because he has an invite, but I haven’t 100 per cent made a decision yet.

“It’s always been in my mind to give him a go (at a mile and a half).

“I’ll have to have look and see what runs in each race there and I’m afraid there is no easy race, but when they are $5m and $6m races, that’s what you expect in Dubai.”



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Spirit Dancer powers home to give Ferguson victory in Neom Turf Cup

Spirit Dancer landed another huge prize for part-owner Sir Alex Ferguson when flying home to take the Howden Neom Turf Cup at the Saudi Cup meeting.

Trained by Richard Fahey and co-owned by Ferguson, Ged Mason and Fred Done, the Frankel gelding is the usual ride of jockey Oisin Orr.

The pair travelled out to Bahrain last year to tackle the Group Two Bahrain International Trophy and after succeeding there, they set their sights on the Neom Turf Cup after first visiting Meydan in January.

Another Group Two event, the Neom Turf Cup had attracted a deep field that included Aidan O’Brien’s Luxembourg, Andrew Balding’s The Foxes and John and Thady Gosden’s Jack Darcy.

The latter cut out the running early on and was closely followed by Luxembourg, who was given a positive ride by Ryan Moore and looked the winner in the home straight.

With two furlongs left to travel it was Spirit Dancer who was going best of all, however, cruising down the centre of the track to sweep to an impressive and valuable victory.

Ferguson also bred the horse alongside Niall McLoughlin and said of the performance: “It was fantastic. After the triumph in Bahrain and coming to this level and looking at the field – the performance from Oisin and the horse was unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

“Richard has made the point a few times that the horse hasn’t had a lot of racing, he has been trying to step it up and I think you’ve seen the evidence today.

“Oisin said to me that the horse is improving all the time and the evidence is there. I’m delighted.”

Mason, who owns several other horses over both Flat and National Hunt codes, added: “It still feels like a dream, I have to pinch myself.

“He finished like a steam engine and Alex said ‘He’s a Frankel, remember that’. I’m delighted, it’s absolutely brilliant.

“That was a class act of entries there, that performance was extra special.

“If he doesn’t mind me saying, Alex had a dream this morning and he dreamed that we won!”

Fahey, who has trained the seven-year-old to win eight times now, added: “I’d say it’ll be very hard not to send him to Dubai, we’ll see how he is and make a decision but I’d be a little bit shocked if he doesn’t line up in something on World Cup night.

“I’ve always wanted to stretch him out to a mile and a half, but the horse hasn’t stopped blowing yet, so let him blow and we’ll work it out!

“Any horse that can win on the international scene like this, they become the people’s horse and he’s heading that way.

“He’s got a huge fan base, he’s a progressive horse that’s heading the right way.

“He gets his head down and gallops all the way to the line, people who are involved in horse racing love to see horses do that.”



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Fahey making the most of Fergie time with Spirit Dancer

Richard Fahey will bid to provide Sir Alex Ferguson with further international success when Spirit Dancer lines up in the Howden Neom Turf Cup on Saturday.

The seven-year-old gave the former Manchester United manager and his fellow owners, Ged Mason and Fred Done, a day to remember when scoring in the Bahrain International Trophy last November and attentions were soon turned to securing more valuable prizes in the region.

Spirit Dancer tuned up for his crack at this $2million prize by finishing fourth in Meydan’s Jebel Hatta last month and his handler believes that will have put him spot on for this Saudi Cup night assignment.

“I felt he would need the run the last day and it looked that way as well,” said Fahey.

“He has had four or five weeks to acclimatise now. It’s all stuff of dreams, which is becoming a reality when we get to run on Saturday.

“It’s fantastic here, we are well looked after and the horse is happy. When you come on these trips, the most important thing is how the horse is – and the horse is in good order. I’m very pleased with him and at the moment I wouldn’t swap my fella.”

Fahey admitted to being awestruck by the footballing great in the early stages of training for him, but now relishes the time they spend together comparing notes on how to prime star sporting talent for action.

“To be fair, when I first started training for him, I was a little bit humbled,” Fahey this week.

Sir Alex Ferguson has enjoyed Spirit Dancer's success of late
Sir Alex Ferguson has enjoyed Spirit Dancer’s success of late (David Davies/PA)

“I have some fantastic conversations with him and he has been to the yard three or four times now. He is just a wonderful man and you can see why he has been a success.

“It’s a humbling experience but it’s amazing, because even this (Thursday) morning we were discussing footballers and horses and Sir Alex was asking why we didn’t canter on the grass.

“I explained we race on the (grass) surfaces because if we were to train on them all the time, we wouldn’t have many horses left, so we tend to use the artificial surfaces – and he compared it to a very good football team whose training pitch was quite quick and a lot of the players were getting hurt, so there is comparisons with football and racing.”

There is plenty of British and Irish involvement in the extended 10-furlong event, with Aidan O’Brien’s Luxembourg a clear favourite with the bookmakers, having knocked on the door behind Auguste Rodin on home soil in the autumn before also going close in Hong Kong in December.

Luxembourg will represent Aidan O'Brien in the Neom Turf Cup
Luxembourg will represent Aidan O’Brien in the Neom Turf Cup (Donall Farmer/PA)

Andrew Balding’s The Foxes is another who is no stranger to international competition, having finished second in the Belmont Derby last summer, and the Dante winner is expected to take a step forward from his comeback run at Southwell recently.

A January afternoon at Rolleston is poles apart from the pressure cooker of Riyadh on Saudi Cup night, but connections are confident of a bold bid from their four-year-old.

“He’s got here in great form,” said the trainer’s wife and representative Anna Lisa Balding.

“I was very pleased with how he looked out there on Thursday morning.

The Foxes warmed up for his Neom Turf Cup challenge at Southwell
The Foxes warmed up for his Neom Turf Cup challenge at Southwell (PA)

“Last year, we took him to America and he finished second in a Grade One, so we felt he would be up to the travel again.

“We’re delighted with his position in gate six and Oisin Murphy is back on and he rides him so well. He needed the run last time at Southwell but it was a good effort and he will come on for it.”

John and Thady Gosden struck gold with subsequent Royal Ascot and Juddmonte International Stakes champion Mostahdaf 12 months ago and will look to repeat the dose with stable newcomer Jack Darcy.

Astro King has been something of a superstar for Daniel and Claire Kubler and their Cambridgeshire hero should not be underestimated after being far from disgraced in sixth behind Spirit Dancer last time.

“With a little more luck, he might well have placed second or third (in Bahrain),” said Claire Kubler.

“He was on the rail in Bahrain and ran into traffic. It was frustrating but we had to notice that it was established horses like Point Lonsdale and Nations Pride that were in his path and he was finishing stronger than them.

“It’s amazing for our team and his owners to be a part of this occasion. It’s so exciting and we feel he can run well.”



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Ferguson ‘quite optimistic’ over Spirit Dancer

Sir Alex Ferguson “never dreamed” that he would have a horse good enough to take on the best in the world on the international stage. But in Spirit Dancer – a horse he bred – that is exactly what he is doing.

The former Manchester United manager has become immersed in the racing world since his retirement, enjoying several high-profile victories in the National Hunt sphere.

To date, his Flat exploits had not reached the same heights. But the Richard Fahey-trained seven-year-old Spirit Dancer has started to change all that.

Winning the Strensall Stakes at York last summer earned him an invite for the Bahrain International Trophy, which he won, and he was last seen finishing a respectable fourth in the Group One Jebel Hatta at Meydan in Dubai.

He now runs in the Howden Neom Turf Cup on Saturday in Riyadh, a race worth almost £1million to the winner.

“One of the great advantages of having a really good horse is international racing. We never dreamed, when I bred Spirit Dancer, that he would end up getting as far as this,” Ferguson told The Saudi Cup.

“We’re so excited about it and after Bahrain we are quite optimistic.

“He had a little problem when he was three years of age, he got over that and he’s just got better and better. He’s not had a lot of racing. That’s what Richard keeps saying, that he can race a lot more than he’s been doing. So we’re getting the benefit.

“The international element is something we didn’t expect. I’d been to Dubai some years back and I was saying to myself I wonder what it’s like to have a horse involved in it – now we’ve got one, I’m enjoying it.

“Competing with the likes of Aidan O’Brien and the Japanese, you know you are up against the best, and we’re enjoying it.”

Spirit Dancer on track at Riyadh
Spirit Dancer on track at Riyadh (Mathea Kelley-Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, Feb. 22, 2024)

Ferguson’s racing interests stretch back almost 30 years now, and it is fair to say he is more involved than at any time in his life.

“It was round about 1995 that I remember my wife saying I was going to kill myself because my whole day was absorbed with the (football) club,” he explained.

“One day, I said to my wife ‘shall we go to the races?’. She asked where that had come from and I told her it was her who said I needed to start doing something else.

“We were at the races one day when I met John Mulhern and Dessie Scahill and I got hooked. She once said ‘you want to buy all the right horses’, well, I’m trying!

“I got into breeding by accident, I was in Germany visiting Andreas Wohler and he put the idea in my mind, I bought a horse from him, the mare Queen’s Dream (Spirit Dancer’s dam).

“A friend of mine then put the idea in my head about buying the stud in Hemel Hempstead. I said we’d have a go and it’s been great. They are fantastic people there, we had a foal there last week by Stradivarius, so it’s great.”

It is Ferguson’s second trip to Saudi Arabia, the first was in 2008 when Manchester United played in a testimonial to honour local player Sam Al Jaber, who played over 150 times for his country.

“We came to Saudi about 15 years ago to play in a game to celebrate a famous player who had 150 international caps. The King bought 80,000 tickets and gave them all away to the people and it was fantastic,” said Ferguson.

Spirit Dancer is co-owned by bookmaker Fred Done and Ferguson’s big friend, Ged Mason, with whom he is involved with most of his horses – and who initiated a rather painful celebration in Bahrain.

“Ged broke my rib celebrating in Bahrain, I won’t mind him breaking another if it means we win!” said Ferguson.

Mason is loving being involved in the ride and is thrilled at the enjoyment Ferguson is getting from the game.

“When he came round the bend at Bahrain, it was a fantastic sight and the way he pulled away was a pinch yourself moment, to be honest,” said Mason.

“He got the invite to Bahrain because he’d produced the goodies at York. I’m so proud for Sir Alex because he bred him and he’s out of Frankel.

“I think our first venture into ownership was What A Friend and what a friend he was to us, he got our appetite for winning. Clan Des Obeaux won King Georges and Irish Gold Cups, it’s been a fantastic journey and we don’t want it to stop.”



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Spirit Dancer confirmed for Neom Turf Cup bid in Saudi

Sir Alex Ferguson will have the chance to secure further international honours after Richard Fahey confirmed his Spirit Dancer is on course for the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia later this month.

The former Manchester United manager was no stranger to glory overseas during his time in the dugout and alongside co-owners Peter Done and Ged Mason saw Spirit Dancer collect £500,000 when victorious in the Bahrain International Trophy in November.

The seven-year-old has since tuned up for his outing in Riyadh by finishing fourth in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan and Fahey is confident that will put him spot on for the $2million event on February 24.

“I was delighted to get that run in Dubai into him,” said Fahey.

“We were pleased with the run and we were probably just drawn a little bit wide – hopefully the run will put him 100 per cent right for Saudi.

“We’re going to run in the Neom. I was keen to go for the big one there (Saudi Cup), but I just felt nine furlongs on the dirt would be sharp enough for him. He’s a horse I would probably want to go a mile and a half in Saudi rather than a sharp nine, if that makes sense.”

Spirit Dancer’s owners revelled in their Bahrain success before Christmas, with Ferguson describing it as his “best ever” victory as an owner.

All of the son of Frankel’s ownership trio appear keen on another visit to the Middle East, with Fahey predicting a strong showing from his charge in the extended 10-furlong turf contest.

“Barring problems I’m sure his owners are very keen,” continued Fahey.

“Peter Done and Ged Mason are both very keen and Sir Alex is keen as well, so it looks like they are booking and barring problems I would say they will probably be there.

“We certainly enjoyed Bahrain and anything now is a bonus, but we’re expecting him to run a big race in Saudi.”



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Murphy excited to renew Mawj partnership at Meydan

Oisin Murphy is relishing the prospect of being reunited with Mawj when she lines up in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan on Friday.

Globetrotting Murphy has kept himself busy overseas this winter, having most recently plied his trade in Florida.

He will jet into Dubai to link up with the horse that provided him and trainer Saeed bin Suroor with Classic honours last season, before returning to America for the big-money Pegasus World Cup meeting at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

After outbattling Tahiyra to scoop the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, Mawj missed the height of summer with a setback before travelling to America herself, where she added to her top-level tally at Keeneland before being cruelly denied by a nose in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita.

She now returns to the nine-furlong trip over which she won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in Kentucky last October and bids to maintain her unbeaten Meydan record in this Group One event.

“I’m really looking forward to riding her and she obviously had a great year last year,” said Murphy.

“She has won over a similar distance at Keeneland in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and she seems to be nicely drawn in the middle, so it will be interesting to see how the pace sets up.

“She can take a lead or make the running – she is very happy doing lots of things, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Spirit Dancer gave Richard Fahey and famous co-owner Sir Alex Ferguson a day to remember when striking in Bahrain in November and having flourished over the last 12 months, now tries his hand in Group One company for the first time.

Sir Alex Ferguson is one of Spirit Dancer's owners
Sir Alex Ferguson is one of Spirit Dancer’s owners (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We’ve always liked him and he’s relatively lightly raced, but we’re getting a good go with him now as he’s been a bit of a backward horse who has taken time to mature physically and mentally,” said Fahey.

“We’re not surprised he’s improving, but he will need to improve again now.”

Charlie Appleby has won this race three times in the past eight years and after rattling the crossbar with third-placed Master Of The Seas 12 months ago, he now saddles three seeking to get his hands back on the trophy.

Stable jockey William Buick has elected to partner Al Rashidiya winner Measured Time, with the son of Frankel and half-brother to Breeders’ Cup Turf hero Rebel’s Romance winning four of his five career starts.

Measured Time has won four of his five career starts
Measured Time has won four of his five career starts (John Walton/PA)

“Measured Time was an impressive winner of the Al Rashidiya and has done well physically since,” the Moulton Paddocks handler told the Godolphin website.

“This will obviously be more of a test, with Mawj and San Donato in the field, but he heads into it in great order.”

Measured Time is joined in the race by the reliable Ottoman Fleet and Highland Avenue, who were both behind their stablemate in Meydan’s pre-Christmas Group Two.

Appleby added: “Ottoman Fleet has proved ultra-consistent over this trip and doesn’t know how to run a bad race. He deserves to be in the line-up and I’m sure he will give his usual running.

“Highland Avenue has been competitive at Group level and was unlucky to get stuck wide in the Al Rashidiya. Hopefully he can get a better run around this time, which will help his chances.”



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