Simply an unforgettable year for Qatar Racing - Year end and Video Review
There were disappointments - an inevitability of owning racehorses - but the plusses comfortably outweighed the minuses, in part due to the soaring filly Simple Verse (pictured with jockey Andrea Atzeni and Sheikh Fahad). She started the year as an unraced three-year-old, but climbed through the ranks in giant strides.
After a maiden win at Lingfield in April she was beaten off a mark of 77 at Goodwood, yet ended the season with an official rating of 117 after winning the Gr.1 St Leger - a first British Classic triumph for Qatar Racing - and the Gr.1 QIPCO Fillies' and Mares' Stakes. It was a fitting tribute, to her and trainer Ralph Beckett and his staff, that she was awarded Cartier's Champion Stayer Award and the Racehorse Owners' Association's Outstanding Filly and Mare title, the first time a horse owned by Qatar Racing had been honoured in such a way.
JANUARY
Great start
A New Year's Day victory for Marky Mark in New Zealand's Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes was also a first Stakes victory for Qatar Bloodstock stallion Makfi - in March the same colt went two levels better when landing the Gr.1 Produce Stakes.
A few days later Star Pearl's win at Laurel Park in the USA was Sheikh Fahad's 100th inside a 12 months period.
FEBRUARY
Sunrise for Atzeni on Sunset
Qatar Racing's new no.1 jockey, Andrea Atzeni, enjoys a winning debut in his new role when riding the Clive Cox-trained After The Sunset.
Two mares are scanned in foal to Charm Spirit, Qatar Bloodstock's latest stallion recruit, and one of three sires standing under the banner at Tweenhills in Gloucestershire.
In Dubai, Trade Storm finishes second in Meydan's Gr.1 Jebel Hatta.
MARCH
Protector shows fizz for Makfi
Noble Protector, trained by Robert Smerdon for Qatar Bloodstock, wins the Gr.3 Schweppervescence Trophy at Flemington, and before the month is out she adds the Gr.2 Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley. Formerly trained in England by Stuart Kittow, Noble Protector went on to take third in the Gr.1 Queen of the Turf Stakes.
The third year of Qatar Racing's 8 to Follow competition opens - all profits are given to Racing Welfare - and it is announced Sheikh Fahad will ride in a charity flat race at Limerick.
APRIL
Thrilling ride for Sheikh Fahad
From London Marathon runner to charity-race rider, Sheikh Fahad finishes fifth on Captain Morley at Limerick in a contest designed to raise money for Irish Injured Jockeys. The Sheikh tells the Racing Post: "I loved every second of it."
Charm Spirit gains a midsummer seat on a flight to New Zealand where he will take up shuttling duties at Windsor Park Stud, and Cornwallville becomes another Stakes winner for Makfi when winning a Listed event in France. Karpino lands a Group Three race at Krefeld for Pearl Bloodstock, and the following month won the Gr.2 Mehl Mulhens-Rennen, Germany's 2000 Guineas.
MAY
Belief in Makfi pays off
Sumbal wins the Gr.2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud, and there is even better news to come out of France when Make Believe, a son of Makfi, wins the Gr.1 Poule d'Essai Des Poulains.
Elm Park, who missed the QIPCO 2000 Guineas (won by Gleneagles) on account of the lively ground, runs a fine Derby trial when third in the Gr.2 Dante Stakes at York - the winner, Golden Horn, became the leading three-year-old colt in Europe.
Also at York there is a win in the Gr.2 Middleton Stakes for Secret Gesture, while at Newbury Arod takes third in the Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes. On May 20 there is a four-timer for Pearl Bloodstock or Qatar Racing horses - all at different tracks and for separate trainers and jockeys.
Endless Drama finishes second in the Gr.1 Irish 2000 Guineas and Pearl Secret wins the Gr.2 Temple Stakes.
JUNE
Arod on march as a miler
Fourth in the 2014 Derby, Arod returned to Epsom and romped home in the Gr.3 Diomed Stakes over a mile, but Elm Park's eagerly-awaited Derby run proves disappointing - he finishes unplaced after pulling too hard on ground that proved quicker than ideal.
A new ten-year deal involving the Al Thani family's QIPCO business interests and British racing is announced - under the agreement races at Ascot and Newmarket will receive increased prize money, and QIPCO British Champions Day will be worth £5m within ten years.
Ascot, beneficiary of a ten-year QIPCO deal
Side Glance, a Group One-winning globetrotter, was retired, but Ainippe was very much on the up - the Ger Lyons-trained filly won the Gr.3 Ballyogan Stakes at the start of the month, and within weeks had added the Gr.3 Brownstown Stakes.
JULY
Farewell Judge
Qatar Racing's first Classic winner, Just The Judge, who landed the 2013 Irish 1000 Guineas, is retired after suffering a minor injury. Owned initially in partnership with the Sangster family, she was sold for 4.5m guineas at the December Sale in 2014 when a new alliance was formed between Qatar Racing and The China Horse Club. The winner or placed in 11 of her 15 starts, she remains in the same ownership for her eagerly anticipated career at stud.
Arod continued his surge towards the peak of milers when winning the Gr.2 Summer Mile at Ascot - Qatar Racing's Lightning Spear was second - followed by a superb effort when making Solow pull out all the stops in the Gr.1 Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. Solow's easy win at QIPCO British Champions Day and the Breeders' Cup later in the year gave the form a notable boost.
The QIPCO-sponsored King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is won by the Luca Cumani-trained Postponed, while Harry Bentley steers Simple Verse to victory in Goodwood's Gr.3 Markel Insurance Stakes.
AUGUST
Gesture first - then third
One of racing's most discussed talking points resulted from a the Gr.1 Beverly D Stakes at Arlington Park where Secret Gesture was demoted to third after passing the line in front. Although an emphatic winner, and certainly the best horse on the day, it was adjudged she hampered the third finisher Kittens Joy, near the line - an appeal against the decision failed, and the outcome emphasised differences in rule interpretation among racing authorities.
Olly and Hetta Stevens, based at Sheikh Fahad's Robins Farm Racing in Surrey, announce they are quitting training for family reasons - later in the year it is announced the entire training complex ise on the market with Knight Frank, although the Stevens are keeping it ticking over and working with pre-trainers.
SEPTEMBER
Raise a glass to La Rioja
La Rioja establishes herself as one of Britain's leading juvenile fillies when landing Salisbury's Gr.3 Dick Poole Stakes - the Henry Candy-trained youngster wins by four and a half lengths.
The Charlie Hills-trained Strath Burn steps up to Group One company to tackle Haydock's Sprint Cup and is beaten just a short-head by Twilight Son, another member of Candy's string.
There is a win for Pallasator in the Gr.2 Doncaster Cup, but there is controversy after the Gr.1 St Leger, Britain's oldest Classic, when Qatar Racing's Simple Verse, who passes the post in front, is demoted to second for interfering with runner-up Bondi Beach. Echoes of Secret Gesture's Beverly D demotion abound - both fillies are trained by Ralph Beckett - and while the two horses came close there was interference from both sides and Simple Verse was holding Bondi Beach in the final half furlong. Beckett immediately announces an appeal will be lodged, and the changed result is subsequently reversed at a BHA hearing.
Simple Verse (centre) is holding Bondi Beach at bay
Glass House wins the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Stakes, and at the sales company's September Yearling Sale a colt from the first crop of Qatar Bloodstock's Harbour Watch sells for €120,000.
Extortionist, a Royal Ascot winner at two for Qatar Racing and trainers Olly and Hetta Stevens, is euthanased after suffering an injury at home.
OCTOBER
Verse again on QIPCO Champions Day
Simple Verse, under a canny ride from Andrea Atzeni, wins the Gr.1 Fillies' and Mares' Stakes at QIPCO British Champions Day, which is widely lauded as being the best since the event was founded in 2010. Champion sprinter Muhaarar and leading miler Solow emphasise the day's strength in depth by winning and putting a seal on their brilliant seasons.
Earlier in the month it is announced Sheikh Fahad has agreed to release Atzeni from his Qatar Racing contract after he elects to accept an offer to be first jockey to Roger Varian's stable, which is near his Newmarket home.
Makfi's memorable second season as a sire is given a further boost when Make Believe wins the Gr.1 Prix de la Foret, and news is released to say top sprinter Hot Streak is to take up stallion duties at Tweenhills under the Qatar Bloodstock banner.
London school teacher Wanda Marshall wins Qatar Racing's 8 to Follow competition, and a draft of horses who have carried the maroon colours and gold tassel proves popular at Tattersalls' Horses-in-Training Sale - the pick on price is Flying Empress, who makes 175,000gns.
NOVEMBER
Hot off the press
Stallion fees for Qatar Bloodstock's three Tweenhills' stallions are announced, revealing that newcomer Hot Streak will stand for £7,000 (Oct 1, SLF). Fellow residents Havana Gold and Harbour Watch remain unchanged at £8,500 and £7,500.
Members of Havana Gold's first crop prove popular and profitable for their breeders when appearing at leading foal sales - those sold at Goffs and Tattersalls average more than £28,000.
Meanwhile, at Tattersalls December Mares' Sale, Sinnamary is offered to dissolve a partnership between Qatar Racing and the Marquesa de Moratalla and sells for £700,000 - her buyer, Anthony Oppenheimer, plans to mate her with his Derby and Arc winner Golden Horn.