Barrier Trial latest spin for Sheikh Fahad

Sheikh Fahad's growing list of riding exploits now includes a barrier trial on a beach on Australia's Gold Coast.

The event took place as part of the build-up to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sales which began near Brisbane today. The Sheikh, and racing manager David Redvers, are attending the sale and taking a keen interest in the stock of stallion Zoustar, in which Qatar Bloodstock is a share-holder, and whose first foals are now yearlings.

Reflecting on the trial, Sheikh Fahad (pictured in the build-up to the trial in company with Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne) told the Racing Post: ‚"It was good fun. It's a great idea to do something like that before the sales and before the races.

‚"I came in and they told me 'you're riding, bring your boots!'"

Sheikh Fahad won the historic Town Plate at Newmarket in July on the Robert Stephens-trained Almagest and followed up with a victory in the final round of Ireland's Corinthian Challenge when riding Labaik for Gordon Elliott. He also took part in the Mongol Derby, and on April 20 he lines up among a selected field for the Champions Willberry Charity Race at Cheltenham, the home of British Jumps racing. Further details of that event can be seen in a separate news story on the home page of this website.

Sheikh Fahad added: ‚"I'm riding out most days in Newmarket, with David Simcock mostly, and I was hunting on Friday with the Ledbury [Hunt]. We had Paul Carberry up there with us.

‚"I was here for the sales, to see Zoustar's stock. I might try and buy one or two of them. They look the part so hopefully they can run.‚"

Sons and daughters of Zoustar got away to a good start when the sale opened in sweltering temperatures. His first representative, a colt, made Aus$110,000, and he was soon eclipsed by a Widden Stud-consigned filly who made $360,000.

A Rosemont Stud-offered filly later made $400,000 to a bid from McDonald Racing, and that same sum secured another daughter of the young sire for Ciaron Maher Racing - a grey, she was consigned by Glenlogan Park.

Zoustar, a son of Northern Meteor, was a dual Group One winner out of a Redoute's Choice mare. He is owned by a partnership involving Qatar Bloodstock, Widden Stud in New South Wales and Woodside Park Stud in Victoria.