Chopin win shows potential in Qatar Racing drafts

Chopin's win in a highly valuable race at the weekend was the latest example of a gem being sourced from Qatar Racing.

He was among a draft of Qatar Racing horses offered to buyers at Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale in October 2015, and was knocked down for 9,000 guineas (£9,450 or US$11,743). On Saturday, at Doha in Qatar, and now in training with Abdulla Kuwaiti, he won the HH Emirs Trophy for owner Maher Ebrahim Lutfalla and collected almost £127,000. Chopin (pictured right in Qatar Racing colours under Jamie Spencer) was formerly trained by Andreas Wohler and then Ger Lyons for the Al Thani family.

Regular consignments of horses that have been owned by Qatar Racing are offered at horses-in-training sales, and they often provide their new owners with success.

Chopin's win in Doha was not the only notable win for a former Qatar Racing horse on Saturday, for Royal Birth landed a Listed race at Lingfield for trainer Stuart Williams. That was Royal Birth's fifth success since being knocked down for 20,000gns at Tattersalls, and Saturday's win was worth £26,000.

In October last year Williams bought Suzi's Connoisseur for 52,000gns, but earlier this month he regained £32,000 when the same horse won a valuable all-weather handicap at Newcastle.

G Force was sold for 25,000gns at Tattersalls in October 2013, and he later won the Gr.1 Haydock Sprint Cup and a first prize of £154,000. Also in Qatar Racing's draft on that occasion was Robot Boy, who has won five races since, given his new owners lots of fun, and on his latest start won an all-weather handicap at Wolverhampton worth £29,000 to the winner.

They are just a few examples of horses who have been uncovered from Qatar Racing drafts and offered at horses-in-training sales details of further consignments will appear on this website.

Photograph of Chopin - Laurence Squire