Son of The Stars makes Qatar Racing debut

The unbeaten Son of The Stars will make his first start for Qatar Racing Limited on Saturday when he contests the QIPCO Racing Welfare Handicap for 3-year-olds over a mile at Newmarket.

While most of the attention on Guineas Weekend sponsored by QIPCO Holding, a family-run investment company led by Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, its subsidiaries including Qatar Racing and Qatar Bloodstock will rightfully be on the classics, the debut of Son of The Stars carrying the Qatar Racing colours is eagerly anticipated.

The son of 2000 Guineas runner-up Delegator who died suddenly last December took his unbeaten record to two starts when returning in a Chelmsford handicap in mid-April, after which he was purchased privately.

That form was franked when the second-placed filly Prosper won a conditions race at Ascot on Wednesday, and Son of The Stars remains potentially well handicapped off his new BHA mark of 89. He's certainly well regarded by his trainer Richard Hannon, while his rider on Saturday, Sean Levey, won on him at Kempton on his debut and often rides him at home.

Qatar Racing celebrated its 18th winner worldwide in 2017 when 3-year-old Melodic Motion made a successful handicap debut at Pontefract on Wednesday. Trained by Ralph Beckett, Melodic Motion got up late stepped up to a mile and a quarter in the hands of Paul Hanagan and should stay further as a daughter of Nathaniel.