We are lucky enough to send two of our brilliant horses to the Saudi Cup Festival this year.
Happy Romance and Lusail will both be running in the 1351 Turf Sprint (Group 3) at Riyadh, which is run over 6f 165y on 25th February.
The talented Happy Romance is owned by The McMurray Family, who have enjoyed tremendous success with this mare. What an incredible first racehorse to own. The racecourse in Riyadh and this exact race are familiar to her already, as she came third in the Turf Sprint this time last year. She followed this brilliant run with a second place in the Al Quoz Group 1 Sprint at Meydan a month later. Her successful career at home started off with her first win at Sandown in 2020. Since then she has won five times, including the Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes at Newbury, the Group 3 Shadwell Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury, the Listed Chelmer Fillies’ Stakes at Chelmsford and the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.
Joining Happy Romance is stable star Lusail, who is owned by Al Shaqab Racing. He won first time out in a Maiden at York back in May 2021. Since then he has won the EBF Novice Stakes at Newmarket, the Group 2 Tattersalls July Stakes at Newmarket and the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York. He came second in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and came third in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville.
Our team at home have been working hard to keep both horses fit over the winter and have them ready and raring to go for this exciting race.
Our Head Lad Hector and our groom David will be accompanying the two horses to Riyadh. This is a brilliant example of the exciting international travel opportunities that exist in the racing industry. We look forward to receiving lots of updates to share with you all when the horses are settled in out there.
Good luck to all connections!