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| Staff Writer |
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The late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud never got to see how good his Frankel-sired colt could be passing away before he had hit the track.
He has also placed second in the Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes along with the Silver Tankard Stakes and most recently the Gr.1 Dubai Sheema Classic, during World Cup night.
With Westover wearing the silks of Juddmonte Farm, European Racing Manager Barry Mahon said the team and connections were rather impressed with the Meydan race as well as what was next for not only Westover but for the operation.
“It was a very big performance by Westover and his first start since last October, so he’s entitled to improve for the run,” Barry Mahon said.
“It was great to see him finish off the race so powerfully after getting some interference in the home turn and we can now look forward to the rest of the season with him.
“The winner of the race Equinox was very impressive and looks to be one of the world’s leading middle-distance colts.”
Away from this race his performances in past races through his career to date have also pleased connections.
“He showed a high level of form at two before going on to be a Classic winner at three in the Irish Derby.
“He had an unlucky third in the Epsom Derby and he ran with great credit in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe where the ground was very testing and not to his liking.”
Founded in 1977 Juddmonte Farms was owned by Prince Khalid bin Abdullah of Saudi Arabia until his passing two years ago.
Regarded internationally for their band of over 200 broodmares they have bases globally with four in England, two in Ireland, and two in Kentucky, United States.
This reputation for breeding and high performing dam lines has earned them five horses named Broodmare of the Year in the U.S. or Britain in Slightly Dangerous, dam of stakes winners Commander in Chief, Warning, Yashmak, Dushyantor and Jibe; Hasili, dam of stakes winners Dansili, Banks Hill, Intercontinental, Heat Haze, Cacique and Champs Elysees; Toussaud, dam of stakes winners Empire Maker, Chester House, Honest Lady, Chiselling and Decarchy; Arrive, dam of Visit and Promising Lead; Binche, dam of Byword and Proviso; and Concentric, dam of Enable.
Their breeding record speaks for itself through not only its broodmares but as Mahon says their stallions also.
“Juddmonte has built its reputation on quality, and some key components entering the farm are race record, pedigree and conformation.
“We are very lucky in Europe to stand elite stallions in Frankel, Kingman, Oasis Dream, Bated Breath and Expert Eye who were all top-class racehorses with excellent conformation and pedigrees to back them up.
“Our broodmare band is also stringently selected each year again based on those qualities.”
Juddmonte homebreds have taken victories in major races internationally in both in Flat and National Hunt racing including Wicklow Brave, son of Beat Hollow (Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle, The Punchestown Champion Hurdle and Irish St Leger); Prohibit, son of Oasis Dream (King's Stand Stakes), Foreteller, son of Dansili (Australian Ranvet Stakes, Makybe Diva Stakes and Underwood Stakes) and Harlem, son of Champs Elysees (Australian Cup).
For Juddmonte currently there are several key performers for the farm.
“Chaldean, winner of four of his five starts as a two-year-old, finished up winning the Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket and will hopefully develop into a Gr.1 miler at three.
“Arrest – impressive 2YO maiden winner narrowly denied Gr.1 victory in the Criterium de Saint Cloud. He looks to follow in Westover’s footsteps this year on the Derby trail.
“Elite Power – Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner who won in dominant fashion in Saudi Arabia and looks to have an exciting summer ahead before another attempt at the Breeders’ Cup.”
With the passing of the Prince and the continued support of his family the plans and strategies going forward are not that greatly changing, as Mahon said.
“The Abdullah family have always insisted on quality so Juddmonte’s future strategies would be to continue to invest in quality bloodstock.
“The plan, as always, is to strive to produce animals competing at Gr.1 level and to nurture our youngstock to allow them to perform at their best on the racetrack.
“It goes without saying that we provide all our stallions with quality mares to allow their progeny to excel on the racetrack. “
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Juddmonte have had success in the past on the tracks of Dubai and from here Westover’s plans are easing into place.
“Juddmonte are very lucky to have enjoyed numerous successes on Dubai World Cup night, the highlight of which was Arrogate winning the 2017 Dubai World Cup.
“Another performer which was very memorable was Cityscape winning the Gr.1 Dubai Duty Free in 2012.
“Westover arrived back in the UK after his run in the Sheema Classic in very good condition and he will aim to compete in numerous Gr.1 10-to-12-furlong races in Europe with the Coronation Cup being his most likely target.”
As is the case with strategies to aim towards, Juddmonte have certain races that they are aiming for with optimistic chances.
“As always at the start of the European Turf season we have a number of horses starting out in Classic trials, and the aim is very much to add to Juddmonte’s tally of 27 European Classic winners to date.
“Big summer festivals such as Ascot, Goodwood and York are always at the top of our list to have some winners.
“With everything we do, we concentrate on quality in order to compete in Gr.1 races around the world.
“In the last few seasons horses such as Arrogate, Mandaloun and Elite Power in the USA and Kingman, Frankel and Enable in Europe have allowed Juddmonte compete at the highest level on racecourses across the world.”