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| Sumita Pawar |
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Qatar Racing has recently sold a 50% share of 3YO Zoology, the impressive Flat runner-up at Royal Ascot, to Australian trainer Ciaron Maher, who will now be taking the talented horse abroad.
International Dreams: Maher's Horse Sets Sights On Golden Eagle
Maher, who trains alongside David Eustace, plans to take the talented horse abroad and prepare him for the A$10 million Golden Eagle in Sydney in November. Last year, a Racing Post special report highlighted a concerning rise in the number of British horses being sold to race overseas.
BHA data, excluding lower-rated horses, indicated a 35% increase in horse exports from 2016 to 2021. The increase in exports of horses rated 90 and higher was particularly notable. Zoology, with a rating of 110 after his exceptional performance at Royal Ascot, was sold by Qatar Racing as a "purely commercial decision," according to David Redvers.
Redvers said, “After Royal Ascot, a 50 percent share in Zoology was bought by Ciaron Maher for a significant sum and the plan is to aim him at the Golden Eagle Stakes in Sydney later in the year.
"James Ferguson has done a great job with the horse but it was purely a commercial decision. The long and short of it is that they wanted to move Zoology into their system so he has left James Ferguson and joined Harry Eustace, who is brother of Ciaron’s training partner David.
“It's highly unlikely that the horse will run again here but he’s with Harry until he goes to Sydney for their spring.”
Son of Zoustar, finished with a flourish in the seven-furlong Jersey at Royal Ascot, chasing home Age Of Kings. He won two of his five starts for trainer James Ferguson, including his debut at Yarmouth last September and a victory over Covey at Southwell as a 3YO.
He also posted a respectable fourth in the Group Three Greenham Stakes at Newbury. The Golden Eagle, a 1,500m race at Rosehill, will be held on November 4 this year.