Setback for Andrew Balding as Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing remove all their horses from his yard

Qatar Racing and Andrew Balding have parted ways after Sheikh Fahad announced he was removing his horses from Kingsclere on Thursday.

The trainer's wife, Anna Lisa Balding, confirmed Qatar Racing had taken their horses, including Grade 1 winner and Craven Stakes fifth New Century, from the yard. Six horses had been listed in training with Balding on the trainer’s website.

Speaking at Newcastle, where Kameko won the Group 1 Futurity Stakes for the yard in the Qatar Racing colours six years ago, Anna Lisa Balding said: "All good things come to an end.

"Sheikh Fahad has been an amazing supporter of the yard. We're very grateful to him. We've had four individual Group 1 winners for him in Elm Park, Side Glance, Kameko and New Century. It's been a great relationship but things have changed and we wish all the horses luck in their new homes."

New Century (left): seen here winning the Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury last summerCredit: Edward Whitaker

New Century, who had been 33-1 for the Betfred 2,000 Guineas before finishing fifth in the Craven at Newmarket on Wednesday, is listed on the BHA website as being in training with James Ferguson in Newmarket. Contacted by the Racing Post, Ferguson said the three-year-old was due to travel to the US in less than a week to continue his career.

Sheikh Fahad, 35, who operates Qatar Racing with his brothers Sheikh Hamad and Sheikh Suhaim, has had horses with Balding since 2011 having initially raced them under his own Pearl Bloodstock banner.

Balding then became one of Qatar Racing’s first trainers when the organisation was born in 2012 and has been one of the operation’s flagbearers in the 13 years since, the highlight being the 2,000 Guineas victory for Kameko in 2020.

In addition, champion jockey Oisin Murphy, who was champion apprentice when attached to the Balding yard in 2014 and still rides the majority of Kingsclere runners, has been retained by Qatar Racing since 2016.

Kameko: 2,000 Guineas winner for Qatar Racing and Andrew BaldingCredit: Edward Whitaker

Among the other horses removed from Balding is Kingsclere, a sister to Kameko who finished last of nine on her debut at Doncaster in September last year. No new trainer has been listed.

The removal of Qatar Racing’s horses is set against Balding enjoying a blistering start to 2025. The trainer has posted 44 winners and earned over £900,000 in prize-money in Britain after enjoying a Friday double on All-Weather Championships Finals day at Newcastle.

Among those winners are the notable performances of Jonquil, who won the Greenham Stakes, Divina Grace being successful in the John Porter Stakes and Almeric winning the Feilden Stakes.

In recent years, Sheikh Fahad has increasingly focused his attention on racing in the US, where he lives. Last August, David Redvers, racing manager for Qatar Racing, said: “Sheikh Fahad is spending less time here as he lives in America and it’s a case of rationalising his investments; there’s only so much one man can do. He's fully committed to British racing.”

Qatar Racing declined to comment when approached for comment by the Racing Post.

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