George Boughey delighted as 'absolute star' Believing to stay with trainer following 3,000,000gns purchase by Coolmore

George Boughey is delighted at the prospect of training his classy sprinter Believing as a five-year-old next year after she was sent back to the Classic-winning trainer, having changed hands for 3,000,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale in Newmarket.

The 112-rated speedster was knocked down to Coolmore during the Sceptre Sessions at Park Paddocks following which the Irish operation decided to return her to Saffron House Stables for 2025, with a view to her being covered by their new stallion City Of Troy.

Believing is a six-time winner who registered her biggest success when landing the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh in July. She has been placed four times at Group 1 level, including when second to Bradsell in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York and third behind Makarova in the  Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp.

Previously owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, the price for the daughter of Mehmas surpasses the amount paid for other former Boughey mares offered at Tattersalls including Group 1 winners Via Sistina (2,700,000gns) and Cachet (2,200,000gns).

Believing: stays in training with George Boughey next yearCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Boughey said: "It's a huge honour to have Believing back in the yard and to be able to give her another chance to pick up that Group 1 next year for MV Magnier and Coolmore.

"Believing was rather the bridesmaid of 2024 for us. She did incredibly well from three to four and I was confident that we would be able to pick up that Group 1 win this year but it wasn't to be through circumstances that didn't fall her way on different days. But she was an absolute star for us."

On plans for next year, he said: "There's a nice sprint programme here through the year and we'll be having conversations through the winter and early spring with the owners as her real career is back at Coolmore. There's a possibility she could go to the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai on World Cup night but I'll leave that to MV and his team."

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