ted talks
TED TALKS...
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What a day at Chantilly
Photos by Ted Voute
Ted Voute, racing manager for Imad Al Sagar, enjoyed a day of days with Nashwa’s brilliant Prix de Diane victory
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and Nancy Sexton as bloodstock consultant rounded out the already inspired appointment of Hollie Doyle as retained jockey. I am sure each appointment met with raised eyebrows or even a little green eye in places and many wondered what this assembled team meant for Blue Diamond Stud, which had seen changes over the past couple of years. What it meant has been revealed in two Classics this year in France. Imad had bravely bought a few mares in the past few years under the Blue Diamond Stud banner and one of these purchases turned out to be Zotilla, the dam of Mangoustine, winner of the Poule d’Essai de Pouliches (G1). In the space of just two months this Classic win was doubled up with the homebred Nashwa, winning the Prix de Diane under
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Imad’s broodmare band now includes the dams of two Classic winners, as well as the mighty Pearling, who when mated to Gallileo, produced Decorated Knight
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HERE IS no “I in team” should be the motto for Imad Al Sagar who’s filly Nashwa courageously won the Group 1 Prix de Diane the Sunday after Royal Ascot. Over the past months, Imad has assembled a “stellar” or, dare I say it, “dream team” of experienced people. First out of the stalls to join the long-time stud manger Andrew Rawlin and stud secretary Nicki Rutter was the appointment of Gerry Meehan, whose preparation of youngstock for the sales is second to none and has been evered in Tattersalls October Book 1 circles for years. Early in the New Year the appointment of myself and Lord Teddy Grimthorpe as CEO and racing manager respectively
Hollie Doyle, with his assembled team all in attendance. Imad had a vision, and to bring that to fruition he wanted to leave no stone unturned to realise that dream. For Imad, it meant assembling a hand-picked team who could work harmoniously to breed and raise the best horses he could, using some of the best advice he could find. At Chantilly on the Sunday after Royal Ascot the bar has been set for the future. Imad’s broodmare band now includes the dams of two Classic winners, as well as the mighty Pearling, who, when mated to Gallileo, produced Decorated Knight. When Nashwa eventually goes to stud, his broodmare band will include four Group 1 winners or dams of Group 1 winners. I met Imad in 2004. He sent
