Mendelssohn's First Winner Shines in Saudi Arabia

Ashford Stud's grade 1 winner and freshman sire Mendelssohn   sired his first winner when his daughter Shaqra'a Sultan won her racing debut by 1 3/4 lengths against colts at King Khalid Racecourse in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

The chestnut filly is a homebred for Prince Sultan Bin Mishall BinA/Aziz, who acquired her dam Juno  after the mare sold for $270,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Bloodstock agent Chad Schumer signed the ticket for the mare, who was sold by Denali Stud.

Juno was a multiple group 1 winner in Brazil at 3. She was acquired in 2016 by Team Valor and raced with trainers Richard Mandella and Neil Drysdale. In the United Stakes, she placed in three graded stakes before retiring with a 5-0-4 record from 16 starts and $159,797 in earnings. She was sold at Keeneland in foal to Mendelssohn.

Shaqra'a Sultan raced in a 1,200-meter (six-furlong) maiden race for 2-year-olds open to colts and fillies. Three colts were among the field of 10. Her final time was 1:23.87.

Mendelssohn is a 7-year-old son of Scat Daddy  who won the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) and later the U.A.E. Derby Sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2). He also was second in the Runhappy Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

He stood this year at Ashford for $35,000.