Godolphin Buys Majority Interest in Belardo
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Godolphin has purchased a majority share in Prince Faisal's gutsy Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-I) winner Belardo, a 2015 classics candidate who eventually is to join the Darley stallion roster.
The 2-year-old from the first crop of Lope de Vega showed his gameness when squeezing between rivals and then shooting clear to win Dewhurst by two lengths Oct. 17 at Newmarket. The winner of three of five career starts, he will race for the partnership of Godolphin and Prince Faisal for the remainder of his racing career.
"Belardo is a lovely horse, full of quality and we are delighted to own the horse in partnership with Prince Faisal," said John Ferguson, Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock adviser. "Prince Faisal has owned many great horses in the past such as Invincible Spirit and we feel that Belardo has a very exciting future at stud when his racing days are over. The horse, who will run in Godolphin's colors, will continue to be trained by Roger Varian who has done so well with the colt this year."
Belardo was bred in Ireland by Ballylinch Stud and offered by their agency at the 2013 Arqana Deauville August yearling sale, where he sold to Voute Sales for $133,280.
Ted Voute, who purchased the colt on behalf of Prince Faisal, said: "Prince Faisal and Sheikh Mohammed have known each other for many years and he was happy to sell the interest in Belardo knowing that he will remain very involved with the horse's racing future and was delighted in the knowledge that the horse will retire to be a Darley stallion".