Talking Horses: racing's rulers silent over switch of Princess Haya horse

Racing’s powerful figures responded with silence on Sunday when questions were asked about how a valuable racehorse was transferred recently from the ownership of Princess Haya to that of Godolphin, the racing vehicle of her former husband, Sheikh Mohammed, from whom she fled last year seeking protection from the English courts.

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Terebellum is a valuable breeding prospect and expected to try her luck next in a Group One race after proving her class by winning the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, when her jockey, Frankie Dettori, wore the royal blue of Godolphin.

That was a change from last year, when Terebellum carried Princess Haya’s green and black silks, including when successful in a quality race at Deauville. But when the entries for the Newmarket race were published last week, Terebellum was listed as owned by Godolphin.

Asked to explain that, Godolphin’s managing director, Hugh Anderson, replied: “No comment”. More surprisingly, the British Horseracing Authority, which regulates the sport, remained wary. Asked if it had checked with Princess Haya that she consented to the transfer, a spokesman responded: “It is the BHA’s position currently not to comment on this.” He declined to explain why.

The situation echoes events of last summer, when, in the weeks before Princess Haya applied to the high court for a non-molestation order against the sheikh, several horses were swapped from her ownership to his and then back again. As was noted at the time in Private Eye, Promissory was taken out of Princess Haya’s ownership on 29 June and returned to her from Godolphin four days later, winning at Doncaster in her green colours just two days after that.

Turgenev, Emblazoned, Kimblewick and Duneflower were all also switched out of Princess Haya’s ownership in the early days of July and into the Godolphin camp, only to be switched back later. Of the 16 horses that ran for her in Britain last summer, three went to the sales at the end of the year. Terebellum is the first of the remainder to race since the court ruling.

The couple were in headlines around the world in March after a 34-page fact-finding ruling by Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the family division of the high court, which included findings that Sheikh Mohammed had orchestrated the abductions of two of his children, one from the streets of Cambridge. It was found that he had subjected Princess Haya to a campaign of intimidation, including an attempt to have her abducted by helicopter.

The findings were made on the civil standard, requiring only they be proved as more probable than not. Sheikh Mohammed countered at the time with a statement: “As a head of government, I was not able to participate in the court’s fact-finding process. This has resulted in the release of a ‘fact-finding’ judgment which inevitably tells only one side of the story.”

Monday’s best bets

Rain-softened ground at Haydock makes for a tricky card, so my main interest will be in some races at Chelmsford, where Rock Boy Grey (12.30) is generally 5-1 after opening at 10s. The grey has found his niche in all-weather handicaps this winter and has not finished yet, judging by his score at this track in March. Mark Loughnane, who trains him, has been among the winners in Resumption Week.

David Loughnane, who I believe is unrelated, has an interesting runner in Exotic Escape (3.05), who achieved little last year in three runs for a different stable that was not going well. She’s well related and will surely be winning a handicap at some point, though the market seems content to leave her on 16-1 for this reappearance.

Chelmsford
12.00 Ventura Vision 12.30 Rock Boy Grey (nb) 1.00 Monarch Maid 1.30 Bristol Missile 2.00 Disco Fever 2.30 Maria Rosa 3.05 Exotic Escape 3.40 Fieldsman 4.10 Dapper Man 4.40 Mayfair Spirit

Haydock 
12.15 Meshakel 12.45 Gobi Sunset 1.15 Dear Power 1.45 My Friend Stan 2.15 Moon King 2.45 Festival Day 3.15 Al Rasmah 3.50 Zip 4.25 Aquileo 4.55 Bondi Sands

Lingfield
4.15 Aussie Stormer 4.45 Flashing Approach 5.20 Ransom 5.50 Irene May 6.20 Breakfast Club 6.50 Herm 7.20 Sneaky Peek (nap) 7.50 Devizes 8.20 Voice Of Calm

At Lingfield, there is 7-2 about Sneaky Peek (7.20) for the on-fire Andrew Balding team. Bred to need time and distance, she ran well in a couple of turf handicaps at this trip last summer and should be ready to go on again now. The market prefers a William Haggas gelding who might be in more need of this experience, stepping up in trip by half a mile.