THE ‘angry’ owner at the centre of a row that has rocked racing insists he told a trainer NOT to run his horse at Royal Ascot.
Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah claims he told George Boughey not to risk £160,000 superstar Asadna in the Coventry Stakes last Tuesday.
Prominent owner Sheikh Abdullah has removed all his horses from a trainer’s yard following a bust-up over a £160,000 horse
It has since emerged that the horse, a two-year-old colt, suffered a ‘cut to his shoulder’ on the Friday before the race.
Trainer Boughey says he told the BHA about the injury, sent them detailed evidence of its condition in the days before the contest and let Sheikh Abdullah know at all times the horse’s fitness.
However, news of Asadna’s injury never made it into the public domain, either by Boughey, the BHA or Sheikh Abdullah.
Asadna was favourite for the Group 2 Coventry at the time of his injury and eventually sent off 7-2 second-favourite.
The horse broke the clock on his jaw-dropping Ripon debut but could manage only ninth at Ascot, beaten six lengths by 11-8 fav River Tiber.
Now eyebrows have been raised over just who knew about the horse’s injury and when – and why punters were kept in the dark.
Boughey said the horse was passed fit to run and that all due steps had been taken to ensure his wellbeing.
But Sheikh Abdullah – who has since removed all his horses from Boughey’s yard – claims he told the trainer not to run Asadna.
He said: “I told him not to run Asadna as the horse had hurt himself at home before the race.
“Asadna is a champion and I was angry and took the horses.
“I told him not to run, but he told me not to worry and he finished ninth.”
Asadna has since been moved to Alice Haynes, an up-and-coming trainer trusted by the likes of Kia Joorabchian with his Amo Racing operation.
Boughey appears to have suggested the horse’s injury had no impact on his performance.
He said: “He did not miss a day of work and was at no point lame.”
This is not the first time Sheikh Abdullah, a member of the Kuwaiti royal family who says he spends millions on horses every year, has removed all his runners from a yard.
Last year, he took a total of 24 horses from Kevin Philippart de Foy’s Newmarket base and sent them elsewhere.
