A RACING row has erupted with a top owner dramatically removing all his horses from a trainer’s yard after a bust-up over a £160,000 runner.
Sheikh Abdullah cited communication issues between himself and trainer George Boughey, with the breaking point coming after a frustrating week at Royal Ascot.
Classic winning trainer George Boughey has suffered a major blow
A member of the Kuwaiti royal family, he removed his horses from the stable earlier this week, with the promising Asadna going down the road to Newmarket rival Alice Haynes.
Asadna was sent off second-favourite for the Coventry Stakes but could only finish midfield, while Danger Alert was pulled out of the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes on vet’s advice.
Al Dasim was unable to make the Commonwealth Cup and a frustrating week was capped off when Cadillac was hampered early in the Wolferton Stakes.
There were tensions bubbling away under the surface and Sheikh Abdullah didn’t pull any punches when explaining the decision.
He told Racing Post: “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.
“One hour before the Commonwealth Cup declarations he called me and said Al Dasim was lame.
“The vets at Royal Ascot then said Danger Alert couldn’t run and I wondered what was going on. I spend millions of pounds on horses every year and if I lose, I’m not angry or upset, but it’s very important there is openness between the owner and trainer.”
Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah has plenty of horses in the UK
Sheikh Abdullah enjoyed his biggest winner as an owner when Al Dasim won a Group 3 at Meydan earlier this year.
He has supported a number of owners in this country including Richard Fahey, Richard Hannon, David O’Meara and Kevin Philippart De Foy.
This isn’t the first time he’s moved horses, however.
Last year, he removed 24 horses from Kevin Philippart de Foy’s yard, with the owner wanting to go a different direction to the trainer.
Boughey responded to comments, adding: “Asadna sustained a cut on his shoulder on the Friday morning before Royal Ascot and I immediately notified the BHA vets, as well as my own vet.
“He did not miss a day of work and was at no point lame.”
Boughey is considered as one of the sports biggest rising talents and he landed 136 winners in just his third full training season in 2022.
He’s currently on the 51-winner mark for the season from 329 runners.
