She may have failed to sell at 1.1 million guineas at this month’s Tattersalls December Mares Sale but classy sprinter Mabs Cross has joined Qatar Racing’s broodmare band, after a private deal was agreed with her owner-breeders David and Emma Armstrong.
Trained by Michael Dods, Mabs Cross won seven of her 20 races including an impressive success in last year’s Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp. She also finished placed in the King’s Stand Stakes and two editions of the Nunthorpe Stakes.
By Dutch Art out of the Listed-winning two-year-old Miss Meggy, she is a half-sister to three winners including the Grade 3 scorer Charlie Em.
Mabs Cross arrived at Tweenhills Farm on Thursday just hours before leading Australian sire Zoustar returned to Gloucestershire for his second season covering in the Northern Hemisphere.
David Redvers, Qatar Racing’s manager and owner of Tweenhills, said: “It’s really thrilling to acquire a mare of Mabs Cross’s quality, and her purchase is another example of the complete faith we have in the Australian phenomenon that is Zoustar.
“She adds to our exciting portfolio of high-class racemares and further demonstrates the commitment Sheikh Fahad and his brothers have to breeding top-class thoroughbreds.”
Qatar Racing has also bought the exciting Good Vibes and Orlaith with the pair set to visit Zoustar in the future. Both will continue racing in 2020 with Good Vibes set to become the first horse Qatar Racing has had with Dods.
