Friday’s racing at Meydan saw four of the six races won by Irish bred horses, headed by the Group 3 win of Hitchens (IRE) in the Al Shindagha Sprint. The tough 7yo is by Rathbarry Stud stallion Acclamation and was bred by Curragh Bloodstock Agency.  Hitchens was bought at the Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale by Gary Moore for €66,000 and since then he has gone on to win over half a million pounds on the track. The first Irish bred winner of the day was Factory Time (IRE) in the Meydan Classic Trial. The son of Baltic King runs in the familiar colours of Jaber Abdullah and was bred by the O’Callaghan family’s Tally-Ho Stud where Baltic King also stands. Monsieur Joe (IRE) lead home an Irish bred 1-2 in the Classifieds Trophy when beating Inxile in the five furlong contest. The son of Choisir was bred by Nicola and Eleanor Kent in Cork and looks another progressive sprinter for trainer Robert Cowell.

The Irish bred quartet was completed by Fox Hunt (IRE) who landed the Tabloid Trophy for trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni. Bred by Ballylinch Stud and a half sister to progressive filly Anam Alta, Fox Hunt was having his first run since running well in the Melbourne Cup in November. In total the four Irish bred winners won over £240,000 in win prize-money and showed their effectiveness in winning over trips ranging from five furlongs to a mile and six furlongs.In South Africa recently the prestigious Grade 1 J&B MET was won by Igugu, a daughter of the mighty Galileo and trained by Mike De Kock. The same weekend Irish bloodstock agents Con Marnane, Peter Doyle and Mick Flanagan were all in action at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale in Capetown.