Byline making a big splash in Bahrain for Muhaarar
BYLINE, a first-crop son of MUHAARAR, has confirmed himself one of the best milers in Bahrain with a convincing victory in the HH Sheikh Faisal Bin Rashid Al Khalifa Cup at the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club.
The Allan Smith-trained four-year-old travelled strongly under Frankie Dettori in the local Grade 1 contest and made smooth progress along the rail to take up the running in the home straight. He scored by a widening two and three-quarters of a length from the runner-up, COOLAGH FOREST.
BYLINE has now won three of his four starts since being exported to race for Al Adiyat Racing in Bahrain, having been purchased by bloodstock agency Sackville Donald for 110,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale last October.
He had earlier won two races for Kevin Ryan and Highclere Thoroughbred Racing – a Hamilton maiden by three and a half lengths at two and a competitive Leicester sprint handicap by nearly three lengths at three. He achieved a lofty Racing Post Rating of 101 for the latter success.
BYLINE was bred by Toby Barker out of the winning TAGULA mare LAUREN LOUISE, making him a half-brother to stakes winners BOGART and BLAINE.
He is one of 75 winners to have emerged from the first two crops of champion sprinter MUHAARAR, whose roll of honour includes the exciting Horris Hill Stakes winner MUJBAR and Vertem Futurity third BARADAR.
The multiple Group 1-winning son of OASIS DREAM is available to breeders for £10,000 at Nunnery Stud this year.
BYLINE is not the only progeny of MUHAARAR to fetch a high price as a horse in training at auction after proving their talent on the track.
UNFORGETABLE, a dual runner-up in Group 3 company, sold to Big Red Farm for 320,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, while EVENING SUN, a Newmarket novice stakes winner, was knocked down to Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal for 140,000gns in the same ring at the Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
Other lots by the sire at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale in 2020 sold for 135,000gns, 70,000gns, 55,000gns, 45,000gns, 42,000gns etc.