Racing: Maktoums to miss Keeneland Sales

THE WORLD'S premier yearling sales will have to get by without the purchasing power of the Maktoum family. Confirmation came yesterday that Sheikh Mohammed and his brother Hamdan Al Maktoum have decided to miss the Keeneland Select Sale in Lexington, Kentucky, which starts on Monday. Last year they spent around dollars 14m there on 39 yearlings.

The Sheikh's racing manager, Anthony Stroud, said the Sheikh's breeding operation had reduced the need to maintain past levels of purchasing. 'If you have as many home-bred horses as he has, there is naturally a scaling down in the numbers bought.

'Sheikh Mohammed has not briefed me on buying policy and we have not considered whether to attend any other sales.'