Musir has arrived at David Payne’s stables after leaving quarantine at Eastern Creek. The colt will be set for the G1 George Main Stakes and G1 Cox Plate.
Musir (3c Redoute’s Choice – Dizzy De Lago by Encosta De Lago) was offered for sale at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale but was passed in for $900,000. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bred the colt and made the decision to send him to South Africa where he posted a Group 1 victory in the 2009 Golden Horseshoe.
Trainer Mike de Kock set him for the Dubai carnival earlier this year and he was a class above the opposition in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas and G2 UAE Derby. “He has a real touch of class,” winning jockey Christophe Soumillon said. “He’s a pleasure to ride.”
Sheikh Mohammed’s colt Frozen Power franked the Gulf form in the G2 German 2000 Guineas on Monday. He was given a superb ride by Frankie Dettori to score by a neck in Cologne.
Frozen Power (3c Oasis Dream – Musical Treat by Royal Academy) was a Listed winner at Deauville before travelling to Dubai where he was runner-up in the UAE 2000 Guineas and fifth in the UAE Derby. He’s superbly bred being a younger half-brother to Finsceal Beo (Mr. Greeley) who was a G1 winner of 2006 Prix Marcel Boussac and 2007 English and Irish 1000 Guineas.
Payne was very impressed after inspecting Musir on arrival at his Rosehill stables. “He is a lovely, big, strong horse. He’s 16 hands and really looks the goods.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa has also sent UAE Oaks winner Raihana to Australia. “She’s a nice filly, too,” Payne added. “It’s exciting to be training two such top-class horses for the spring carnivals.”
Raihana (3f Elusive Quality – Esubooh by Sunday Silence) came from last to score a comprehensive victory in the Listed UAE Oaks at Meydan. She’s a direct descendant of 1984 Australian Horse of the Year Emancipation.