Racing in shock as multi-millionaire owner removes superstar filly from trainer

3 months ago 22

RACING has been left in shock after a multi-millionaire owner abruptly removed his superstar filly from a trainer’s yard – and sent her to a rival.

Blue Rose Cen was the top-rated three-year-old filly in Europe last year and won her loaded owner more than £500,000 with victory in the Prix de Diane last June.

Blue Rose Cen has been a sensation on the racecourse – but will it continue under her new trainer?[/caption]

She has earned £1.4million from just 12 races under famed French trainer Christopher Head.

But pizza tycoon owner Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals, said to be worth around £700m, has decided the horse needs to go to another trainer to continue her development.

Maurizio Guarnieri has welcomed Blue Rose Cen into his yard, which sits near Head’s in Chantilly, France.

The Italian has had 11 horses belonging to Pujals’ Yeguada Centurion operation move to his stables in all – in a coup that has left some racing fans wondering why.

Sky Sports Racing presenter Mike Cattermole was among those curious about the ‘strange’ stable switch.

But for his part, Guarneri is just happy to have a horse of Blue Rose Cen’s star power in his yard.

He said: “It’s a dream for me to train a filly like her and I’ve never had horses of the quality they have sent me.

“The two racing managers made the initial approach and then the owner called me.

“He told me he had decided against selling any of their yearlings last autumn and, with everything going into training, he felt the need for a second trainer in Chantilly, and that he had chosen me.

“It’s incredible to have the filly arrive in my yard.

“Her previous trainer has had her at the very top, winning four Group 1s.

“I hope to be able to contribute to the filly continuing to have a very good career at four.”

Meanwhile, Head, who has 22 horses in training for Yeguada Centurion and handles awesome QEII Stakes winner Big Rock, told Jour De Galop: “The owners want to give some horses to a new trainer.

“It was a real pleasure to train Blue Rose Cen for two years.

“She gave my team and me incredible emotions, and I hope she will do the same for new trainer.

“She’s been the filly who made our name and I wouldn’t be where I am now without her.

“I owe everything to her and to the confidence her owner has shown in me.”

Stable switches are nothing new in racing but always attract plenty of attention.

Shiekh Obaid removed all his horses from the Crisfords’ yard after his odds-on horse got beat last year.

While Sheikh Abdullah admitted to being ‘angry’ when he pulled his runners from George Boughey’s stables after a bust-up over a £160,000 horse.