Emirates Park has formed a new alliance with Qatar Bloodstock to stand Harbour Watch in 2013.
Harbour Watch (4c Acclamation – Gorband by Woodman) will shuttle from Tweenhills Stud in England after covering his first northern book this year.
“He offers juvenile speed and precocity in abundance, as well as a much sought-after outcross,” Emirates Park’s Trevor Lobb said. “We had been in discussions with Sheikh Fahad al-Thani earlier this year and continued the negotiations during his recent visit to Sydney for the Easter Yearling Sale.”
Sheikh Fahad al-Thani has become a very well-known figure in Australia following the enormous success of 2011 Melbourne Cup and 2012 Caulfield Cup winner Dunaden.
Harbour Watch (Ire) was bred by Thomas Molan at Riversfield Stud in Limerick and was originally sold as a foal for 33,000 euros at the 2009 Goffs Sale. He went through the ring again as a yearling when purchased by agent Peter Doyle for 58,000gns at the 2010 Tattersalls Sale.
Harbour Watch was initially raced by Robin Heffer but Sheikh Fahad al-Thani bought in after an unbeaten juvenile campaign. Trained by Richard Hannon, he breezed through wins at Salisbury and Newmarket by a combined 9 lengths.
Subsequently assigned the G2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood at his only other outing, Harbour Watch won with consummate ease. Timeform declared it “the best performance by a two-year-old in 2011”.
A freak accident prevented Harbour Watch from taking his place in last year’s G1 English 2000 Guineas for which he was a one-time favourite. He was subsequently retired to Tweenhills Stud.
Harbour Watch is a son of Acclamation, the leading First Season Sire of his generation and a champion sire of 2YOs in Europe now gaining a reputation as a sire of sires. His son Dark Angel was Leading First Season Sire in Britain in 2011 and backed it up by becoming the Leading Second Season Sire in 2012.
His Group 1 winning son Equiano (Fr) will shuttle to Swettenham Stud for his second southern book this year. Harbour Watch’s service fee has been set at $9,900 (inc gst).