Saudi Arabia continued to upgrade its bloodstock pool with the purchase of former Kentucky based stallions Midas Eyes and Champali this week.

Midas Eyes (Touch Gold) was a G1 winner of the Forego Stakes at Saratoga and originally stood at Mill Ridge Farm in Lexington.  His first crop are three-years olds.  Champali (Glitterman) started his stallion career at Glencrest Farm in Kentucky after winning a million during his racing career.

They join Friends Lake and Beethoven who left Kentucky for two different Saudi Arabian studs last month.  

Friends Lake (A.P. Indy) was a G1 winner of the 2004 Florida Derby and has been based at Airdrie Stud since 2005.  “Friends Lake has got some very good crops coming behind him,” Louisville-based agent Chad Schumer said.  “Don’t be surprised if he sires a top horse.”

Beethoven (Sky Mesa) won the G2 Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs and was considered a classic prospect until injury knocked him out of consideration for the 2009 Kentucky Derby.  He did not stand in 2010.

“Saudi Arabia has a much larger breeding industry than most people think,” Schumer added.  “It’s not just the king and the royal stable.”

Saudi buyers were active at the Tattersalls HIT Sale at Newmarket in October.  Trainer Naif Alatawi paid 320,000gns for Irish G2 winner Formosina and Prince Sultan bin Mishel bin Abdulaziz parted with 220,000gns for Newmarket G2 performer Cat Junior.