Impressive dirt winner for Decorated Knight
6 March 2022
Photo: Bronwen Healy Photography
Decorated Knight added another string to his bow on Sunday as the sire of Tho Al Atlaal, winner of a competitive maiden on dirt at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The colt came into the race having been placed on each of his three previous starts and gained a deserved breakthrough in the 7f event by making all and holding on for an authoritative success under Silvestre de Sousa. In a testament to the quality of the performance, the 19-runner field were well strung out at the finish, with the first two having pulled nearly four lengths clear of the third.
Bred in Saudi Arabia, Tho At Atlaal carries the colours of Abdulaziz Musaad Salem Alsalam and is out of Bouyrin. The daughter of Invincible Spirit, a half-sister to Group 3 winner Alsindi, won once for us at Kempton Park and was sold to Sultan al Farmay while carrying Tho Al Atlaal.
The colt joins SILVER BULLET LADY (a winner on debut at Salisbury), ZAIN NIGHTS (a winner at Newbury), WIND YOUR NECK IN (a two-time winner at Salisbury and Newmarket), LADY FANTASIA (a winner at Chantilly) and DAMAAR (a winner at Sandown Park) as exciting winners from the first crop of Decorated Knight.
Decorated Knight is also sire of the exciting KNIGHT OF HONOUR, who closed fast to finish third on his only start at Leicester last season. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Knight Of Honour holds entries in the Derby and Prix du Jockey Club.
Decorated Knight, a multiple Group 1 winner by Galileo out of Pearling, a full-sister to champion sire Giant’s Causeway, stands at the Irish National Stud. He is excellent value for the 2022 season at €7,500.
