BRAVE EMPEROR, a globetrotting standard bearer for Saxon Gate over the last three years, was retired following his run at Southwell on 21st November.
Middleham Park Racing’s five-year-old won two Group 2s, four Group 3s and a Listed race abroad, earning his owners £591,000 in prize money.
Now the popular son of Sioux Nation, who cost only £19,000 at Goffs UK as a yearling, is beginning a new life with his regular jockey Luke Morris, who partnered him to nine of his 11 career wins including all his Pattern successes overseas.
Brave Emperor’s most valuable win was the Group 2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup at Doha in Qatar in February 2024, which scooped his syndicate over £224,000. Another highlight was netting £100,000 for his win in the Group 2 Premio Vittorio Di Capua over a mile at the San Siro in Milan in November 2023.
Archie says: “We wish Brave Emperor a happy retirement. He has been one of our stable stars and it’s great that he has a wonderful new home with Luke. I’d like to thank all my team who looked after him so well during his four years with us.”
Tom Palin, of Middleham Park, adds: “It’s a fond farewell to one of the stand-out horses in our 30-year history. Few horses embody their name quite as well as he did, and under the guidance of Archie his career was nothing short of remarkable.”
November ended on a high when Wathnan Racing’s two-year-old Fortification won a Wolverhampton novice over five furlongs under James Doyle. Our son of Mehmas confirmed the promise of two previous placed efforts at Bath and Ripon earlier in the season and can hopefully have a good year in three-year-old sprints in 2026.
At Southwell, Marco Polo’s Dyrholaey came back to winning form under Luke in a six-furlong seller on 26th November – his first success since completing an All-Weather hat-trick last year. It was the four-year-old’s first run since January and he was retained without a bid at the subsequent auction.
There was also a first victory over hurdles for Scarlet Moon who recorded his fifth win of the year for the Arbib Bloodstock Partnership under Ben Poste at Warwick at the beginning of the month. He finished almost five lengths ahead of the favourite Love You Back in a two-mile juvenile maiden hurdle.
By Simon Mapletoft
