By MIKE DILLON
One of the favourites for the Boxing Day Derby at Ellerslie will be racing in the colours of a Dubai sheikh.
Talented 3-year-old Sir Clive was sold for an undisclosed six-figure sum yesterday to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Maktoum.
Sheikh Mohammed is one of four billionaire brothers who are principle owners of the world's leading horse racing stable, Godolphin. It won the Hong Kong Cup with Fantastic Light last Sunday.
Sir Clive is the first horse the sheikh has raced in Australasia since his Australian representative Tim Boland suggested he add horses to his southern business interests.
Unfortunately, the sheikh will not be at Ellerslie for the $350,000 Mercedes Derby. He will be observing Ramadan in Dubai.
There were several other bids for the rising star just before the Avondale Guineas two weeks ago, but the buyers were not happy with the veterinary inspection.
Sir Clive's co-trainer Peter Williams said an offer came from Dubai via Sydney a few days later. A condition of the sale was that he would race the Derby in the Maktoum name.
Sir Clive will then be flown to the Sydney stable of John Size to prepare for the AJC Derby at Randwick.
"Beyond that I'm not sure, but I take it he will end up in Dubai," said Williams.
Sir Clive comes to the Derby after a third in last month's $150,000 Bayer Classic at Otaki and an unlucky third to joint Derby favourite Danamite in the Avondale Guineas.
The Derby will be telecast live in the United States for the first time by US racing network TVG.
Said TAB executive Jim Leach: "There will be no US betting on the race, but this is the first step towards New Zealand racing being shown live in the United States with betting being taken on it."
New Zealand racehorse flies colours of a sheikh
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