News item

03/09/10 Harbinger Sold To Japan

Harbinger, a record breaking winner of the Group One King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes before suffering a subsequent breakdown in trackwork, has been sold to take up stud duties in Japan next year.

John Warren, director of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, who handled the sale, said "There were a number of top stud farms from both home and abroad involved in the negotiations and there was a very strong bid to keep the horse in England.

"Unfortunately for the British bloodstock industry the final bid from the famous (Yoshida family owned) Shadai Group, where Sunday Silence stood, was far too strong to be able to compete".

According to Highclere, Harbinger (pictured courtesy RAcing Post) is recovering well and is a model patient. He is expected to be able to travel within several months.

A son of leading Danehill sire Dansili, Harbinger won six of nine starts and had been unbeaten in 2010 before his virtuoso performance at Ascot.

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