Qatar Racing and Andrew Balding have parted ways with Sheikh Fahad removing his horses from the trainer's Kingsclere base April 17.
Anna Lisa Balding, wife of Andrew, confirmed Qatar Racing had taken its horses, including grade 1 winner and Craven Stakes (G3) fifth New Century, from the yard. Six horses had been listed in training with Balding on the trainer's website.
As a juvenile last season, New Century captured the Summer Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine and then finished fourth, just two lengths behind winner Henri Matisse, in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Del Mar.
Speaking at Newcastle, where Kentucky-bred Kameko scored a Futurity Trophy (G1) success for the yard in the Qatar Racing colors six years ago, Anna Lisa Balding said: "All good things come to an end.
"Sheikh Fahad has been an amazing supporter of the yard. We're very grateful to him. We've had four individual group 1 winners for him in Elm Park, Side Glance, Kameko, and New Century.
"It's been a great relationship but things have changed and we wish all the horses luck in their new homes."
New Century, a son of Kameko, is listed as being in training with James Ferguson in Newmarket. Contacted by the Racing Post, Ferguson said the 3-year-old was due to travel to the United States in less than a week to continue his career.
In recent years, Sheikh Fahad has increasingly focused his attention on racing in the U.S., where he lives. Last August, David Redvers, racing manager for Qatar Racing, said: "Sheikh Fahad is spending less time here as he lives in America and it's a case of rationalizing his investments; there's only so much one man can do. He's fully committed to British racing."
Qatar Racing declined to comment when approached for comment by the Racing Post.
Sheikh Fahad, who operates Qatar Racing with his brothers Sheikh Hamad and Sheikh Suhaim, has had horses with Balding since 2011 having initially raced them under his own Pearl Bloodstock banner. Balding became one of Qatar Racing's first trainers when the organization was born in 2012 and has been one of the operation's flagbearers in the 13 years since its creation, the highlight being the 2020 Two Thousand Guineas (G1) victory for Kameko.
Among the other horses removed from Balding is Kingsclere, a homebred full sister to Kameko who finished last of nine on her debut at Doncaster in September last year. No new trainer has been listed for Kingsclere, who was bred in Kentucky.
The removal of Qatar Racing's horses is set against Balding enjoying a blistering start to 2025. The trainer has posted 43 winners and earned close to £800,000 in prize money in Britain after enjoying a Friday winner with Berkshire Whisper at the All-Weather Championships Finals at Newcastle.
Among those winners are the notable performances of Jonquil, who won the Greenham Stakes (G3), Divina Grace being successful in the Finest Surprise Stakes (G3), and Almeric winning the Feilden Stakes.
