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Legendary Manchester United supervisor Sir Alex Ferguson was in attendance as his prized horse, Spirit Dancer, stormed to victory and received the Howden Neom Turf Cup on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Ferguson was personally current on the King Abdulaziz racecourse because the horse he bred and co-owns emerged on high and netted him a mega payday price €1.75 million.
The race came about whereas the Scot’s beloved United have been being crushed by Fulham at Outdated Trafford.
Targets by Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi sunk the Purple Devils and handed them their tenth defeat of the marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, it was a day to take pleasure in for Fergie as Spirit Dancer beat the likes of Killer Means and Calif. The horse is educated by Richard Fahey and co-owned by Ferguson, Ged Mason and Peter Carried out.
It is Fergie time in Saudi!! 🇬🇧
SPIRIT DANCER powers dwelling in G2 Howden Neom Turf Cup at #TheSaudiCup.
👏 @RichardFahey @OisinOrr pic.twitter.com/V8y6LFNuIA
— The Saudi Cup (@thesaudicup) February 24, 2024
Spirit Dancer has beforehand earned round £500,000 in winnings from the Group Two Bahrain Worldwide Trophy final 12 months.
Earlier than the occasion, the ex-United supervisor mentioned, “It’s been to Bahrain and did very nicely there and clearly it is a step up in normal, however we’ve bought a extremely good horse and hopefully we are able to do nicely.”
“It’s not had a substantial amount of racing really, for a seven-year-old it’s not had quite a lot of races so we’re at all times pondering it’s actually recent. The hospitality [in Saudi Arabia] has been good, the requirements of all the pieces has been actually high.”
“I didn’t count on it to be so large, I used to be right here 14 years in the past and it was nothing like it’s right now.”
After the race, Ferguson broke into wild celebration alongside his co-owners.
One other Center East celebration for Sir Alex Ferguson as SPIRIT DANCER wins the G2 Neom Turf Cup!!! 💪🏼#SaudiCup pic.twitter.com/3rUI5wcGL9
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) February 24, 2024
The 82-year-old remarked, “We live the dream, 100%. His coach Richard [Fahey] mentioned he would have an opportunity however you may by no means be too assured in a race like this. It was unbelievable.”
“After the triumph in Bahrain and coming to this degree and searching on the subject – the efficiency from Oisin and the horse was unbelievable. Completely unbelievable.”
He added that he was warned the horse had not raced regularly however it was just lately subjected to quite a lot of observe in an try to step up its efficiency ranges.
As soon as once more, Ferguson expressed his delight and immense pleasure with Spirit Dancer’s victory.
