‘Phenomenal’ millionaire owner poaches ‘very exciting’ Aidan O’Brien horse

AIDAN O’BRIEN has waved goodbye to a hugely promising recent Listed winner after an owner with ‘phenomenal success’ swooped in for a deal.

Capulet benefited from a lovely Ryan Moore ride to claim the Dee Stakes at Chester last month.

Victory was worth a shade over £56,000 to owners of this three-year-old son of Justify.

The Derby immediately came under consideration for Capulet but City Of Troy – another son of Justify – had top billing and duly won.

Still, Capulet’s Chester victory was enough to catch the attention of big Hong Kong-based owner Peter Lau.

It is not known exactly how much Lau has paid Coolmore but the deal was confirmed by Thoroughbred Daily News.

Newmarket-based agent Mark McStay brokered the deal and he said: “Capulet is a very exciting horse going forward.

“His performances to date have been very impressive, particularly last time out at Chester.

“The owner Mr Lau, Eric and I had been following him closely and are delighted to have secured him from Coolmore.

“Justify as a sire has succeeded at the highest level globally and we are confident that he’ll also make his mark with his runners in Hong Kong.

“Let’s hope Capulet is very lucky for his new owner Mr Lau.

“I believe he is to be trained by Danny Shum.”

Shum already looks after eight-time Group 1-winning machine Romantic Warrior, who has career earnings of over £15million.

Capulet comes from awesome stock and expectations will be high he can excel at anywhere from a mile up to a mile-and-a-half.

He was a half-length second to Diego Velazquez in the Group 2 Champions Juvenile Stakes over a mile last September.

And he stayed on into third in the Royal Lodge later that month over the Newmarket Rowley mile.

By Justify, arguably the most exciting stallion prospect in the world, he is out of a Galileo mare related to former Derby winner Serpentine.

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