Flintshire to be based with Chad Brown

The Juddmonte Farms-owned Grade 1 winner Flintshire, trained in Europe by Andre Fabre, will be based in North America this year with trainer Chad Brown.

Brown said that Flintshire, a 6-year-old son of Dansili, was expected to arrive at his Belmont Park barn on Saturday after being released from quarantine.

“We’re obviously excited and honored that Prince Khalid Abdullah chose us to train this talented horse,” said Brown, referring to the head of Juddmonte Farms. “Obviously, Andre Fabre did a fantastic job with the horse. Our goal is just to keep him where he’s at and continue to do the same job that Mr. Fabre’s done with the horse. Hopefully, he can have a successful campaign over here this year.”

Flintshire has had success in the United States, having won the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga last year and finished second to Main Sequence in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita, the site of this year’s Breeders Cup in November. Teddy Grimthorpe, Juddmonte’s racing manager, said that success is one reason Flintshire was sent here.

“The reasoning was mainly that he enjoys a fast pace and fast tracks, so he could have some interesting opportunities,” Grimthorpe said by e-mail. “Prince Khalid wanted to strengthen his U.S. stable, so he fits that profile. The Sword Dancer proved he is suited to U.S. conditions, so that is encouraging.”

Among Flintshire’s top performances overseas are a win in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase in 2014 and a second in the Group 1 Arc de Triomphe last year. He most recently finished second in the 2015 Hong Kong Vase on Dec. 13.
– additional reporting by Steve Andersen