European stakes winner Saqqara Sands joins Callaghan's barn

ARCADIA, Calif. – Saqqara Sands, the winner of two sprint stakes in Britain last summer, joined trainer Simon Callaghan’s stable at Santa Anita earlier this week.

A 4-year-old British-bred filly, Saqqara Sands was listed as sold for approximately $2.2 million at the Tattersalls horses in training sale in Britain last month. She will race for Michael Tabor, Callaghan said on Thursday.

Saqqara Sands won 3 of 8 starts for trainer Ralph Beckett in 2024 and 2025. Last summer, Saqqara Sands won the minor Eternal Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 3/4 lengths at Carlisle in June, and the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes at seven furlongs at Goodwood in July.

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By Oasis Dream, Saqqara Sands was later second against males in the Group 2 Celebration Mile against males at Goodwood in August, but last of nine in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile in October in her last start of the year.

Dhitjari, who placed in two group-level stakes in Germany in 2024 and 2025, arrived in California in late 2025 and is now trained by John Sadler for Hronis Racing. Dhitjari worked two furlongs in 25.40 seconds on Jan. 3.

A 4-year-old, Dhitjari was third in the Group 2 German 2000 Guineas at Cologne last May, his best result in five starts in stakes last year.

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