John Singleton-bred stallion alive as negotiators work to secure release after Libya terror raid

Negotiators are trying to secure the release of a prized stallion bred by John Singleton and a dozen blueblood thoroughbreds being held captive by terrorists following a deadly armed raid.

John Singleton’s former blueblood racehorse Churchill Downs is alive but still being held captive by terrorists after being stolen in a bloody raid in Libya at the weekend.

Grave concerns were held for the life of the $950,000 sale-topping yearling and Golden Slipper placegetter after he, along with almost 20 other horses, were taken at gunpoint from Libya’s premier thoroughbred farm, Al Shaab Stud, during a deadly 14-hour ordeal on Saturday evening.

Negotiators have been trying to secure the freedom of the horses, some of whom were exported from Australia to the Middle East to boost Libya’s fledgling breeding stocks.

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Churchill Downs was born and bred in Australia before being sent to Libya in 2012.

Al Shaab founder, Dr Amad Ashaab, confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that the son of Danehill had been so far been spared.

“The horses are still alive,’’ he wrote in an email.

Lizzie Jelfs during her days as a stable manager back in 2009.

“There are figures from Tarhuna City that (are trying to) persuade the militia to return the horses. They placed the horses in an abandoned human clinic in the Abana district, Tarhuna.”

Churchill Downs, along with a handful of other Australian-bred stallions, had been caught up in an increasingly bloody civil conflict in Libya for months before being stolen.

Churchill Downs’ former stable manager, Lizzie Jelfs, said she was heartbroken when she learnt of her former charge’s predicament.

“I am so glad to hear that he is alive,’’ Jelfs, who is now a Sky Channel form expert, said from the Gold Coast Magic Millions sale.

“He was one of those horses that was such a beautiful animal and he stayed in my mind even from 20 years ago. He was an incredibly gentle horse.

“He obviously didn’t make it as a stallion in Australia but that’s no reason for him to be treated badly where he is now.

“If I could so anything to ensure that he was safe, I would do it, but we are not dealing with people who love horses as much as we do.’’

The Tripoli-based government of Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj has faced an offensive by the rival regime in the east and forces loyal to commander General Khalifa Hafter.

“They are killing people and dumping their bodies in the street across from the stable (where the horses were taken),’’ Dr Ashaab said.

“There are more than 30 horses stuck (at the farm) and the gunmen are taking the streets. Four bodies (were found) the day after the break-in.’’

Dr Ashaab praised the courage of Nigerian workers who he said were sneaking in food and water to the remaining horses at Al Shaab.

John Singleton (right) with Gerry Harvey at Royal Randwick. Picture: Chris Pavlich

Churchill Downs, who finished third to Miss Finland in the 2006 Golden Slipper, is among six stallions and 12 in-foal mares being held captive.

Churchill Downs was sent to Libya in 2012, having previously stood at stud in Victoria.

Five other stallions were also stolen from Al Shaab Stud including Brut Force, a son of 1999 Melbourne Cup runner-up Champagne, Backdraft, the former Gai Waterhouse-trained son of Testa Rossa, and Eavesdropper, who stood at Emirates Park Stud in the upper Hunter Valley.

“At six o’clock (Saturday), an armed group came from the Tarhuna city militia loyal to Haftar,’’ Al Shaab Stud owner Dr Amad Ashaab told The Daily Telegraph.

“They broke into the stable and stole all the veterinary devices, furniture, offices, generator, jars and water pumps.

Former Gai Waterhouse racehorse Backdraft was also kidnapped.

“They stole the 12 in-foal mares that are about to give birth this January and February. Then they entered the stallion of stallions and stole 6 stallions: Churchill Downs, Brut Force, Backdraft, Eavesdropper, Raise A Grand and Metternich.”

Dr Ashaab founded Al Shaab Stud and has been the driving force behind efforts to build and maintain a thriving thoroughbred industry in Libya.

He regularly attended sales on the Gold Coast to acquire horses to take back to his farm near Tripoli.

He has pleaded for international help to rescue the prized thoroughbreds.

“They shot two horses and were wounded in the hind legs so that no one could provide the ambulance to help the horse with euthanasia,” Dr Ashaab said.

“We appeal to all humanitarian organisations and all horse organisations to save the horses of Libya.”

Churchill Downs with David Hayes’ former stable forewoman Lizzie Jelfs.

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Singleton sold Churchill Downs at the 2005 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast fetching top price of $950,000.

Trained by David Hayes, Churchill Downs finished second in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and third in the Golden Slipper with Darren Beadman in the saddle.

Churchill Downs’ kidnapping has evoked memories of British champion Shergar, who was believed to have been kidnapped by the IRA in 1983.

His owner, the Aga Khan’s stud farm in Ireland, was sent a 2 million pound ransom demand but, after four days of negotiations, talks abruptly ended and the horse was never seen again.

Shergar’s body was never found.

Originally published as John Singleton-bred stallion alive as negotiators work to secure release after Libya terror raid