Leading Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby contender Sugar Boy has been sold to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.

The Authorized colt secured a determined victory in the Sandown Classic Trial on his most recent appearance for trainer Patrick Prendergast, notably beating subsequent Epsom Derby second and third Libertarian and Galileo Rock.

He will run for Prendergast in this weekend’s Irish Classic, but will be switched to an unspecified trainer afterwards.

Prendergast said: “He has been sold to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, but we will continue to train him for the Irish Derby.

“That is what we’re focussing on and it would be absolutely great if he can go and win it. He’s in great form.

“He’s been a great servant to us, we’ll be sorry to see him leave, but there will be no long faces as we do sell horses on.”