Dubai: Classic Ruler was the perfect horse any owner or trainer would want to have in his yard.
Genuine to the bone and always giving his best. But right from his younger days he had a problem with his stifle — a joint in the hind leg of a horse equivalent to the human knee. It would lock and he would lose his balance in a split second, causing him to sometimes fall over. It was always helter-skelter when he was being shod.
The farrier, Ratan Singh, would have his hands full when shoeing Classic Ruler. On most occasions when he picks up a hind leg to put on a shoe, Classic Ruler would lose balance and the farrier would run for cover!
As the stable's equine dentist I have had many close shaves with Classic Ruler. I would be engrossed in my work, hand in his mouth and before you knew it, he would lose balance and I would be trying my best not to leave my hand in his mouth, take cover and at the same time keep him from falling.
Some 19 years ago, we had only six horses in the yard and two riders. One morning, Classic Ruler and another top colt Sharief Sailor were heading out towards the track. There was no fencing around the race course as we were still in the process of developing the facility. Something spooked the horses and Classic Ruler was heading off in the direction of the Emirates Golf Club and Sharief Sailor towards what is now Al Barsha. The riders had absolutely no control of the horses as they shot off into the sunrise! Dhruba and I gave chase in order to catch Classic Ruler who ended up close to the golf club, minus the rider and with two irons!
On another occasion, Classic Ruler was entered in a five-furlong race in Abu Dhabi. At this stage of racing in the UAE, there was no handicap system and you would ideally pick the lightest rider available. Abdul Sattar was one of the lightest around and weighed about 45kg. We had a horse called Al Yaazi in the same race. Classic Ruler was the true sprinter, head down and out of the gates in a flash. He broke so quick that the jockey was struggling to hold on to him. The horse literally bolted in by five lengths. Sattar, who was so exhausted, almost collapsed when unsaddling.
All I could say is that Classic Ruler has been more of a family member than your average race horse and forever will be part of the UAE racing history.
Karthi Selvaratnam is the equine dentist and clerk of the course at the Jebel Ali Racecourse
