Dubai: Long-serving Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour has saluted the strength and commitment of his team after saddling the stable’s landmark 200th Group One winner when Hunter’s Light won Round Three of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan on Super Saturday.
The Emirati handler, who joined the stable in 1995 and has since gained legendary status, waxed lyrical about the partnership he has forged with Racing Manager Simon Crisford and the rest of his stable staff at Godolphin’s Al Quoz Stables in Dubai and at the historic Godolphin Stables in Newmarket, England.
Godolphin was established in 1992 with only a handful of horses by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
“Reaching 200 Group One wins is a very significant landmark. It’s a great achievement and everyone who works for Godolphin should be very proud,” he said on Sunday.
“I have been lucky to have been involved with some fantastic horse for Godolphin over the past 19 years and I hope that there are a few more special days to come in the future.
“It has been an amazing journey for me, with so many unforgettable moments that it’s hard to pick out any one of them.
“But, having said that, I would say winning the 2000 Dubai World Cup with Dubai Millennium was a highlight of my career. He was such a good-looking horse and so professional in everything that he did.”
Bin Surour also named Daylami, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park in 1999, and Lammtarra, who won the Epsom Derby in 1995, as extra special, together with Fantastic Light and Swain.
“Daylami gave us our first success at the Breeders’ Cup meeting and it was a very important victory for Godolphin,” he said.
“It’s very hard to find a horse who has won the Derby, the King George and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the same year (1995), but Lammtarra was exceptional.
“Ascot is one of my favourite racecourses and Swain winning the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 1998 was also very special.”
Bin Surour also pointed out that his efforts combined with Crisford’s to help chart the way forward for Godolphin to achieve such unprecedented global successes.
Crisford praised everyone who works for Godolphin. “It has been a tremendous team effort over the years and all credit to everyone at Godolphin,” he said.
“They have worked tirelessly to produce such great results for the company. Well done to everybody and thank you — we look forward to the next 100.”
Meanwhile, Mahmoud Al Zarouni, who joined Godolphin in 2010 after assisting Bin Surour, said: “I [have] played a small part in Godolphin reaching 200 Group One winners. I am very proud to be one of the Godolphin team and 200 Group One winners is amazing, unbelievable.
“I think His Highness, Shaikh Mohammad, who built this team, deserves praise for really supporting the horse business around the world. And people such as Simon [Crisford] and Saeed [Bin Surour] have been involved with Godolphin for many years, and I have to mention Frankie Dettori too for his contribution.”
