Bin Surour takes temporary control of Godolphin’s Moulton Paddocks

Dubai: Long-serving handler Saeed Bin Surour has assumed temporary control of Godolphin’s Moulton Paddocks yard in Newmarket, but is in no hurry to saddle any runners from the historic stable.

Bin Surour, who currently trains out of the century-old Godolphin Stables (former Stanley House Stables), was previously based at Moulton Paddocks when it was Godolphin’s principal British base from 1994 to 2004. Outstanding champions that were prepared there included Dubai Millennium, who won four Group One races topped off by the 2000 Dubai World Cup.

The Emirati, who is renowned for his exemplary work ethic and has been a high achiever for Godolphin, takes over from Mahmoud Al Zarouni, who was suspended for eight years by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) for admitting administering banned drugs to 22 horses in his care.

Speaking to Gulf News from Newmarket on Thursday, Bin Surour said: “I know my way around Moulton Paddocks, as I was based there for 15 years. It’s going to be busy shuttling between Godolphin Stables and here, but it will only be temporary until Godolphin appoint a full-time trainer.

“Obviously the first objective will be to ensure that the horses are fit and sound. We don’t intend to rush things and will take our time before finding some races for the horses,” added Bin Surour, who last Saturday won the Group One JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury with Farhh.

However, he refused to be drawn into the Al Zarouni issue and said that he preferred to focus on restoring morale in the Godolphin stable and continuing its success.

“I have nothing more to add to what has happened. My horses are clean and always have been clean,” Bin Surour said. “All I want is to ensure that they are trained to the best of my ability so that they have every chance when they arrive at the racecourse. That has always been my objective.

“We are now focused on putting a team together for Royal Ascot. Obviously Farhh is the horse that we are excited about and the plan is either the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) or the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. But we have not decided yet. We’ll take a decision closer to the event.”

A five-time champion trainer in Britain, Bin Surour has more than 120 boxes at Godolphin Stables that have direct access to the Long Hill and Limekilns gallops on Newmarket heath. The horses also utilise Godolphin’s private Snailwell Gallops, which feature both turf and Tapeta training surfaces.

Prior to Bin Surour, the then-Stanley House Stables was used by John Gosden, who was appointed by Godolphin founder His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It was from there that Gosden saddled Shantou to win the 1996 St. Leger at Doncaster, before being replaced in 2001 by David Loder, who began training Godolphin’s two-year-olds. Following Loder’s retirement in 2003, the yard was renamed Godolphin Stables.