Racing ahead

When the Godolphin racing stable was launched in 1992, few could have imagined the impact it would have on the world of horse racing and how it would revolutionise the sport. Godolphin is a remarkable initiative of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, whose fundamental goal was the global pursuit of excellence.
Shaikh Mohammad’s vision was to establish a private racing stable under the banner of the Maktoum family that would see horses trained in Dubai during the winter and England during the summer, competing at all major races around the world.
Within a few years horses ridden by jockeys in the stable’s trademark royal blue silks were making their presence felt at some of Europe’s major racecourses such as Epsom in England, The Curragh in Ireland, Longchamp in France, Capannelle in Italy, Cologne in Germany and Nad Al Sheba in the UAE.
For horse racing in the nation to go global, it was important that trainers share Godolphin’s perspective of leaving home base and travelling abroad to compete for big prizes. Many trainers picked up the gauntlet and the positive effect that this progression led to, forever transformed the horse racing landscape. Major international racing events such as the Breeders’ Cup, Melbourne Cup, Prix de la Arc de Triomphe and Japan Cup dispelled long-held prejudices and became truly international competitions.

Godolphin at the forefront
Horses were transported from the autumn cold of Europe and the US to the team’s home base at Al Quoz Stable for the duration of the winter months. Here they would continue their micro-managed preparation for an assault on some of the world’s biggest races — the Epsom Derby in England, the Irish Derby at the Curragh, the Derby Italiano at Capannelle, the Deutsches Derby in Hamburg, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot, the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, the Juddmonte International Stakes at York, the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly and other celebrated races in the US, Asia and Australia.
The stable’s star horses also travel to compete in premier Asian races in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore, while the major Australian autumn carnivals often witness Godolphin contenders in action.
At last count, Godolphin had won more than 180 Grade or Group One races in 14 different countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, Turkey, the UAE, the UK and the US. No small feat considering the stable was set up only 19 years earlier and with just a handful of horses.
Since then the numbers have increased by a staggering scale — from the time of its inception Godolphin has sent out close to 1,500 horses to run in more than 6,400 races. Its principal trainer Saeed Bin Surour has won more than 1,500 races while Mahmoud Al Zarouni, who joined the stable in 2010, has won more than 140 races.
Saeed Bin Surour oversees the string at Godolphin Stables in Newmarket, England, while Mahmoud Al Zarouni’s summer base is at nearby Moulton Paddocks. In France, 19-time French champion trainer Andre Fabre prepares runners from his Chantilly yard, while the American contingent is based predominantly at Belmont Park, New York, under Saeed Bin Surour’s control.
Frankie Dettori remains Godolphin’s retained jockey, but the stable has also used the services of more than 225 jockeys worldwide. Godolphin has won the world’s richest race, the Group One $10-million (about Dh36.78 million) Dubai World Cup, on five occasions with Almutawakel (1999), Dubai Millennium (2000), Street Cry (2002), Moon Ballad (2003) and Electrocutionist (2006).
Godolphin’s illustrious stars are Balanchine, Lammtarra, Daylami, Swain, Halling, Kayf Tara, Fantastic Light, Marienbard, Sakhee, Street Cry, Shamardal, Kazzia, Dubawi, Blue Bunting and the great Dubai Millennium.

A trend is born
With its enormous achievements, Godolphin became a purveyor of global racing. It had paved a good way for other stables to follow suit. A universal trend was born and ensured a healthy departure from conventional traditions where trainers had opted against sending their equine stars abroad.
Godolphin was also notable for doing the spade work for other smaller outfits who became followers of the travelling lifestyle of its principal horses, trainers and jockeys. Godolphin wasn’t just a stable with global aspirations, it was a gateway to the future.
It is almost two decades since Godolphin was set up and in the intervening years the stable has been witness to dramatic changes in the flat racing landscape. This has to do with the fact that more and more trainers are becoming increasingly comfortable with the idea of taking their horses to foreign countries to compete. They have discovered an appetite for compelling challenges and have grown used to the idea of leaving the comfort zones of their home stables to venture out.
While many of those have rushed to respond to the challenge laid down by Godolphin’s iconic strategy, not all have been successful, but to many it remains the way to go.
Godolphin also encapsulates everything that epitomises Dubai and its rapid growth to becoming a thriving metropolis — a city with a typically ethnic feel that is backed by a pioneering international outlook in trade and tourism. Both Godolphin and Dubai can owe their success to Shaikh Mohammad’s unique vision and passion.