Dubai: Godolphin, the powerful and worldwide stable, are hosting for the fourth consecutive year, a sale of horses that are owned by them, many of which have been bred by Darley, the breeding arm of their operation.
Al Basti Equiworld are once the proud sponsor of the event.
The sale is a great initiative by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and has served well to boost the horse population for the domestic trainers who may otherwise find it difficult to source to such high class horses with exceptional pedigrees.
The conditions of the sale require all purchases to remain in the UAE for at least two years, thereby preventing overseas buyers from farming stock in Dubai to furnish their own countries needs.
There are added bonus incentives to buying at this sale, in the shape of financial rewards when a horse subsequently wins a race.
One most notable recruit from this venue has been Satish Seemar’s North America, bought for just Dhs140.000 and now the winner of five races in Dubai and a serious contender for the Dubai World Cup itself. Positive proof that these are no back numbers being presented to buyers but in fact budding superstars.
This year there are 42 lots catalogued with no less than twelve of them being colts thus providing a huge opportunity to access the the breeding lines of top stallions such as Dubawi, Invincible Spirit, Shamardal, New Approach, Iffraaj and Nathaniel, to name just six.
These colts could always have potential for a stud career when their racing days are elapsed and there is always a need for new stallions in Asia where the standard of breeding and racing continues to rise.
For anyone wishing to become involved in ownership of a racehorse being present at the sale or speaking to one of the ERA trainers is an excellent way to start. All buyers are required to Register beforehand via the Emirates Racing Authority.
— The author is a former trainer and monther of leading jockeys, James and Sophie, Doyle.
