Dubai: The image of horseracing in India may be transformed forever following an extraordinary gesture by one of the sport's biggest patrons.
So impressed was His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with Indian champion Mystical's two wins in Dubai that he made the horse's connections a generous offer of covering a mare at any Darley Stud, free of cost.
Shaikh Mohammad owns Darley Stud, one of the world's leading thoroughbred breeding operations, which is based in the United States, Japan, Australia, and in Europe.
The farm's operational headquarters are at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket.
As of 2007, they have fifty-two stallions standing at stud in seven countries.
Indian Hall of Fame Award winner Zavaray Poonawalla, who bred and owns Mystical, was overwhelmed by Shaikh Mohammad's gesture and said: "The offer came to me as a very pleasant surprise. We have for long been in awe of His Highness, particularly as he has done so much to improve the standard of horse racing across the world, so to have received such a generous offer is very flattering. We are absolutely overjoyed and honoured."
Promise to pay back
Poonawalla, who heads Poonawalla Stud Farms, the leading Stud Farm in the India and the winner of several awards, said he would like to repay Shaikh Mohammad for his generosity.
"I will select our very best mare to be consigned to a Darley stallion and in appreciation for Shaikh Mohammad's benevolence, I promise to name the foal after Dubai," he said. "It's my way of saying 'thank you'.
"Shaikh Mohammad has for long encouraged us to come and compete in Dubai and to be able to make racing history in his presence added to the aura of Mystical's great victories.
Poonawalla, who disrupted a busy schedule back home in India, to attend the Dubai International Racing Carnival with his entire family, said: "This is just amazing. I have won nine Indian Derbies, and lost a lot more, but this means more than anything else.
"We have worked so hard to expose Indian horses to international competition, and now it's finally happened. This is a victory for the Indian breeding and racing industry.
Mystical became the first Indian-trainer winner to score overseas when setting Nad Al Sheba alight on February 15, and he repeated the feat with a thundering performance in the Maserati Plate under Ryan Moore last week.
Darley facts
Darley Stud is a thoroughbred breeding operation whose headquarters are at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, England.
They have 52 stallions standing at stud in seven countries.
Darley breeds horses in the US, Japan, Australia and Europe.
Among their leading stallions are Bernardini, Dubawi, Grandera, Halling, Singspiel, Street Cry, Sulamani, Quiet American and Fantastic Light.
Factfile
Established in 1946 Poonawalla Stud Farm is the leading stud farm in India. It has won six 'Champion Breeders' Awards.
Among its many achievements the farm has bred 281 Classic winners including winners of 8 Indian Derbies. The Poonawallas have also won 59 Indian Classics.
They have scored landmark international wins with Astonish in Hong Kong, Adler in Kentucky and Simply Noble in Malaysia.
