ABDUL BASHIR (49)

Groom to SATANK, winner of the first-ever Golden Shaheen in 1993

Abdul Bashir is a first generation horse-lover. As a teenager, he travelled around India looking for employment. And every time he moved, Bashir landed a horse-related job.

His first stop was in Hyderabad, and then onto Bengaluru and finally in Mumbai, from where he was offered a position at the Jebel Ali Stables when they were launched in 1990. “I fell in love with horses. No one from my family has anything to do with horses till today,” the 49-year-old from Bhadravati, some 250km from Bengaluru, told Gulf News.

Over the years, Bashir grew in confidence in his trade and soon he was a proud winner when Satank became the first-ever champion at the Gold Shaheen in 1993 (first run in December 1993 as the Nad Al Sheba Sprint). “Satank was a boxer. He was always ready for battle. And as his groom it was my responsibility to rein him in and keep him always prepared for the big race. And he didn’t disappoint when he came out a winner in the Golden Shaheen,” Bashir recalled.

Since then, Bashir has gone on to win the best groom award at least eight times, of which seven came at his favoured home turf at Jebel Ali. “The fans love the work we do and my bosses appreciate our contribution in making Jebel Ali Stables known the world over. That alone is my satisfaction and pride. All my life I’ve known only horses and they give me so much joy and satisfaction. They are so much like humans, perhaps even better,” he added.

SUTEAIAH SELVARATNAM (55)

Groom for RAMP AND RAVE (winner of 1999 Golden Shaheen)

Hailing from the scenic Nuwara Eliya of Sri Lanka, Suteaiah and his family have been associated with horse racing over the past few generations. His father used to be a jockey for Dhruba Selvaratnam’s dad back home in the mid-1950s. In 1992, Suteaiah got an offer from Dhruba to come and be part of the Jebel Ali Stables and he took his chance of growing in his trade. After a few years and learning the ropes here, Suteaiah went on to saddle Ramp And Rave, the winner of the Dubai Golden Shaheen in 1999. Later he returned to Sri Lanka. But the lure of Dubai couldn’t keep Suteaiah back for long and he returned to join Jebel Ali in 2008. By then, he had introduced his only son as a trainer. “I feel the groom awards are a due recognition for all the hard work that we put in behind the scene,” Suteaiah said. “It is always not easy to fully know what sort of horse you have. But over a period of time we come to know the actual character of the animal. We are the heart and soul of what happens in a stable, right from the basics to even being a work rider at times. All this is good as I have grown myself in the profession,” he confessed. His son, meanwhile, is a three-time champion trainer at Nuwara Eliya’s Town Hall and Racecourse Ground and this has given Suteaiah great joy. “Hard work always pays. Maybe one day my son will find a good horse and travel with him here to win a race on Dubai World Cup night,” he said.

MANOHAR SINGH (35)

Groom for MORAWIJ

Singh has been a groom at Dhruba Selvaratnam’s Jebel Ali Stables for the past eight years. The 35-year-old from Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India, has not won any competition for the past two years. This has only goaded him to try even harder. Two years ago Singh was given charge of Morawij, one of Selvaratnam’s winners on Super Saturday recently. “I just couldn’t hide my joy when I was given the best groom award. It’s a fine way to appreciate all the hard work we put in to keep the horses primed and ready for the races,” Singh said.

Morawij has run thrice in Jebel Ali and once at Meydan this season. After a fourth place in the opening race, the Selvaratnam-trained horse finished second in his second race. But he came back strong for a top spot in his third race. “But his first place on Super Saturday shows that he is best prepped for Dubai World Cup night,” Singh said. “However, my dream would be to ensure Morawij wins on DWC night and I get the award as well. That would be a true double celebration for me,” Singh added.

PHOJU SINGH (35)

Assistant groom for REYNALDOTHEWIZARD

In his eight years at Zabeel Stables, Phoju Singh has been among the best groom winners’ bracket quite a few times. In 2017, the 35-year-old, who has spent most of his life serving in the Usha State Stables in New Delhi, India, will be present on World Cup night to lend his expertise with the horses.

He has already won the best groom award thrice this season — with Securities, Elliptique and Zambucca. The normal prize money for grooms is Dh500, while on Carnival race days it goes up to Dh650.

“The actual design marking on the horse takes perhaps just 30 minutes, and that is done just before the race,” Singh said.

“As grooms we appreciate that the organisers keep recognising all the hard work we put in as grooms behind the scenes. The horses are on television and seen all around the world. And when this happens it gives us great joy. Perhaps, it would be nice to see an increase in the amount of prize money that the groom receives after each race. For the past so many years this has remained constant, and it would be an added motivation for all of our clan to put in that extra effort for the prize,” he added.

Satwa Story is among the champions that have passed under the watchful eye of the experienced Singh. “For me Satwa Story will always be special,” Singh said.

“He is one of the few horses with whom I have really bonded. There are a few of them that come close, but Satwa Story will remain special,” he added.

RANU SINGH (36)

Groom for REYNALDOTHEWIZARD

For Ranu Singh, getting a horse ready for a run on World Cup night commences from the start of that season. Reynaldothewizard will be under Singh’s charge as he attempts a crack in the Golden Shaheen sponsored by Gulf News. “Getting a horse primed and ready is a full process. There can no half-measures. For instance, we began getting Reynaldothewizard ready from the start of the season. It’s like a climax and then in a couple of minutes it is all over,” Singh told Gulf News.

His daily routine for the horse starts at 7am with a work rider taking the horse for a work-out, normally lasting 40 minutes or thereabout. “After that he is mine for a walk to limber down followed by a massage,” Singh added.

The horse and rider undergo this routine twice a day. “I love spending as much time as possible with him,” he said.

“Horses are no less than humans. They love to be pampered and they love it when humans give them attention. They are so much like humans. The only thing is that they cannot speak,” Singh added.

He has already won the best groom award once with Mr Farmer at Meydan this season. And given his bond with Reynaldothewizard, the Jodhpur-born Singh is hopeful of a double celebration on World Cup night this year. “My priority is the horse winning. If he wins, everyone will be happy — the boss [Seemar], the other people at the stables. And if I can win the best groom for a second time this season, that would be like an added bonus,” he confessed.