Melbourne Cup-winning owner passes away
Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, one of the most prominent and influential figures in international horse racing, has died. He was 75.
Sheikh Hamdan’s famous silks have been a familiar sight on Australian racetracks for decades, most notably through the exploits of champions such as Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m)-winning pair At Talaq (Roberto) and Jeune (Kalaglow), as well as Group 1-winning champions Almaarad (Ela-Mana-Mou) and Zabeel (Sir Tristram).
Sheikh Hamdan, who raced his horses under the Shadwell Stud banner exclusively with the Hayes family in Australia, won the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) on three occasions, first in 1990 with Mahaasin (Biscay) and again in 2006 and 2008, with Nadeem (Redoute’s Choice) and Reaan (Hussonet) respectively, while his final Group 1 win the country came in 2019 when Qafila (Not A Single Doubt) took out the South Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2500m).
Shadwell also enjoyed success with Australian-breds in South Africa, headlined through the exploits of Group 1-winning brothers Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) and Mustaaqeem.
It was announced last month that Shadwell will disband their thoroughbred holdings in Australia, with 12 of their yearlings set to go under the hammer at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale next month, while 38 broodmares and race fillies, as well as 21 weanlings will be offered at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Breeding Stock Sale.
Sheikh Hamdan enjoyed enormous in the northern hemisphere, including a brace of Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f) victories with Nashwan (Blushing Groom) (1989) and Erhaab (Chief’s Crown) (1994) as well as plenty of other Classics such as the Oaks (Gr 1, 1m4f), Irish Derby (Gr 1, 1m4f) and the 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m), 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) and the Irish and French equivalents and an a plethora of other Group 1s in Britain, Ireland and France.
Sheikh Hamdan will be remembered by the champions he raced, such as Taghrooda (Sea The Stars), who landed the Oaks and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 1m4f) in 2014, while he also raced top-class sprinters such Dayjur (Danzig) and Battaash (Dark Angel).
Last season he was provided with a victory in the Sussex Stakes (Gr 1, 1m) courtesy of Mohaather (Showcasing), who now stands at Sheikh Hamdan’s Nunnery Stud in Britain, while he also owned other stud operations; Derrinstown Stud near Maynooth, County Kildare and at Shadwell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.
He was champion Flat owner in Britain nine times (1990, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2020).
Shadwell issued the following statement on their website: “It is with great sadness that Shadwell announces the death of His Highness, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He died peacefully on Wednesday 24th March 2021.
“It is a time to reflect on his achievements and his enormous contribution to the global thoroughbred industry. His legacy will live on through his horses.
“Everyone at Shadwell is so proud to have worked for such a loyal, generous, humble and wise man.”
Meanwhile, his elder brother Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation, tweeted: “Everyone at Godolphin is deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum. A great loss to Dubai and our sport. He was one of the greatest owner breeders of modern times. Our deepest condolences to His Family and all @ShadwellStud.”
Richard Hills was Sheikh Hamdan’s retained rider from 1997 until his retirement in 2012 and continued to work for him under the Shadwell banner as assistant racing manager.
“It’s really sad. We’re all devastated. From 17-years-old, throughout my whole career to now,” he said.
“He was such a great man, he was like a father to me.
“We had some great times. I was in a lucky position. He was my friend, and I was riding his horses, which was his passion. It was joy all the way through.
“Every one of the Classic winners I rode him meant everything to me – four Guineas, an Oaks and a Leger. All of them were special.
“Nayef was great because he was out of Height Of Fashion. He was tough and he won six Group Ones. There was Almutawakel who won the Dubai World Cup.
“I rode 550 winners in Dubai. I don’t think I took a week off for 15 years.
“It was a joy to get up in the morning and ride those horses.”
His long-standing racing manager Angus Gold said Sheikh Hamdan’s passion was the key to his success.
“It’s a very sad day. From my point of view he was an amazing man, and we spoke for the first 25 years nearly every day – whether about horses or just about what was going on in the world,” Gold told Sky Sports Racing.
“He’s been a lot busier recently, so I didn’t bother him quite so much, but he’s been more than a boss.
“To have the sort of success he had you’ve got to have the passion – and he had that in abundance. He absolutely loved the business – particularly the breeding, as everyone knows. A home-bred Classic winner was the highlight for him. That’s why Nashwan was so special and close to his heart, as he always said.
“He was absolutely passionate about the business. He loved going to look at the foals and the yearlings and to see them on the racecourse – I’m sure that’s what kept him going for so long. He was so passionate about it.
“It was a truly global operation – America, Australia and South Africa – and when Dubai opened up he loved having runners and winners there in his homeland, so his influence was very global. We were very lucky he played such a big part in it.
“It was wonderful to talk to a man who was so immersed in the whole thing, the fact he was very busy in his own right in Dubai and obviously a rich and powerful man, yet what he loved was talking about his horses.
“He would often ring me about the smallest thing that you wouldn’t think he had time to notice – but he watched every runner and had very strong opinions.
“It’s too early to talk about what the future will bring. We will wait and see what Sheikh Hamdan’s family want to do, but I think just from the breeding point of view some of the families he has helped develop over the last 40 years will be around for a long time to come.”
