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The leading owner/breeder has passed away at the age of 75, as reported by the Post:
So soon after Khalid Abdullah passed, another of the biggest investors in world racing dies, and just before the Dubai World Cup Festival.
His contribution to racing will probably be overlooked by the wider media since the Latifa story, but it shouldn’t be denigrated.
Will Shadwell and Derrinstown aim to continue operations, as Juddmonte seems to be intending to?Neither of the above two were involved in the Latifa story, that was purely down to the Godolphin namely Sheikh Mohammad, the ruler of Dubai. Sheikh Mohamad was his older brother.
sheikh Hamdan was one of the great owners of our sport and supported British trainers. He will be sadly missed. Condolences to his family and to all those at Shadwell Stud.
R.I.P
All comers, all ground, all beaten
This is very sad news. Always followed his horses from Al Bahathri in the mid eighties through to Elarqam more recently. I can’t really explain why, I liked his colours and even found the indecipherable Arabic names quite alluring in a funny sort of way.
What was the best horse he owned, Nashwan, Dayjur maybe?
I know that of course C50. I was just hoping Hamdan’s passing doesn’t get linked by the media to the Latifa affair, by his close association with his brother Sheikh Mohammed (who I think is actually younger not older).
Anyway, fond memories of all the great horses to run in his colours. Aside from the obvious Nashwan and Dayjur, I always had a soft spot for Elmaamul. Gave me a nice payday in the 1990 Eclipse…Good call MoodyMan re Elmaamul – I have similar positive memories of Zaahi when he bolted up in the Diomed stakes on Derby Day in 1993 (might have been 1992) – supposedly as they pulled up afterwards Pat Eddery on whatever had been a distant second said to winning rider Richard Hills “that horse should be in the next race”. Also Ajfan sneaking into the frame at massive odds in the 1000 Guineas around the same time.
The more I think about it the more the memories are coming back. Willie Carson in trademark head down punching away style on Salsabil, Shadayid always on the verge of boiling over, under rated Marju, Nashwan’s siblings (in approximate order of merit) Unfuwain, Alwasmi, Mukaddamah.
Wonder what his highly rated horse was officially. Dayjur perhaps.
I was always curious as to why Sakhee got ‘moved’ to Godolphin.
BUY THE SUN
Wonder what his highly rated horse was officially. Dayjur perhaps.
I was always curious as to why Sakhee got ‘moved’ to Godolphin.
Wasn’t that in the infancy of Goldolphin so possibly done in order to have an already proven G1 performer to launch the operation with a bang. That’s just my speculation rather than anything factual.
I don’t know about officially highest rated but Dayjur’s Nunthorpe win remains the fastest horse I’ve seen in the flesh. I think he had a couple of two year olds pick up Group races at that Ebor meeting too (Mujadil for Robert Armstrong perhaps or maybe Mujtahid – one of them must have won the Gimcrack).
On Timeform ratings:-
Dayjur 137
Battaash and Sakhee both 136
Nashwan and Intikhab both 135Not too sure about Intikhab’s rating myself. Handy enough horse, but never won a G1 race – Queen Anne was a G2 when he won it.
Always thought he was the unsung hero from the Al Maktoum family.When Godolphin was invented he seemed to prefer having his own string running in his own colours.Also like Prince Khalid Abdullah he build up a fine breeding & bloodstock operation.Their input will be sadly missed not only on the UK racing scene but worldwide having had such a profound impact over the years.
Condolences to his family & friends.Sad news indeed, some of the great horses of my racing life raced in those colours. I remember lumping on Unfuwain ante-post for the 1988 Derby and thinking I wasn’t going to get stung agian the following year with his half brother.
I saw a nice piece by someone from Dick Hern’s who said that, even though he hadn’t seen them since the Autumn sales the preceding year, when he visited the yard in the spring to see them in training Sheik Hamdam would know and remember each horse without a prompt. he seemed to have a very genuine love for his horses, not always the case with these rich guys.
David (Cormack15)Pretty amusing that anyone could wax lyrical about Hamdan whilst criticising Godolpihn.
BUY THE SUN
Very sad to hear of the passing of Sheikh Hamdan. He was a great owner breeder and enthusiastic follower of the sport.
Elarqam was always one of my favourites and also Bataash & Muhaarar who is currently standing at Shadwell Stud and it was the filly Ghanaati who provided me with my biggest priced 1000 Guineas winner in 2009. So many memories as I remember following the Barry Hills trained Haafhd throught his career whose dam Al Bahahthri was amongst Sheikh Hamdan’s most loved and successful racehorses.
There will certainly be an air of sadness at the Dubai World Cup meeting this Saturday.
Jac
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...
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