Godolphin programmes get Buick, Doyle backing
dubai — Godolphin jockeys William Buick and James Doyle felt that Masar Godolphin and Godolphin Flying Start were two great initiatives to educate people about all aspects of horse racing and said that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has been the driving force and elevated the sport.
Masar Godolphin and Godolphin Flying Start are two initiatives that are part of Godolphin’s Charitable Programmes which provides people a unique opportunity to experience the world of horse racing and a pathway into the industry.
Masar Godolphin, an academic and experiential training programme, is exclusively for Emiratis and announced its second batch, consisting of nine candidates — Mohammed Mardood, Ali Al Jaffal, Kholoud Alhosani, Abdulaziz Al Noori, Alia Alobeidli, Lamya Masoud Noori Al-Ali, Noor Alfalasi, Sultan Al Suboosi and Fatima Al Badi, earlier this month.
The inaugural batch, which had eight trainees — Amna Banihashem, Hussain Al Marzooqi, Hasna Ali, Muna Al Mazrouei, Sultan Al Ameri, Ayesha Al Fugaee, Abdulaziz Al Suwaidi and Ibrahim Aqil, had graduated last October.
The trainees, between the ages of 20 to 30, were selected from thousands of applicants last year, and underwent training in Dubai, Newmarket (England) and Kildare (Ireland) over a nine-month period.
The induction phase began in Dubai before moving to the United Kingdom for formal study and riding lessons at The British Racing School. The trainees were embedded in Godolphin’s massive UK operation, where they experienced an insight into the best practices in the breeding and training of thoroughbred horses.
“It has been quite a sheltered sport, really, a bit of an expertise. Now, it has really opened up and I think Masar Godolphin is a great initiative. His Highness is setting a huge emphasis on youth and young people, community, government, and horse racing, alike,” Buick said at a youth engagement session titled ‘An Insight to Godolphin,’ at the Youth Hub — The Platform, on Wednesday.
A number of Emirati women threw some queries their way and Buick said they were interesting questions.
“I thought they were very good questions. It is easy for us because we know horse racing and it is easy for us to take it for granted. But you have to remember these people, they don’t have half the experience we have so, I thought they were very interesting questions and they are going to have a very bright future within the game because they have the determination and the dedication for it,” added the 29-year-old, who won the Dubai World Cup onboard Prince Bishop in 2015.
Meanwhile, Doyle said: “I think it is fantastic. His Highness has a massive vision for horse racing and we are very lucky to have someone like him as a huge driving force behind horse racing and pushing it to greater heights.
They are two great programmes — the Flying Start has had plenty of successful people who have come from this programme. Obviously, it is the second year of the Masar Godolphin and it gives the locals a chance to get into the sport that His Highness loves. So, it is great to be working for Godolphin and great to be a part of Sheikh Mohammed’s vision and the driving force behind horse racing.”
james@khaleejtimes.com