Owner Sheikh Hamdan dies aged 75 in latest blow to racing
Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, whose blue colours with white epaulettes were carried to success by an array of champions including Dayjur, Nashwan, Salsabil and Battaash, has died aged 75.
It is another massive blow to the sport as he is the third major investor in British Flat racing to die in as many months, following David Thompson of Cheveley Park Stud and Khalid Abdullah.
In many ways, pound for pound, Sheikh Hamdan was more successful, with smaller numbers, than his younger brother, Sheikh Mohammed, and went about it in a quieter fashion. He was champion owner nine times, most recently in 2020.
His style was to either breed his own – as he did with Nashwan – or buy yearlings, rather than offer big money for ready-made horses. If the yearlings turned out to be no good, he would go back in and buy more the following year.
From winning his first Classic, the St Leger, with the Tom Jonestrained Touching Wood in 1982, he won the Derby with Nashwan (1989) and Erhaab (1994), the Melbourne Cup with At Talaq (1986) and Jeune (1994) and Breeders’ Cup Classic with Invasor (2006) before Sheikh
Mohammed ever got a sniff of success in those races.
He had 320 horses in training in Britain, 35 in Ireland and 50 in France, although plans are already being made to reduce numbers.
He owned Shadwell Stud near Thetford, Beech House Stud in Newmarket, Derrinstown in Ireland
and Shadwell Farm in Kentucky. His Australian operation was already being wound down and sold.
It is unclear if there is a succession or whether, as with a third brother, Sheikh Maktoum, the studs and yards will be wound down and sold or consumed into Godolphin.
Sheikh Hamdan was one of the most loyal men in racing, employing only four jockeys – Willie Carson, Richard Hills, Paul Hanagan and Jim Crowley – in 35 years.
“I think if you had asked Sheikh Hamdan, he’d have said Nashwan was his best horse,” said Angus Gold, his long-time racing manager. “I always thought Dayjur was a oneoff and I think Mohaather was right up there – he didn’t get all the breaks but he was top class and what he did at Goodwood was rare.
“He was extremely loyal and his enthusiasm for it was extraordinary. He was a very busy man in his professional life as minister of finance and helping run Dubai, but racing was his switch-off mode.”
Trainer Marcus Tregoning recalled having to pick up Sheikh Hamdan from his helicopter in his battered old Land Rover that would not start. “He sat next to me, looking a bit startled, then said, ‘Shall I get out and push?’”