Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, the breeder of Dubawi and proprietor of star performers together with 1998 Epsom Derby (G1) winner Excessive-Rise, in addition to Postponed and Rosallion , died Dec. 29.
A cousin of Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai and founding father of Godolphin, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s dying was confirmed to administrators at Darley in a Dec. 29 observe.
An proprietor in Nice Britain since 1992, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid loved notable success each in Europe and internationally, together with with Excessive-Rise within the 1998 Derby, whereas the excellence of his broodmares got here to the fore lately.
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid was at occasions outspoken throughout his time in racing and was ready to finish relationships with trainers; nonetheless, he supported a variety of handlers and was a backer of yards based mostly in northern Britain, together with these of Karl Burke and Kevin Ryan, in current seasons.
Ryan landed group 1s for the proprietor with Triple Time, Inisherin, Fonteyn, and Emaraaty Ana, whereas Burke offered him together with his final main success earlier than his dying when Royal Champion landed the Bahrain Worldwide Trophy (G3) final month.Join BloodHorse Each day
The proprietor’s star performer up to now three years was Rosallion, the group 1-winning juvenile who landed final yr’s Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and St James’s Palace Stakes (G1) earlier than operating shut in a string of group 1s this yr. Rosallion was certainly one of a number of gifted horses bred lately by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, together with Bow Echo, this yr’s Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) winner, who’s the second favourite for the Two Thousand Guineas (G1); and With no Battle, the 2023 Melbourne Cup (G1) winner.
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s exploits as a breeder stretch again to Dubawi, who was bred from his mare Zomaradah, the 1998 Italian Oaks (G1) winner who raced in North America the place she captured the 1998 E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) and completed third within the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T). From the lone crop of Dubai Millennium, Dubawi went on to be a classic-winning racehorse and a champion sire for Darley.
Zomaradah, like lots of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s early stars, was skilled by Luca Cumani. The proprietor and coach teamed as much as win the 1998 Derby with Excessive-Rise and later gained the 2015 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) with Postponed.
Nonetheless, later that yr, Postponed was moved to Roger Varian after the proprietor reduce ties with Cumani. Explaining his resolution in 2016, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid mentioned: “After I inform a coach one thing, he has to hearken to me, not do his personal factor. I’m army. If I give any person an order, he has to take my order. I am not going to hearken to a coach to offer me an order what to do, that is my closing factor.”
After switching his horses to Varian, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s colours had been additionally carried to group/grade 1 wins by Defoe, Sheikha Reika, Ajman Princess, and Zabeel Prince, in addition to additional strikes for Postponed within the Sheema Traditional (G1T), Coronation Cup (G1), and Juddmonte Worldwide (G1). The proprietor was in a position to indulge his ardour for racing to a higher extent because of the monetary rewards of Dubawi’s success at stud.
Varian, who despatched out 198 winners for the proprietor, stopped coaching for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid final yr, by which level the likes of Richard Hannon, George Boughey, Simon and Ed Crisford, and others had been supported, with all having fun with success for the proprietor in his acquainted yellow silks with black spots.
In complete, 14 trainers had been utilized by the proprietor in Britain earlier than his dying; with 2024 and 2025 his most profitable seasons by way of prize-money gained, with £2.66 million banked final yr and £2.05m gained this yr.
