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When a yearling filly by Realm passed through the Newmarket sales ring on 15 October 1976, nobody would have guessed her role in introducing to the sport the most significant individual to participate in racing during the 20th century. The youngster, named Hatta, was sold to the Curragh Bloodstock Agency for 6200 Guineas. She later passed into the care of trainer John Dunlop, running in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed. Dunlop was reportedly pleased with his new charge who broke her maiden third time out.
Placed to great effect by her trainer, Hatta ran up a sequence of three successes before she was considered to be sufficiently talented to represent the stable in the five-furlong Molecomb Stakes (Listed) at Goodwood. Matched against the much-touted Amaranda, a 7:2 favourite in the Goodwood event, Hatta was slow into her stride, but came back with a powerful run, taking the lead with 100 yards to go and drawing away to win by two and a half lengths.
It was the first of an ever-growing list of Stakes wins for Sheikh Mohammed, who, with his brothers Sheikh Maktoum, Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Ahmed, has injected new life, excitement and glamour into the world of racing.
The Maktoums & Their Horses traces the involvement of the Dubai-based Maktoum brothers in international racing, recording some of their finest moments with modern-day track greats – horses like Ma Biche, Pebbles, At Talaq, Mtoto, Nashwan, Zilzal, Salsabil, Balanchine, Lammatarra…It looks at their contributions and breeding, their revolutionary “winter in the sun” training regime and the growth of racing in their native UAE, including the launch of the world’s richest race, the Dubai World Cup. |
