Shadwell founder and Melbourne Cup-winning owner Hamdan Al Maktoum dies
Hamdan Al Maktoum, dual Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winning owner and one of the most prominent and influential figures in international horseracing for more than four decades, has died. He was 75.
The older brother of Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum helped to change the face of the sport across the world through his investment in sponsorship, equine property and bloodstock and racing thousands of horses in his blue silks and white silks.
Sheikh Hamdan enjoyed considerable success with his runners around the globe. He won the Melbourne Cup with At Talaq (Roberto) in 1986 and again with Jeune (Kalaglow) eight years later. Mahaasin (Biscay), Nadeem (Redoute’s Choice), Rewaaya (Singspiel) and Reaan (Hussonet) provided him with four wins in the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
Other Group 1 wins in Australia came courtesy of Zabeel (Sir Tristram), Almaarad (Ela Mana Mou), Istidaad (Chiefs Crown), Azzaam (Chiefs Crown {USA) and Tawqeet (Kingmambo).
His most recent Australian elite-level win came with Qafila (Not A Single Doubt), who landed the 2019 running of the South Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) for trainers David Hayes, Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.
Sheikh Hamdan also enjoyed success with Australian-bred stock in South Africa with the likes of Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice), Mustaaqeem (Redoute’s Choice), Majmu (Redoute’s Choice) and Entisaar (More Than Ready).
An eight-time champion Flat owner in Britain, he won the Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) twice as well as numerous other European Classics, while his horses also picked up such notable races as the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Gr 1, 10f), the Belmont Stakes (Gr 1, 12f) and the Dubai World Cup (Gr 1, 2000m).
While Sheikh Hamdan, who served as deputy ruler of Dubai and UAE minister of finance and industry prior to his death, was a powerful player at the sales spending millions of pounds each year, he was also a major breeder under the banner of his Shadwell Estates operation.
Known for his loyalty to racing professionals, many of whom worked for him for decades, Sheikh Hamdan was a passionate supporter of Arabian racing alongside his love of racing Thoroughbreds.