First time lucky for Cup owner
AAP November 1, 2011, 7:25 pm
Qatar's Sheikh Fahad al Thani is suitably humble when he is reminded that members of other middle-eastern royal families have been trying to win the Melbourne Cup for a dozen or so years.
But not too humble to claim a piece of the credit for the win of Dunaden who claimed Australia's greatest horse race at his owner's first attempt.
While Dunaden claimed victory in the $6 million race, Modun, who is owned by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum, finished last of the 23 runners.
Since 1998 Sheikh Mohammed has sent 40 horses to Australia in a bid to win the Cup only to come up short on every trip.
"He deserves it more than me," Sheikh Fahad said.
"I hope he wins it when I don't."
Sheikh Fahad, 22, has a team of 50 horses and personally chose Dunaden as a Melbourne Cup prospect, despite opposition from other members of his entourage.
The Sheikh revealed that the Ascot Gold Cup had been the favoured target of his racing manager David Redvers after Dunaden showed himself to be a capable horse.
"But I put my foot down and said we would go to the Melbourne Cup," he said.
Like Sheikh Mohammed, who has named his Godolphin and Darley racing operations after Arabian stallions who formed the foundation of the thoroughbred breed, Sheikh Fahad has an abiding bond with horses.
"For people from the Gulf, it is in our blood," he said.
"But I didn't like the races for Arabian horses, so I became interested in the thoroughbreds."
After winning the Melbourne Cup, it is safe to say he is a lot more interested.
But not too humble to claim a piece of the credit for the win of Dunaden who claimed Australia's greatest horse race at his owner's first attempt.
While Dunaden claimed victory in the $6 million race, Modun, who is owned by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum, finished last of the 23 runners.
Since 1998 Sheikh Mohammed has sent 40 horses to Australia in a bid to win the Cup only to come up short on every trip.
"He deserves it more than me," Sheikh Fahad said.
"I hope he wins it when I don't."
Sheikh Fahad, 22, has a team of 50 horses and personally chose Dunaden as a Melbourne Cup prospect, despite opposition from other members of his entourage.
The Sheikh revealed that the Ascot Gold Cup had been the favoured target of his racing manager David Redvers after Dunaden showed himself to be a capable horse.
"But I put my foot down and said we would go to the Melbourne Cup," he said.
Like Sheikh Mohammed, who has named his Godolphin and Darley racing operations after Arabian stallions who formed the foundation of the thoroughbred breed, Sheikh Fahad has an abiding bond with horses.
"For people from the Gulf, it is in our blood," he said.
"But I didn't like the races for Arabian horses, so I became interested in the thoroughbreds."
After winning the Melbourne Cup, it is safe to say he is a lot more interested.
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