Godolphin conveniently killing the competition right out of the sport
Getting a controlling share in a horse or buying it altogether are different things, but there is only one name that has crossed this level and many more records. The richest family when it comes to thoroughbred breeding and racing is the Ruler of Dubai
and the Vice President there, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Being competitive in the field that they are good at is one dimension, but conquering and monopolizing it is an altogether different story. The days of all jockeys riding in the royal blues
of Godolphin are not far away.
The banner under which the facility operates does not only buy horses, facilities and alike, they have a way around with humans too. Racing and training for the Godolphin string is no less than an honour, but most of the time the connections have to kill
down or compromise on their professional integrity.
Back in 2008, the Ruler took it as a personal mission to create a positive and ever lasting impression on the Australian racing tracks. When winning the Melbourne Cup seemed impossible, the team settled for the Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup on 18th
October, 2008 with the Saeed Bin Suroor trained, All The Good.
Pride taking over the proud victory, the Sheikh resorted and resigned to buying off Australia’s biggest racing operation. Even the winning jockey of the Melbourne Cup that year, McEvoy, was brought down to the Godolphin stations.
It is believed that the transaction was worth $500 million. The prize was for Ingham’s two thoroughbred studs, Warwick Farm in Sydney, training operations in Flemington and around 1,000 horses. The operations could be measured against any standards, and
would still come at par or above, but never less.
The acquisition made the fifty-nine-year-old (in 2008) ruler of Dubai the larger than life owner of the thoroughbreds which race under the royal blue silks of the brand name, Godolphin.
The purchase of course was based on mutual interest.
"The sale of the bloodstock business was not something I was contemplating," he said. "Once approached by Darley, I decided it was an opportunity that I should accept. The sale is on a walk-in, walk-out basis".
Mr Ingham's son, John, was emotional about the sale. "We weren't looking to sell but they made us an offer impossible to turn down, an offer we couldn't refuse, to pardon the pun," he said. "We'll continue to have horses and we're keeping the (racing) colours.
That's the important thing. We'll buy some horses and see where we go from there. We're starting all over again."
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent bettor.com’s official editorial policy.
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