SHEIKH MOHAMMED TOPS THE TREE

Inkanyezi
(Photo : Gold Circle)

“The man affectionately known as
Sheikh Khalifa”

A glance at the family tree of Dubai’s ruling dynasty, reveals that Emirate’s cultural phenomenon when it comes to succession. Unlike many European countries, the principle of primogeniture does not appear to apply, resting rather on the basis of family consensus.

There are two Sheikh Mohammeds in Dubai, one the present ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the other his more senior (in years) first cousin, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifah Al Maktoum. However, when it comes to results on the racecourse, pound-for-pound, the last few seasons at Dubai’s Carnival belonged, without doubt to the man affectionately known as “Sheikh Khalifah.”

At Gold Circle’s KwaZulu Natal Racing Awards on Friday evening, His Highness’ dominance of local racing was again apparent, when he was proclaimed Owner of The Year on the back of the championship titles of Bold Silvano (two) and Ancestral Fore.

Sheikh Khalifah’s success is not confined to his racing activities alone, though. Last season, he had two juveniles which excelled locally before making names for themselves as winners respectively, of the UAE Derby and UAE Oaks in Musir and Raihana. In his breeding operations at Summerhill, he has also struck gold in just a few seasons with the Highveld Racehorse of the Year. Pierre Jourdan (South Africa’s biggest earner of last season), Smangaliso (like Pierre Jourdan, a Graded Stakes winner of the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup,) and Dynamite Mike, vanquisher in the KZN Guineas of the international Group One hero, Jay Peg.

The Al Adiyaat team (the nom de plume of his racing stable) was back in action at Clairwood Sunday, when the Sheikh’s home-bred Inkanyezi strode away in a sparkling debut. Speaking of Mike de Kock, (Trainer of the Year, unsurprisingly) he has thus far had four runners from his 2009 Emperors Palace Ready To Run sale pickings, three of them (Igugu, Chekeche and Inkanyezi) winning at the first time of asking, while Saturday’s dominant 5,25 length winner, Checcetti, was twice second before greeting the judge with a 7,5 length romp on her first Highveld start. Her last two racecourse visits have yielded a combined victory margin of close to 13 lengths, and she could be special.

Award	Winner
Champion 2yo Filly	HAPPY ARCHER
Champion 2yo Colt	LINK MAN
Champion 3yo Filly	HERE TO WIN
Champion 3yo Colt	BOLD SILVANO
Champion Older Filly/Mare	NOBLE HEIR
Champion Older Male	TROPICAL EMPIRE
Champion Sprinter	NOBLE HEIR
Champion Stayer	ANCESTRAL FORE
Horse of the Year	BOLD SILVANO
Trainer of the Year	MIKE DE KOCK
Apprentice of the Year	ALDO DOMEYER
Jockey of the Year	ANTHONY DELPECH
Breeder of the Year	SUMMERHILL STUD
Owner of the Year	SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN KHALIFA AL MAKTOUM
Anita Akal Award	FELIX COETZEE
Special Award	DAVID THISELTON