SHEIKH Hamdan Al Maktoum, whose death was reported on Wednesday, made an indelible mark on the world of racing and breeding.

Born on December 25th, 1945, the son of the late ruler of Dubai, Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and older brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Hamdan was the deputy ruler of Dubai, as well as being the Minister of Finance and Industry of the United Arab Emirates.

Having attended Bell School of Languages in Cambridge between 1967 and 1968, he was the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates between 1971 and 1973.

He shared his love for horses with his brothers, and his influence on the world racing scene cannot be overstated, not only through the exploits of brilliant racehorses such as Nashwan and Dayjur and so many others, but also across the industry.

His Shadwell Stud breeding operation reached around the world – with horses trained in America, Australia, Dubai, South Africa, Ireland and France – and his investment in the sport is virtually unquantifiable, from bloodstock to sponsorship and people and property.

Sheikh Hamdan enjoyed his first winner in Britain in 1980, and Al Bahathri was one of his first truly top-class fillies – narrowly touched off in the 1985 1000 Guineas before going on to make amends in the Irish equivalent.

Crowned champion owner in Britain nine times and a leading figure in the creation of Godolphin, he bred and raced Nashwan, who lit up the 1989 flat season with his victories in the 2000 Guineas and Derby under Willie Carson.

Dayjur was, of course, a sprinter to behold – heartbreakingly failing to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint when jumping a shadow close to the line – and more recently Battaash has been another sprint king in the blue and white silks.

Many other classic victories came Sheikh Hamdan’s way – the brilliant filly Salsabil famously beat the colts in the 1990 Irish Derby. He even won the Melbourne Cup, twice, through At Talaq (1986) and Jeune (1994).

Dubai World Cup success has been his too, with Almutawakel (1999) and Invasor (2007), and just last season Mohaather oozed class in winning the Sussex Stakes.

In Ireland his influence has been significant, ever since he bought Derrinstown Stud in Maynooth in 1982. There are five stallions standing at Derrinstown this year, and he also owns 10 other farms in the area.

Both Kevin Prendergast and Dermot Weld have trained Irish classic winners for him and they train a total of 35 horses for him at the moment. Sheikh Hamdan was a regular visitor to the Orby Sale at Goffs.

In 2019 he donated €500,000 to Pat Smullen’s fundraising drive for Cancer Trials Ireland.

Tributes to a great supporter of Irish racing

Hubie De Burgh

“I spent 20 fantastic years working for Sheikh Hamdan, starting when he had two horses.

“Derrinstown and Ballygoran were built in the early days and he really enjoyed his visits to see the youngstock develop and, in many cases, grow into group-performing athletes.

“He loved the sales and the challenges in trying to pick out the next champion.

“Sheikh Hamdan was a kind, loyal and knowledgeable man with a great passion for all his horses, whether they be thoroughbreds, endurance or Arabian. He is a huge loss to our industry.”

Kevin Prendegast

“He was with me for more than 30 years. He was a great man, a great owner, and he will be sadly missed by all.

“I think I trained the last winner for him – Alhaazm on Friday night (at Dundalk).

“I won the Irish 2,000 Guineas for him with Awtaad in 2016 and I was second in the Derby for him two years ago (with Madhmoon).

“They were two highlights, but I had an awful lot of luck for him over the period of time he was with me, and I found him nothing but a gentleman and very loyal owner.”

Dermot Weld

“He was a wonderful, loyal owner, who was extremely knowledgable about his horses and their pedigrees. I trained many winners for him, the highlight being Bethrah’s Irish 1,000 Guineas success. Tarfasha won the Blandford for him and she finished second to Taghrooda in the Epsom Oaks, giving Sheikh Hamdan a one-two that day. He is a huge loss, not only to Irish racing and breeding, but also to world racing.”

Henry Beeby

“It was always a pleasure and privilege to welcome Sheikh Hamdan to the Orby Sale each year where he sourced many stars including the likes of Marju, Bethrah and Elmaamul, to name just three.

“Meeting him was a highlight of any year as he was man of deep knowledge with a passion for the thoroughbred as well as a complete gentleman in the true sense.

“The shareholders, directors and staff of Goffs, past and present, send our deepest condolence to his family. We will miss his quiet presence on the back wall of the sales ring, opposite the rostrum.”