SHEIKH Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Racing Club, was on hand on Super Saturday to present a number of honours. The fifth edition of the His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Horse Racing Excellence Awards were handed over at a special ceremony at Meydan.

Inaugurated in 2017, the awards honour the best horse, jockey, trainer, and owner through an independent data driven process. In addition, there are also two public vote awards - the People’s Choice Award and a new category, best local jockey, which seeks to honour riders who have had outstanding careers in Dubai.

Commenting on the awards, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum said: “We are proud of the evolution of the awards. Since their inception in 2017, we have seen some of the greats of the sport being honoured.”

The family of the late His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum were presented with the inaugural Excellence Award for his contribution to racing and breeding. The owner of Shadwell Stud in Britain, Derrinstown in Ireland and Shadwell Farm in the USA, Sheikh Hamdan had horses race in his colours all over the world, winning Group 1s in Britain, Ireland, USA, France, South Africa, Australia, America and the UAE.

His blue and white silks achieved huge success on British racecourses in particular. He won the Group 1 1000 Guineas four times, the Group 1 2000 Guineas once and the Group 1 Oaks twice. He also celebrated Group 1 Derby success with Nashwan in 1989 and Erhaab in 1994.

Sheikh Hamdan was the world’s eminent force in purebred Arabian racing, and was also a huge supporter of racing in his home, Dubai, winning the Group 1 Dubai World Cup twice, with Almutawakel in 1999 and Invasor. The latter also won him the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2007.

A noted philanthropist, Sheikh Hamdan’s charitable initiatives extend all over the world, including in Scotland where he established the Al Maktoum College of Higher Education in Dundee.

Yoshida family

The Yoshida family from Japan was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for their outstanding contribution to thoroughbred racing and breeding, both in Japan and across the world over several decades. The number of Yoshida-bred and owned champions is enormous, and many of them raced in Dubai, not least the great Almond Eye, winner of the Group 1 Dubai Turf in 2019.

Prince Abdulrahman Al Faisal was given an award for best owner for the brilliant Mishriff, winner of the Group 1 Saudi Cup, Longines Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic and Group 1 Juddmonte International, a truly unique treble. The colt himself took the award for the best horse.

No surprise that the best trainer accolade went to Charlie Appleby. This was given for his impressive form during the period of review, winning a phenomenal 17 Group 1 races across the world, including in Ireland, Britain, Canada, and the USA. The notable wins included such prestigious races as the Group 1 Derby, Group 1 St Leger, Group 1 Irish Derby and a memorable Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup treble. This was Appleby’s second year to win the award.

Best jockey

Frankie Dettori added to his haul of honours with the best jockey award. He put together some stunning riding performances during the period of review, which included Group or Grade 1 victories in such prestigious races as the Qipco 1000 Guineas, Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes, Canadian International and Prix Jacques Le Marois.

Italian rider Antonio Fresu won the best local jockey award against three other finalists. The list was made up of the top four jockeys in the 2020-21 UAE Championships standings. Fresu had an outstanding 2021 season, culminating in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen victory of Zenden.

The People’s Choice Award was won by Sarah Al Qahtani, the first female to be granted a licence to train in Saudi Arabia.