Satish Seemar trained North America was a revelation at the 2107 Dubai World Cup Carnival, having progressed from a local debut victory in a Meydan maiden to beating Heavy Metal in a 1600m handicap and then landing the Gr.3. Firebreak over the same course and distance. Seemar plans to build on North America's 2017 achievements in Dubai. He is already showed great promise when he placed third in the Gr.2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 behind Heavy Metal and half brother Thunder Snow. North America is now in training for the Gr.2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2.

 

In candid conversation with Satish Seemar and his plans for North America, co-owned by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

 

SW - After four firsts on the Meydan track, last season, North America unfortunately placed tenth on DWC night. Many felt at the time, that this was simply because he was tired out during the season. What are your thoughts about that night looking back?

 

SS - North America wasn’t tired, he just didn’t like the muddy, sloppy track. We had very heavy rain World Cup Day itself that badly affected the conditions of the track.

 

SW - Could you believe it when he crossed the line in front? Again and again and again and again, with the Gr.3 Firebreak stakes? What were your thoughts looking back?

 

SS - He was very impressive with his three wins before that winning by an average of 7-8 lengths each time so we were not surprised when he crossed the line in front again in the Gr3 Firebreak Stakes.

 

SW - He has already placed 3rd in the Al Maktoum Challenge R1 in his first out this season. What is on your radar for him this season? Also, are there any plans for him to return to the UK for racing in the summer?

 

SS - He will run in the Gr2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 as we want to see if he’ll stay the extra distance. We’ll decide on his future plans after the Dubai season finishes.

 

SW - What is your favourite racing moment with North America?

 

SS – Winning the Gr3 Firebreak Stakes.

 

SW - Looking back what were your thoughts when you were first introduced to North America? How has he changed or grown in the last year as a horse and as a racehorse?

 

SS - We purchased him for a client at the Racing In Dubai Sale and he was always a very impressive and imposing looking horse but he has strengthened and grown again in the year that we have had him.

 

SW - Could you tell us a bit more about his personality?

 

SS - For such a big, strong horse he is a true professional. Like any racehorse, he likes to go to the races and enjoys the atmosphere of the crowds. The amazing part of having him in training is that his work rider Abdul Sattar, is a very fragile, small looking person with great hands who goes to prove that strength doesn’t always work on these powerful athletes.

 

SW – It’s widely known, how you travelled the world and studied horses under many greats including Monty Roberts. What are your fondest memories of that time? What are your fondest memories of the time here in Dubai? And what is the kind of banter, we could expect to find at your dinner table these days? Please tell us a bit more about your family.

 

SS- I’ve been very fortunate in my life to have travelled the world and met, worked and been involved with some of the finest people in my business. Monty Roberts who taught me horsemanship, is my guru. Till this day we are still in touch. Any questions I may have about a horse I’m confused about, all I have to do is call and discuss it with him. I try to visit and spend time with him once a year. After I finished my Equine Science studies in California, I was fortunate enough to work with Taylor Made farms in Lexington, Kentucky. I consider the Taylor family one of the top business families in the racing and breeding profession. I owe a lot to them for teaching me the business side of my profession. Due to these top two organisations (Monty Roberts and Taylor Made farms) I was lucky enough to be offered the job by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to take over Zabeel Stables where I have now resided for the last 27 years.

 

The charming thing about Dubai is that there is not just one fondest memory. If you ask me, in my business the memories are amazing. The introduction of International racing, the Dubai World Cup, the amazing construction of Meydan Racecourse. Along with this, we horsemen based here in Dubai get to see the world’s top racehorses coming here to compete with the horses that we are involved with.

 

If I had other horsemen at my dinner table, we would probably talk and laugh about funny moments in our business involving people, horses and incidents. In general, my dinner companions are from different walks of life and businesses. They may be lawyers, surgeons and different professionals, but when we start to talk about horses you can see a childlike curiosity on their faces and they listen with great interest and intrigue.

 

In regard to my family, I am divorced with a 15 (going on 25!) year old daughter called Tara who goes to boarding school in the UK.

 

SW – And finally, please tell us more about your stud farm in Punjab and the work you have done to preserve the Indian Marwari breed?

 

SS - I have been involved with the breeding of the great Indian Marwari’s for the last 27 years and the stud farm is now based in Jaipur, Rajasthan. It is a non-profit business that is very close to my heart as it is purely to preserve this beautiful breed of horse and my passion for horses in general. It is also something for me to give back to the horses that have given me so much in my life.