Q: When did you start EERC and what has the journey been like?

A:We decided to start the syndicate following a Dubai carnival win with Sir Edwin Landseer. We owned a leg of him and this was in 2006. We purchased two horses from the end of season sale and then one privately just before the start of the 2006 – 2007 UAE racing season. Our first purchase was a horse called Force Nine and we only had to wait 3 races before we had our first taste of victory with the syndicate when he won his maiden on 7^th December 2006.

 

Since then we have had the highs and lows of racing; we have seen four of our horses run on World Cup night, we have won Group races, tasted victory at Glorious Goodwood, had runners at Royal Ascot, travelled to Turkey to win a Group race there, raced in America, Germany, France and of course success in the UK. At the end of 2011 and start of 2012 we had 6 wins from 6 runners. As for the lows, we have lost horses after freak accidents and injuries which is devastating. As a syndicate we care a great deal for the horses and have had the pleasure of retiring many at the end of the careers and have seen stable stars such as Kilt Rock go on to enjoy success in other equine events.

 

All in all it has been an interesting journey and as we are closing in on our 80^th winner, I would say somewhat successful.  

 

Q: So who are your top horses for this season? And of those, whom do you feel will go forward to Dubai World Cup night?

A: Shamaal Nibras is a stable favourite and will be targeting Group races following his Jebel Ali Mile Gr.3 win last year. However, at his age we won’t be looking to run on world cup night with him again. From last year’s runners, Los Barbados will once again target the Gold Cup via a couple of runs in the carnival and we would expect Cheik Roque to run. We will aim him for the Purebred legs of the Maktoum Challenge and the Group races in Abu Dhabi before the big night. Of the other horses we have I suggested in an interview with the local racing paper at the start of the season that the one with the most scope to improve was Pillar Of Society. He is only rated 90 but he won his first race of the season and a couple more wins would put him right on the edge of an invitation for the Godolphin Mile. Hopefully he can make it 3 runners again but we will take each run as it comes.

 

Q: Who would you say is your all-time favourite local (Thoroughbred) horse?

A: That we owned, it would be a tough call. I loved Clasp who was the syndicate’s first carnival winner. Kilt Rock was a stable star for years winning 4 in a row at Jebel Ali. Shamaal Nibras was our first local group winner and all 3 were gentlemen at the track.

 

From the horses we didn’t own I always had a soft spot for Storm Belt (and went as far as buying his brother Tradesman) and One Man Band would go close for me. It was great when he broke the World Cup night duck for Doug Watson. Possibly Krypton Factor as I was the under bidder for him at Newmarket and then he arrived in Dubai and won on World Cup night. So it was bitter sweet cheering him home. He was the reason we now have a partnership with Fawzi Nass which led to us becoming partners together on many horses since including Los Barbados.

 

Q: How long have you been racing? What brought you to Dubai?

A: I have enjoyed racing since I was a child and I used to watch racing with my Nan. I then spent a while when I was younger helping a Bookmaker friend at the track in my spare time but the first horse I owned was in Dubai. After being involved in a few horses which trainer Christian Wroe had syndicated, I decided to syndicate a horse myself with some friends and then that led to the EERC. I came to Dubai for 3 months to have a break, I was living and working in Spain at the time.

 

Q: What would you say was the biggest disappointment you faced last season?

A:We lost two horses, one to a freak accident in the horse box and one on the track when I thought he was coming to win the race. Losing any horse is very difficult but with such a nasty fall at the track in front of everyone and worrying not just about the horse but also the jockey makes for a horrible evening. Fortunately, the jockey was OK but he was in a bad way for a while.

 

Q: How do you buy your horses from? Are you considering shopping in the upcoming ERA December sale?

A: I have purchased horses from all over the world and I look out for most sales. Newmarket in July and October these sales have proven a great source of success for us. I have been successful from the Dubai horses in training sale, having purchased Shamaal Nibras and Mizbah from one sale they have won 10 races between them so far. I will look at the ERA December sale but at the moment, I don’t think that I will be buying then.

 

Q: What is the best thing about owning racehorses in the UAE racing? Do you feel that the concept of Syndicates will become embedded in the Social fabric of Dubai? (Has it already become so?)

A: I love going racing and owning here gives you that opportunity. Owners are looked after very well in the UAE which is an added bonus. Syndicates also help you to enjoy the experience. I have been at the track on my own when I have had a winner which of course is great fun but nothing like the experience of sharing this with a group of friends. Syndicates make horse racing more affordable and bring people together to enjoy a sport which they may not be able to afford on their own.

I think syndicates are now very popular in Dubai with a number of new syndicates starting in Dubai during recent years.

 

Q: Have you considered evolving EERC into a premium syndicate where you would buy & race top rated horses locally as well as internationally?

A: We have group horses now and horses that have raced overseas. Our final purchase at the end of last season was rated 113 and was already accepted for the world cup meeting. We have raced in the Arlington Millions, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and the international meeting in Turkey.

 

Q: And finally could you tell us more about your owners and what are they like? Do all of them enjoy coming out to the races to watch their horses run? Do you have any international owners?

A: We have owners from all walks of life and have owners from all over the world. At the last count we had owners who are currently living in 11 different countries.

 

Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com