How a single phone call can change the life of a horse (and a human being)

Carlo Zuccoli delights us with his pen and the stories he has lived over so many years involved in horse racing and thoroughbreds

BY CARLO ZUCCOLI

I was having a light lunch when my landline telephone rang. On the other end of the line was Mr. Mohammed Jamie,President of the Dubai Horse Racing Information Centre. “How are you, Carlo? Are you at San Siro Racecourse?His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Obaid bin Thani Al Maktoum has a filly running in the Oaks d'Italia.Could you call the race for us?” “I am at home, sir, but I will be watching the race on television, so I can fulfill your request. Please call me back a few minutes before the start.” In those years, I was already traveling frequently to Dubaiand had two great Sudanese friends there who worked for Al Adiyat magazine: Mohammed Ahmed Taha Al Hafyanand Taha Ahmed Taha Al Hafyan. They had told me that hafyan, in Arabic, meant barefoot—that is, piedi nudi in Italian. That is why I called them Piedi Nudi 1 and Piedi Nudi 2. Sadly, Piedi Nudi 1 passed away several years ago,still far too young. I am certain he was the one who gave my phone number to Mohammed Jamie. The phone rang again, and I answered immediately: “They are heading to the starting gate. Zomaradah, a bay filly foaled in 1995 by Deploy out of High Tern (High Line), looks magnificent. The turf is quite soft.” Mr. Jamie told me that His Excellency was standing right beside him. “They are in the gate... And they’re off! The pace is even, sir. Now they are entering the long homestretch. Zomaradah has shifted gears and is going to win easily. By five lengths, at least!Congratulations!” “It cannot be! You are pulling my leg!” shouted His Excellency, who had snatched the telephone straight out of Mr. Jamie’s hands. “Your Excellency, Zomaradah has just won the Oaks d'Italia, a Group 1 over 2,200 meters, with tremendous ease. So you have just achieved your first Group 1 victory as both breeder and owner.” “Magnificent! Thank you very much. You have brought me luck.” Zomaradah, whose name means emerald in Arabic,was trained in Newmarket by Luca Cumani and ridden by Walter Swinburn. A few weeks later, at Epsom, His Excellency triumphed once more—again as both breeder and owner—this time in the Epsom Derby (G1) with High Rise, a bay colt foaled in 1995 by High Estate. He was also conditioned by Luca Cumani, though that afternoon he was ridden by Olivier Peslier. His Excellency was likewise the breeder and owner of Dubawi (pictured), a bay foaled in 2002 by Dubai Millennium, who won the Irish 2000 Guineas (G1) and the Prix Jacques le Marois (G1), in addition to finishing third in the Epsom Derby. Having become one of Europe’s premier stallions, he stands at Dalham Hall Stud for a stud fee of £350,000. Incidentally, High Tern (High Line), the dam of Zomaradah, is the third dam of Dubawi, while the Oaks d'Italia winner is his own dam. After that telephone conversation, I had the opportunity to meet His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Obaid bin Thani Al Maktoum several times, both at racetracks and at horse sales in England. Our conversations always revolved around Dubawi, his racing career, his results at stud, and so many other matters connected to him. And, of course, His Excellency always remembered that day in 1998 and the Oaks d'Italia. Several years ago, I had the enormous privilege of being invited by my friend Mr.Abdul Aziz Merza Mohammed Amin, former Consul General of the United Arab Emirates in London, to a dinner he hosted in the garden of his lovely home near Kensington High Street in London. Mr. Merza is, moreover, a true cordon bleu, so the food was extraordinary. His Excellency was also in attendance, as was Mr. Khalifa bin Abdullah bin Dasmal, who had won the 1996 Epsom Derby with Shaamit, a bay foaled in 1993 by Mtoto, bred by himself,trained by William Haggas, and ridden by Michael Hills. Mr. Khalifa is a businessman with operations in Dubai and Saudi Arabia through companies dedicated to heating systems, air conditioning, and related sectors. The conversation I had with His Excellency was about Dubawi—nothing else. All of those individuals I have mentioned were connected to His Excellency Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who passed away a few weeks ago and who had owned Mtoto, a bay foaled in 1983 by Busted, winner of the King George (G1), the Eclipse Stakes (G1), and the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1), alongside many other top-class racehorses. His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Obaid also passed away recently. Mr. Merza was His Excellency’s right-hand man in all his endeavors; Mr. Khalifa was a close friend of his, while Sheikh Mohammed bin Obaid was his cousin. The only two ordinary people present at that gathering were Richard Gaskell, a wine merchant, racing enthusiast, and turf professional, and myself. It is worth recalling that His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Obaid was also the breeder and owner of Bow Echo,undefeated in six starts and winner of the 2000 Guineas (G1), the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1), and the Sussex Stakes (G1). Trained by George Boughey and ridden by Billy Loughnane, Bow Echo will begin his stallion career on February 15, 2027, at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, at a stud fee of £65,000.Zomaradah is the third dam of Bow Echo, who is sired by Night of Thunder, a chestnut foaled in 2011 by Dubawi, who continues to enjoy tremendous success at stud.Night of Thunder is based at Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, and his stud fee for the 2027 season will stand at €450,000.