Oct_110_Qatar_Owner Breeder 19/09/2013 18:38 Page 36
THE QATARIS
The familiar silks of Pearl Bloodstock and Qatar Racing as carried by Dunaden (above) and Just The Judge (below), Group 1 winners for Sheikh Fahad and David Redvers (right)
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breeding. While Sheikh Fahad was widely reported as the buyer, the son of Dubawi was, in fact, purchased by an investment company involving other family members, Sheikh Hamad and Sheikh Suhaim. But before we consider who all the Qatari owners are – and there are plenty of them – let’s just remind ourselves of where they come from. It’s important. Qatar, which has been ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-19th century, has been named the world’s richest country by Forbes magazine, the influential business publication, for the last three years. It has achieved that status thanks to its reserves of oil and natural gas, possessing more than 15% of the world’s proven gas reserves. As well as winning, controversially, the bid for the 2022 football World Cup, Qatar investment has seen it become the biggest shareholders in Barclays Bank and Sainsbury’s, buy Harrods for a reported £1.5 billion in 2010 and develop Europe’s tallest building, the 310-metre Shard, by London Bridge. So you can understand that when the news broke that Makfi had been purchased by members of the Qatar ruling family, people got just a little bit excited.
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Redvers recruited The purchase of Makfi occurred only eight months after Redvers had met Sheikh Fahad for the first time. The speculation has always been that Sheikh Fahad contacted an elite, high-brow concierge service which helps its members find tables at the best restaurants, or the right tailor, or puts them in touch with various professionals who might help them business-wise. In this case, Sheikh Fahad was reportedly looking for contact with someone who could help him dip his toe into the British racing scene. The search led to Redvers, who had already built up a reputation for picking up Group horses at small prices, such as Oaks runnerup Rising Cross, who he purchased in partnership as a foal for 10,500gns. The two men decided that they could indeed work with each other – the purchase of a Maserati for Sheikh Fahad to travel to the races was enviously noted – and the agreement was very much to start modestly and let the project grow with exponential enjoyment and success. It hardly needs stating they achieved their easy-going aim. On the racecourse, the Pearl Bloodstock colours have been carried by the likes of
2011 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lightening Pearl and Melbourne and Caulfield Cups and Hong Kong Vase winner Dunaden. The former was bought by Redvers for €125,000 at Goffs, while Dunaden was a private purchase. Significantly, both were bought in the first year of Sheikh Fahad’s involvement and undoubtedly acted as the springboard to further investment. On the whole, though, Sheikh Fahad cannot really be described as a lavish spender. A scan of the 52 Pearl Bloodstock horses listed in training this year reveals an approach of prudence, not flamboyance. All bar a handful of the juveniles are trained by Olly Stevens at Peter Winkworth’s former base in Chiddingfold, Surrey. The most expensive yearling purchases in the yard are recent Doncaster winner Lightning Thunder, an 115,000gns Dutch Art filly bought by Redvers at this year’s Tattersalls breeze-ups. Elsewhere, Pearl Bloodstock has the $475,000 Pearl Spectre, purchased as a foal at Keeneland as part of the Edward Evans dispersal. Mikel Delzangles, meanwhile, has a €130,000 Nicobar juvenile in France. These are hardly headline-grabbing figures, but they tally with the stated Pearl Bloodstock THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER