Turf Talk Newsletter – 21 September, 2026

Racing fans welcome the 2026 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Note To Self and should welcome the unifying efforts of the Operators  (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)

While thoroughbred horse racing in South Africa dates back over 165 years, recent moves by Race Coast and 4Racing to align and synergise grassroots programming and related processes across the board on a national level are unprecedented and are set to facilitate momentum in a time of rebuilding, as the sport faces a range of dynamic challenges, both locally and globally.

Racing in South Africa is hosted by 4Racing in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, while coastal operator Race Coast manages the sport in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

In a joint statement issued earlier today, the two operators announced sweeping changes to a variety of race-related processes, aimed at creating greater levels of uniformity and alignment across the industry.

A positive step in the best interests of racing!

A national reversion to programming traditional MR Handicapping styling of race categories, the standardisation of race conditions and rules and procedures governing eliminations, as well as uniformity in the criteria and procedures relating to the cancellation of races, are just some of the changes to be introduced on 1 November 2026.

Included in the revised practices that have been announced are the standardised conditions for the reduction of stakes in cases of reduced fields, which will be applied consistently across the country.

Supplementary entries, which are currently available in KZN and the Western Cape, will be introduced in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape for minor races, providing trainers with an additional opportunity to enter horses after the initial entry stage.

While the changes will be implemented nationally, consideration was also given to the unique position and equine demographics of the Eastern Cape Racing population.

“Each region has its own unique characteristics, and Gqeberha in particular has a large population of lower-rated horses. They also ideally have to open entries two weeks before declarations as their jockey group is sourced, to a large degree, from out of the province. Therefore, more notice is needed to engage riders, with associated travel arrangements,” explained 4Racing’s Colin Gordon, who added that he was pleased with the spirit of co-operation between the operators.

As is currently the case in the Western Cape, the barrier draws for minor races will be conducted at final field stage – and not at entry stage, as is the current process – for Gauteng, Eastern Cape and KZN fixtures.

After being introduced just under seven years ago in KZN, and subsequently extended to the Cape, carded saddle-cloth numbers will now reflect the barrier draw of the relevant runner in all racing centres countrywide.

In a shift from the traditional top-weight-down or alphabetical order in 4Racing regions in recent years, all South African races will reflect runners carded according to barrier positions, regardless of the allocated weights.

While this not only means a standardisation of the South African racing product to an international audience, it also makes it easier for newcomers and racing fans in general to follow their selections from the saddle cloth number and colour, through to the starting stalls, where the number and colour will be clearly displayed.

Reserve runners will no longer be allocated a barrier draw, but should there be a scratching, the reserve will automatically take up the barrier of the scratched horse that it replaces.

Race Coast Chief Operations Officer Dean Sawarjith said that a more uniform approach to fundamental racing and programming protocols had received the buy-in of both operators, and was an important step in the right direction for all stakeholders.

“Racing faces many challenges in the competition for the customer Rand, and simplifying an understanding of the mechanics for the racing public and all stakeholders, in fact, made sense. Having the racing operators on the same page and working together means less complications for all, in an environment where we encourage trainers to travel to optimise earnings opportunities for their owners. The benefits to the broader SA racing industry must always be our collective first consideration,” added Sawarjith.

The changes are well timed with imminent stakes increases on the horizon for both 4Racing and Race Coast.

Race Coast recently announced a significant increased investment across both the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal through enhanced stakes that will benefit participants throughout the industry.

Unlike previous years, the end of the SA Champions Season did not herald a reversion back to ‘out-of-season’ purses. The current stakes structure and Race Coast Incentive Scheme (RCIS) will remain in place until 31 October and a new stakes structure will take effect on 1 November, coinciding with the start of the Cape Summer Festival of Racing. RCIS falls away on the same date; however, it is important to note that every Rand has been redirected to the stakes pot.

Race Coast has boosted their combined stakes investment to R270 million, an increase of 20% on the past year.

4Racing also announced a substantial increase in stakes across both the Eastern Cape and Highveld regions, as part of a renewed investment in the growth and sustainability of horse racing in South Africa.

This significant out-of-cycle increase, to be applied until end February 2027, totals R22 million, with the Eastern Cape stakes pot increase effective 1 October, and the Highveld programme boosted from 1 November.

Detailed information regarding all the changes and implementations will be published on www.sahorseracing.co.za on Monday, 21 September 2026.

For more information please contact:

Kirsti Lyall, Race Coast: kirsti@racecoast.co.za

Robyn Louw, 4Racing: robynl@4racing.com

Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Mia Moo was purchased in training by Drakenstein Stud and is pictured winning the Listed Blue Voucher Carry On Alice Stakes for them. She is due to be covered by Charles Dickens (JC Photos)

Sarah Whitelaw

A number of well bred and classy stakes winning fillies and mares have been retired to stud for the breeding season, with a number of these penciled in to visit some of South Africa’s most popular and exciting stallions.

Drakenstein Stud will be home to some top-class new mares, a number of whom will be visiting the farm’s homebred champion Charles Dickens.

One of the most brilliant horses seen on the South African turf in many a year, Charles Dickens (whose champion sire Trippi sadly recently died) will be the first mate of all of Be Merry, Gerbera and Mia Moo.

A daughter of Lancaster Bomber and the Captain Al dual stakes winner The Merry Widow, Be Merry was a smart performer whose best efforts included a win in the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes and a third place finish in the G2 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas.

The beautifully bred Gerbera, a One World half-sister to the classy stakes winners Lesedi La Rona and Swazi Queen, won the Listed The Independent On Saturday Insider East Coast Cup. Her dam Barberton Daisy is an outstanding broodmare, who not only ranks as the dam of three stakes winners but is also granddam of the graded stakes winners Great Plains and Green Diamond.

Vercingetorix’s top-class daughter Mia Moo was a top-class sprinter, who downed subsequent G1 winner Asiye Phambili, as well as champion Double Grand Slam, when victorious in the 2025 G1 South African Fillies Sprint. Winner of four black type races, the regally bred Mia Moo is out of Captain Al’s Listed Irridescence Stakes winner Leeward, who hails from the same family as world-class sprinter Shea Shea.

Charles Dickens’ champion stablemate One World is one of South Africa’s most exciting stallions and the son of Captain Al will be the first mate of high-class graded stakes winners Elegantrix and Little Ballerina this year.

Both Elegantrix and Little Ballerina are blue blooded, graded stakes winning daughters of Vercingetorix -the broodmare sire of One World’s classy son World Attraction.

Elegantrix, who hails from the same female line as legendary stallions Sadler’s Wells and Nureyev, beat subsequent G1 Gold Medallion winner Good For You when she won the G3 Tote Godolphin Barb Stakes.

Fellow Vercingetorix daughter Little Ballerina was also a top-class two-year-old, with Little Ballerina winning both the G2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery and Cape Racing Sales Cape Slipper in 2024.

Champion sire Vercingetorix himself will be the first mate for the beautifully bred stakes winning Symphony In White.

A What A Winter half-sister to G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner and Drakenstein’s exciting new sire Snow Pilot, Symphony In White was produced by Captain Al’s dual G1 winning daughter Snowdance.

She showed huge promise at two when third, beaten less than half a length by champion Quid Pro Quo, in the G1 Allan Robertson Championship and trained on well to win the Listed Lady’s Pendant.

Trippi’s G2 Tote Woolavington 2000 winning daughter Little Suzie, a daughter of Street Cry’s outstanding daughter Oh Susanna, will be covered by multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight this year.

Paardeberg Stud, whose first runners have made such a big impression in South Africa, has retired the top-class sprinter Almond Sea. A half-sister to G2 Betway Joburg Spring F and M Challenge winner Celtic Rumours as well as Listed Swallow Stakes winner Sarah, Almond Sea was a brillilant two-year-old who won four of five starts at two by an aggregate of more than 20 lengths! Almond Sea won both the Listed Wilgerbosdrift Ruffian Stakes (by eight and a quarter lengths) and Listed Betway Swallow Stakes.

Almond Sea will be visiting fellow high-class sprinter Rafeef, one of the country ‘s top sires, for her first mating.

Wilgerbosdrift’s well stocked broodmare band, home to some of South Africa’s top matriarchs, is another farm retiring some exceptionally classy and well related mares. The farm’s exciting additions include such notable stakes winners as Epikleros, Kinda Wonderful, Rainbow Lorikeet and Spumante.

Epikleros, a Listed Jockey Club Stakes winning Master Of My Fate half-sister to G1 SA Fillies Classic winner Athina, will be bred to Wilgerbosdrift’s exciting new sire Danon Scorpion this year. The latter, a son of top Japanese stallion Lord Kanaloa, was a brilliant performer whose wins included a triumph in the G1 NHK Mile Cup.

Epikleros’ close relative Rainbow Lorikeet was a top-class performer who won no fewer than five black type races. The daughter of Querari, and winner of the 2025 G2 Bet With The World Gold Bracelet among others, will visit champion sire Vercingetorix this year.

Reigning champion sire Vercingetorix has sired numerous top-class fillies, one of which is Spumante Dolce, a three-parts sister to July winning champion Sparkling Water. Spumante Dolce, who visits Wilgerbosdrift’s inform stallion Fire Away in 2026, won her first three races headed by a triumph in the G2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas. She would go on to finish second in both the G1 TAB Empress Club Stakes and G1 Daily News 2000.

Gimmethegreenlight mare Kinda Wonderful, a full-sister to G2 Western Cape Fillies Championship winner Third Runway, was a smart performer whose wins included the 2024 Listed Irridescence Stakes. From the family of the exciting Cerro Blanco, Kinda Wonderful visits Rafeef in 2026.

Drumnadrochit spreadeagled a Pinnacle Stakes field to win by 11,25 lengths on Saturday at Turffontein Inside (JC Photos)

The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Drumnadrochit burst into the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup picture when demolishing a Pinnacle Stakes field over 1800m at Turffontein Inside on Saturday to win by 11,25 lengths.

The Ridgemont home-bred four-year-old Rafeef filly, who is owned in partnership with Devin Heffer, is out of the five-time-winning Dynasty miler Kelpie and won on debut over a mile indicating she was always going to enjoy going over ground.

She won third time out over 1700m and was not far back in either the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas nor the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m.

The De Kocks decided to give her a break after a below par run in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks as she was still immature.

It has paid dividends and as Callan Murray said after yesterday’s race she had always had a good temperament and she now had a body to match.

That was evident in her seasonal reappearance when running on strongly for a close up third in the Listed Off To Stud Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

She has been prepared for the season so far out of Summerveld and arrived on the Highveld on Friday.

On Saturday she was officially the best weighted runner off a 105 merit rating, because she received a 2 kg gender allowance meaning she carried a nice galloping weight of 56kg under Murray.

From draw three in the six horse field Murray wisely sat on his mount from the off allowing her to eventually get the rail in the box seat, while the first and second favourites Diogenes and Palace Prince were caught two wide and three wide alongside Fire N’ Flames, who was on the rail ahead of Drumnadrochit.

Palace Prince eventually went around Fire ‘N Flames into the lead, but the exertion had proved costly and when Drumnadrichit was switched outward in the straight she cruised past him while still on a double handful.

She went further and further clear and it was left to King’s Express to run on from last for second place ahead of Palace Prince with Diogenes being one of four favourites on the day who finished last.

Drumnadrochit must be considered a Summer Cup hopeful, especially when considering last year’s winner Mocha Blend was similarly looked after as a three-year-old to allow her to strengthen and mature and she won it off a mere 105 rating. Mocha Blend was in fact 5,5kg under sufferance in the big race.

Drumnadrochit will likely get the full six points for her win and go up to 111, which should give her room to still run again and still come in with bottom weight of 54kg.

The De Kocks also won the previous race, a MR 86 handicap over 1200m, with the 90-rated Hawwaam three-year-old gelding Fierceness, who is out of the stakes-winming Soft Falling Rain mare Gin Fizz. He was having just his third start and secured his second win despite making a hash of the start. He bravely got the better of a thrilling duel to the line with four-year-old Periodic Table to whom he gave half-a-kilogram. It was further evidence that Hawwaam looks likely to become a successful sire and Mathew said afterwards they had high hopes for this horse. It was the second leg of a double for Muzi Yeni. Owner Dayalan Chinsammy also scored a double as a part-owner in the Joe Soma-trained Raptor King (New Predator), a promising sort, who came from a layoff to win the second race for Dayalan and the Wernars family to make it two wins from four career starts.

The De Kocks made it three-in-a-row when Master Of My Fate three-year-old filly Special Envoy won a MR 74 Handicap over 1800m off an 86 merit rating under Calvin Ngcobo. She has won two out of three and could be a classic hopeful.

Yeni’s double began with the well-backed Weichong Marwing-trained first-time gelding Erikson (Erik The Red) in the first race over 1200m.

The favourite Tenareef was caught wide early from a wide draw in the first and was later reported to be not striding out on his right hind.

That set the scene for favourite backers as only one favourite on the day ( Fierceness) finished in the first three. On the other hand there were only two outsiders who won, so some might have managed to negotiate the meeting well.

On Friday on the Fairview poly Alan Greeff scored a four-timer to go to 22 wins for the season, just one behind joint leaders Justin Snaith and Dean Smith. Two of Greeff’s winners were ridden by Richard Fourie and two were ridden by Craig Zackey.

Cleartherunway (Master Of My Fate) was a comfortable winner of Sunday’s Middle Stakes event over 2000m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly (Picture: Race Coast)

Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)

A false start and a re-load did not bother Cleartherunway as Calvin Habib played the small field on the break to win the Middle Stakes over 2000m that headed the card at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Pace was always going to be an issue in a five-horse field after a multitude of scratchings but Habib judged it to a nicety and Cleartherunway won well. Mark Dixon’s runner quickened up smartly at the top of the straight and strode away to win in a clever tactical ride.

Stable companion and favourite Master Du Rouvray got all revved up after the false start was called according to rider Keagan de Melo and was a spent force at the top of the straight.

In the first race of the day, Preux Chavalier went down to the start looking a million dollars and the market support proved to be on the mark. The colt came up on the right side of a protracted stretch duel with Trip To Venus but Hollywood Racing’s principal Anthony was not impressed given the depth of the form of the five-horse field. Who knows?

Veale, hunting his second winner on the bounce, took no prisoners in the first leg of the PA. Stuart Ferries filly Predator’s Crown was out and gone from the jump, kicked away at the top of the straight and was not for the catching in spite of some late attention from So Indi.

Music If Life was the money horse in the first leg of the Pick 6, backed in from and ante-post call of 12-1 to nearly favourite, but the gamble went astray. Replacement apprentice Blaine Marx-Jacobson watched all from the back of a small field before sending Darryle Moore’s charge Fort Usher for home and the race was over as a contest crossing the subway as he quickened past Music Of Life to win as he liked.

The striking grey Zagreb made short work of the opposition in the fourth. Tristan Godden, biding his time in the pack, asked for an effort at the top of the straight and the gelding strode clear to win as he liked, geared down to a canter ahead of Serpentine Fire.

Three-year-old Bangkok Magic put a useful field to bed in the fifth. As expected, the head-strong Blue Steel cut the early fractions and stayed on gamely but was not able to hold the challenge from Justin Snaith’s progressive son of Willow Magic.

It was two up for Darryl Moore as Vixen’s War made a winning debut for the stable. In a smart bit of race-riding, Keagan de Melo on Silver Salute did his best to pin Athandiwe Mgudlwa on the fence and get first jump on his rival, but Vixen’s War was too good up the inside rail.

In a race that lacked early speed, Splash Of Love came out of the pack like a missile at the top of the straight in the last as Paul Lafferty’s filly quickened past her rivals to win as if they were standing still.

Anotherdanceforme wins for the 12th time and remains unbeaten in eleven starts in the East Cape (Pauline Herman P{rhotography)

Cape Breeders

Varsfontein Stud’s top class stallion Master Of My Fate made headlines at Fairview on Friday.

His star four-year-old daughter Anotherdanceforme made it 12 wins from 14 outings when she won the day’s feature race, the Betway Friendly City Stakes (1800m).

Sent off the 1-3 favourite for Friday’s contest, the Alan Greeff trained filly raced keenly early on while dropped out to fourth place.

Under RIchard Fourie, Anotherdanceforme loomed up with 300m left to run, and from there it was a matter of who would run second.

The top-class four-year-old powered home to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.

Bred by Varsfontein, Anotherdanceforme, who is unbeaten in 11 starts in the Eastern Cape, races for Peter Moor.

The filly, who is out of the What A Winter mare Destiny Dancer, was a R650 000 buy from the 2024 National Yearling Sale.

Anotherdanceforme has won seven black type races including the 2025 G2 SplashOut Golden Slipper.

She was one of two winners for her inform sire, with Master Of My Fate’s classy daughter Splicethemainbrace victorious in the Betway Pinnacle Stakes (1200m).

Among Splicethemainbrace’s beaten rivals on Friday was the Master Of My Fate sired champion Golden Palm.

Another bred by Varsfontein, the ASSM Racing Syndicate owned Splicethemainbrace won her first five races, with her streak including wins in all of the Listed Lady’s Slipper Stakes, Listed East Cape Nursery and Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery.

The classy Splicethemainbrace has won 13 of 22 starts.

Catfish has the class to win the Middle Stakes event on his reappearance (JC Photos)

The outside rail for the Vaal meeting is just two metres in and this course set up usually leads to high draws being at an advantage down the straight and that is one of the reasons Catfish makes appeal in the Middle Stakes race on the day.

The talented Fabian Habib-trained Danon Platina gelding’s last run was in the Gr 2 World Pool Bet With Tote Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville and his run was better than the bare form suggests. He was dropped out to the back after a slow start from a wide draw and ran on well in the straight. He was a bit short of room late and could have got closer than a 4,50 length ninth. He had previously rattled off three wins over 1000m at the Vaal
on either side of a 5,80 length fifth in a Sales Cup race over 1160m at Turffontein, which was won by talented stablemate Gimme Some Luck. He was drawn unfavourably in barrier one that day, so did quite well. He is drawn in barrier position eleven today and the man who has ridden him to all of his wins, Blaine Marx-Jacobson, is aboard, although he no longer has a weight claim. Catfish is 1,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted She’s All Mine under the merit-rated band conditions of the race, but he is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the two best-weighted male runners, Tommy Atkins and Antonio Gaudi. He should make a bold bid despite this being his seasonal reappearance.

Antonio Gaudi, apart from being one of the best-weighted males, has a fair draw of 7 out of 12 and comes off two cracking efforts over 1160m, having won over 1200m before that.

Vibe SA also has a high draw and has the talent to be a contender, despite being 2kg under sufferance with the best weitghted runner and 1kg under sufferance with the best weighted male runners. The six-year-old Just As Well gelding has won twice over course and distance before and it augurs well that Gavin Lerena was aboard on both occasions as he is back aboard here.

Titan Of The Turf bounced back to form last time with a good run in a Graduation Plate over this course and distance and he can be involved from a middle draw of six.

The best-weighted She’s All Mine could make her presence felt despite having a low draw, because she is in good form.

Tommy Atkins stumbled last time in his comeback from a long layoff and he has the ability to be a contender, although he might not be quite at his peak yet.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m Giddy Up Grace is drawn on the right side and will enjoy the step up from 1200m, because her two best runs have been over this trip. Be The One has some good form and although she has a tricky draw of three Muzi Yeni knows her well and she should be right there in this line up.

In the fifth race over 2000m One Eye On Dubai ran a cracker second time out when stepped up from 1200m to 1700m and Gavin Lerena stays aboard, albeit from a tricky draw of 6 out of 8. He looks the one to beat on that last run. Clairwood Breeze should go close in this line up. He should be coming into his own being a four-year-old son of Futura and this is not ony an ideal course and distance, but Muzi Yeni stays aboard too. Those two look set to fight it out.

The sixth race over 2400m looks to be at the mercy of Bellerophon. He is very well weighted with all except the British-bred import Deepone, who made a poor debut in South Africa. Bellerophon is not the most straightforward customer and refused to race in his penultimate start and therefore at least one other horse must be included. The next best weighted is Hotarubi, who is not a reliable sort. The best back up could be Positive Attitude, who is considerably under sufferance but he comes off a good run over this trip. Hotarubi and Deepone can be considered too alongside Futurewolff, whose last tun can be ignored as he choked up.

In the seventh over 1600m Sheriff Bill Brown goes for a hattrick and is drawn towards the right side over a trip he won going away over last time. He looks capable of handling a 95 merit rating. Palace Attack is in fine form and can handle a three point raise for his last which was over this trip. Ain’t No Doubt disappointed over the weekend and is better than that. He can bounce back with a 2,5kg claimer up from a nice draw of five out of eight. Redlightgreenlight looks capable of being in the shake up.

In the ninth race over 1400m Me And You won third time out over 1600m and looks capable of following up off an 85 merit rating under Craig Zackey. Eight Hats is a capable sort and is drawn on the right side, so should be in the shake up, Apostrophe has ability and is also drawn on the right side, although she might find this a bit on the sharp side. Highway Heiress starts off handicapping off a 76 merit rating and she can’t be ignored here from a high draw. Beautiful One sould appreciate the step up and and is another one to consider.

In the third over 1400m Beautiful Rania looks the one to beat if able to repeat her last start, especially as she now has Yeni aboard.

In the second over 1200m Treasure State looks capable of improvement and should have come on from her last start. Keagan de Melo is an eyecatching booking.

In the first race over 1200m Chancellor made a good debut considering he was green and being by Hawwaam he should be continually improving, so he is taken to prevail.

Michael Roberts aboard the top class five-time Gr 1 winner Mtoto (Gerry Cranham/Racing Post Photos)

Mtoto’s rider Michael Roberts pays tribute to Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum

Renowned owner-breeder has died at the age of 76.

At The Races

Michael Roberts, rider of the magnificent Mtoto, remembered Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum as a “staunch supporter” upon hearing of the death of the renowned owner and breeder at the age of 76.

Roberts partnered the Alec Stewart-trained Mtoto to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Eclipse and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes in a memorable summer of 1988 which also included an unlucky defeat to Tony Bin in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The South African also rode Mtoto to victory over Derby winner Reference Point in the 1987 Eclipse, and told the Press Association: “We had so much fun with Mtoto. I’ll never forget how excited he was the first time he won the Eclipse as he beat the Derby winner in Reference Point, I’ll never forget that.

“He was staunch supporter, he was very good to me to be honest and a big supporter of Alec as well. The Maktoum family as a whole are very loyal owners, they are proper people.

“When Sheikh Hamdan died his daughter carried on in racing and it would be nice if Sheikh Ahmed’s family do as well.

“He was such a big supporter of mine. He was so excited that day we won the Eclipse for the first time, it was unbelievable seeing him like that. Mtoto was a very special horse, you don’t get many like him so for me to find one like that I have him to thank.

“It’s very sad and my thoughts are with his family.”

Sheikh Ahmed, the youngest brother of Sheikh Mohammed, was deputy chairman of the Dubai police, Group Chairman of A.R.M Holding – a private investment firm in Dubai – and chairman of Al Wasl football club. A 10-day period of mourning has been announced.

Other leading horses in his colours include William Haggas’ Addeybb winner of multiple Group Ones in Australia and the 2020 Champion Stakes at Ascot, Iffraaj who won several Group races before becoming a top stallion, and just this year he enjoyed Group One success with Ed Walker’s Almaqam in Ireland and Roger Varian’s Saddadd in Germany.

Sheikh Mohammed took to social media to say: “May God have mercy on Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

“May God have mercy on you, my brother. You have settled with a Generous and Great Lord. You are absent from our eyes but not from our prayers and hearts, O Ahmed.

“May God make you dwell in the vast expanses of His Paradise and inspire us and your loved ones with patience and solace. And to God we belong, and to Him we shall return.”

A statement from Hugh Anderson, Godolphin’s managing director, said: “Everyone at Godolphin is deeply saddened to hear of the death of Sheikh Ahmed.

“He was a simply outstanding owner and breeder whose contribution to our sport will be felt for many years to come. Everyone who knew him was touched by his generosity of spirit and love of Dubai; he shared the same passion for racing as his brothers and will be sadly missed.

“We send our sincerest condolences to all of the Maktoum family.”

The Dubai Racing Club paid its respects by saying: “Dubai Racing Club mourns the passing of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

“A distinguished figure in the UAE, his remarkable legacy spans decades of contribution to the nation, with an enduring impact on sport, equestrianism and horseracing.

“His life was defined by dedication and service to his country, leaving a legacy that will remain an important part of the UAE’s sporting and national history.”