View of part of the Fujairah Corniche and the Hajar Mountains in the Background

Monday, March 24, 2008

Sheikh Mohammed Pays Record Price for Aussie Horse Racing Deal

Just ahead of the Dubai Cup, The Australian newspaper reports “that Australia’s biggest thoroughbred breeding and racing operation has passed into foreign hands, with Bob Ingham selling his entire bloodstock business to Dubai's billionaire ruler for a reported $500 million.”

Reporters said that “the Australian horseracing industry was yesterday stunned by the move, thought to be one of the biggest deals in thoroughbred racing and breeding history.”

“Pending Foreign Investment Review Board approval, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Rashid Al Maktoum's Darley Stud will pay an estimated $500 million for Ingham's two thoroughbred studs, training operations at Flemington in Melbourne and Warwick Farm in Sydney and a total of about 1000 horses.”

The entire article can be read at this link: Tony Arnold and Georgina Safe, ‘Sheik Punts $500m to Win Ingham Stud’, The Australian, 25 March 2008.

Image: Sheikh Mohammed at the Nad Al Sheba racecourse.