Breeders’ dispute unlikely to escalate
It is believed the reported refusal of Sheikh Mohammed to buy yearlings sired by stallions from the Irish-owned Coolmore at the recent Keeneland sales in America has been borne of frustration by the mid-eastern potentate with the Irish operation.
Neither the Sheikh, nor his brothers Hamdan, Maktoum and Ahmed, purchased Coolmore-sired progeny, despite a total investment of $57 million (€46.9m) in bloodstock at the sales. The intention, according to sources, was to give the Irish operation a gentle hint that there is more than one major stud operation in the world.
A source explained: “It is premature to say there has been a ban on Coolmore progeny, but there is definitely a feeling that there is no reciprocation from them when it comes to buying stock produced by the Darley stud operation, which the Sheikhs own.
“It is definitely true to say that Sheikh Mohammed and his brothers did not buy stock sired by Coolmore stallions at the Keenland sales, but to speculate that open warfare is about to commence between the parties is well wide of the mark.”
It is understood the Sheikh’s frustration stems from the fact that while they have spent fortunes over the years buying stock sired by Coolmore stallions, the same cannot be said of Coolmore, as they do not invest in Darley-bred stock.
The Darley operation boasts some 50 top stallions around the world, servicing some 6,000 mares annually for hundreds of clients and it now appears the Sheikh favours supporting the people who have supported them over the years, rather than those who do not.
Traditionally the Sheikhs could spend considerable amounts of money at Keeneland on Coolmore-bred bloodstock - Sheikh Mohammad himself last year spent over $3m (€2.47m) on four colts out of Coolmore star stallion Giants Causeway - but this year they stopped doing so.
“Coolmore don’t send mares to the Darley operation, but there has been a transfer of significant amounts of money in the other direction - from the Sheikhs into Coolmore and they have obviously decided that it was time to send a message to Coolmore which would highlight that fact,” said the source.
“Undoubtedly the Sheikhs, through Godolphin and their own individual operations, still look at the best available horseflesh, but up to now all they have seen has been one-way traffic.”
The situation has not been helped by what has been perceived a lack of enthusiasm on Coolmore’s behalf towards the lavish Dubai World Cup meeting in the Emirate nation, which the Maktoums established nine years ago. This year was the first time they sent a horse to the meeting, but neither Coolmore supremo John Magnier or trainer Aidan O’Brien attended.
