Back
24 Mar 2021

Remembered, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s brilliant horses

Nashwan

Sheikh Hamdan’s first taste of British Classic success came with the brilliant Nashwan. After winning the 1989 renewal of the 2000 Guineas, he followed up in that year’s Epsom Derby.

The sensational year was topped off with victories in the Coral Eclipse and a King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes! He remains the last horse to complete the elusive Derby, Eclipse and King George treble in the same Summer.

He only recorded one defeat in a seven-race career, before being retired to stud.

https://twitter.com/roar1968/status/1374641016528064512

Dayjur

Before there was Battaash, Dayjur was undoubtedly Sheikh Hamdan’s superstar sprinter. Once called the “the world’s fastest horse”, he ruled the European sprint division in the 1990 season. He claimed the King’s Stand Stakes, Nunthorpe Stakes and Haydock’s Sprint Cup on these shores, as well as the Prix de l’Abbaye in France that year.

Nayef

Marcus Tregoning trained the half-brother of Nashwan to four Group 1 successes in his career. As a three-year-old he claimed the Champion Stakes, run then at Newmarket. Before finishing his four-year-old season with victory in the Juddmonte International at York.

The following season saw him add a victory at Royal Ascot, coming home best in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.

Taghrooda

The daughter of Sea The Stars may only have had six starts in her career, but she produced moments of sheer class on the big stage.

She followed up her Fillies’ Classic success in the Epsom Oaks by taking on, and beating, her elders in the 2014 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. It was a sensational performance by the John Gosden-trained filly, charging down the outside and asserting in the final 100 yards.

Battaash

Charlie Hills’ enigmatic-yet-sensational sprinter has been a revelation in recent years. Producing some of the most eye-catching demonstrations of speed we have seen in many years.

Last season he was unbeaten in three starts, with wins in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, King George Stakes at Goodwood and the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York.