Melbourne Cup-winning owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum dies

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, the influential Dubai royal and global thoroughbred owner whose colours were carried to victory in Australia’s most famous race, has died.

A cousin of Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai and Godolphin founder, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s death was confirmed to directors at Darley on Monday night (UK time).

He holds a special place in Australian racing history as the owner of Without A Fight, who won the 2023 Melbourne Cup for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.

That Melbourne Cup success capped a remarkable spring for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, with Without A Fight also winning the Caulfield Cup to complete one of the most prestigious doubles in Australian racing.

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid also bred super sire Dubawi and owned a number of elite horses such as the 1998 Epsom Derby winner High-Rise, Postponed and Rosallion.

His international racing footprint linked Australia, Britain and the Middle East, reflecting the increasingly global nature of thoroughbred competition.

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid celebrated continued success over the past 30 years, backed by his Classic-winning filly Zomaradah, the dam of Dubawi.

Dubawi, from the only crop of Dubai Millennium, raced in the silks of Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation, winning three Group 1 races, including the Irish 2,000 Guineas, before becoming a stallion of international repute and Darley’s inaugural champion sire of Britain and Ireland.

More recently, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s breeding influence extended to the broodmare Reem Three.

Reem Three’s progeny include the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes winner Triple Time, who stands at Dalham Hall Stud alongside her grandsons Rosallion and Inisherin, both Group 1 winners in 2024.

In Britain this year, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid’s horses have won 40 races, including 13 at stakes level. His homebred Royal Champion, who also raced briefly in Australia, won the Group 2 Bahrain International Trophy.