Saeed bin Suroor

Shadwell's Elwateen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Tawkeel (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) was a warm order for Wednesday's seven-furlong fillies' novice at Kempton and duly delivered on debut as the 4-6 favourite. The first foal out of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine was sharp away before being tucked in behind the leading duo by Kevin Stott. Staying on strongly up the rail to lead inside the final 100 yards, the Saeed bin Suroor trainee surged to a length verdict over Orchid (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}). "She's a nice filly, I've always liked her--for a...

Isle of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) found his best stride entering the final 200 metres and ran out a comfortable winner of Friday's $200,000 Listed King's Cup to secure the 'Triple Crown' for Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa's Victorious Racing and trainer George Scott. Winner of a Bahrain Turf Series race Dec. 8 and second in another three weeks later, Isle of Jura saw his rating rise out of the eligibility range for those valuable handicaps and made his next start in the Listed Crown Prince's Cup Feb....

 The winners of the His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Racing Excellence Awards, with Japanese superstar Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) named the Best Horse Award winner, were announced during the Super Saturday card at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday. The award winners are selected on criteria designated by the Dubai Racing Club (DRC), overseen by the Trustee's Committee. The public selects the People's Choice Award. The full list of winners are as follows: Best Horse: Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) Best Jockey: Ryan Moore Best Trainer: Aidan O'Brien...

Last year's brilliant G1 1,000 Guineas winner Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) has been retired, Godolphin announced on Wednesday. She will now join the operation's broodmare band having failed to sparkle on what proved to be her final racecourse appearance when finishing last of the nine runners in last month's G1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, Mawj was a high-class juvenile when her victories included the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. at Newmarket's July Festival. Last season, she won twice in Dubai before gaining the...

Classic winner Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) will be prepared for a winter campaign in Dubai, trainer Saeed bin Suroor said. The 3-year-old filly, who won the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May and the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland last month, finished second in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Mile behind Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). "She ran a huge race and we thought she was going to win, but she was beaten by a good horse, also a Godolphin horse, and I'm...

Godolphin's Classic winner Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) is expected to make her next start in the Nov. 4 GI Breeders' Cup Mile, according to trainer Saeed bin Suroor on Tuesday. Unbeaten in four starts this season, the sophomore filly most recently came home a half-length winner over Lindy (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in Keeneland's Oct. 14 GI QEII Challenge S. "She's a tough filly with a big heart, to do that on her first run for five months and win a Grade I," said Bin Suroor. "She had...

Keeneland's lawn debuted during the 1985 Fall meet in an era when American turf courses were just coming into vogue. According to a back issue of the track's media guide, through 2016 they had two names for their grass course. The Keeneland Course referred to the one with rail up, while the normal configuration with it down was called the Haggin Course. Named for Louis Lee Haggin II, who was not only Keeneland's President from 1940-1956, but the decade before had purchased the 550-acre Sycamore Farm in Woodford County. Serving...

Godolphin's G1 1000 Guineas heroine Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) has been entered in the G1 Sun Chariot S. in early October, trainer Saeed bin Suroor revealed on Sunday. Undefeated in all of her 2023 starts, the 'TDN Rising Star' landed a pair of Meydan conditions races in January and February, before striking by a half-length in the Newmarket Classic on May 7. A Group 2 winner last year, she missed Royal Ascot due to an infection, and she is also being considered for the GI First Lady S....

Lammtarra's 1995 renewal of the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. was named the latest recipient of the QIPCO Diamonds & Pearls Award. Each year, QIPCO, the official sponsor of the King George, honours a vintage renewal of the race. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the son of Nijinsky II raced in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's nephew, Saeed bin Maktoum al Maktoum. His father, Sheikh Maktoum, bred Lammtarra at his Gainsborough Farm Stud. Undefeated Lammtarra achieved the rare feat of winning the Epsom...

Godolphin homebred Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), who won the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, has been withdrawn from Friday's G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot due to a cough, trainer Saeed bin Suroor announced. Successful in the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. and third in the G1 Cheveley Park S. at two, the daughter of Modern Ideals (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) has won all three of her 3-year-old starts. The 'TDN Rising Star' appeared twice at Meydan in conditions races and won the Jumeirah Fillies...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Insights features a regally-bred son of Dubawi and G1SW Urban Fox. 14.30 Yarmouth, Novice, £6,800, 2yo, 7f 3yT INNER CITY (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of two Godolphin newcomers to catch the eye in one of the initial seven-furlong 2-year-old races, being a 1.1million gns Book 1 graduate...

It's a heady time of year to be on Newmarket Heath of a Saturday morning. You can tell by the convoy of smart cars when one of the big strings is about to arrive at the Al Bahathri, with Guineas weekend providing the perfect opportunity for owners to watch their horses work.  This past Saturday, either 2,000 Guineas day, Kentucky Derby day, or Coronation day, depending on your persuasion, was no exception. With the car park double-stacked and trainers and jockeys all about, Joe Foley, waiting for the off with...