Al Zarooni Appointed as Godolphin Trainer

DUBAI - Godolphin has employed a second trainer with the appointment of Dubai-born Mahmood Al Zarooni, who will saddle his first runners for the stable at the Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan on Saturday.

By Hisham Al Gizouli

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Published: Fri 26 Mar 2010, 1:03 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 5:25 AM

Al Zarooni, 33, has been assistant trainer to Godolphin’s main trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, for more than a year, having previously worked as assistant to Ali Rashid Al Raihe. He will have seven runners on Saturday’s showpiece card, headed by defending champion Eastern Anthem in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic and Allybar in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates.

Al Zarooni said: “I am very grateful to His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for giving me this opportunity. It has been a privilege being part of the Godolphin team under Saeed bin Suroor, and I now look forward to the challenge of operating my own stable.”

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford commented: “Mahmood has been an important part of the team for some time and has been closely involved with the training of the horses he will saddle on World Cup night. With more two-year-olds expected to come through the system, the time is now right for Godolphin to employ two trainers.

“Godolphin has already been allocated a team of two-year-olds for 2010 but there are more due to come in and Mahmood will be taking care of many of those horses. Saeed and I talked it through with Shaikh Mohammed and we all agreed it would be a good idea to have another trainer.”

Al Zarooni’s Dubai stable is at Al Asfa on the outskirts of the city. It is expected that he will have in charge of a team of horses to run in Europe this year, based at Godolphin’s Moulton Paddocks yard in Newmarket.

Al Zarooni’s runners on Saturday are: Calming Influence (Godolphin Mile); Frozen Power and Siyaadah (UAE Derby); Calvados Blues (Dubai Duty Free); Anmar and Eastern Anthem (Dubai Sheema Classic) and Allybar (Dubai World Cup).


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