Major wins
- Dubai Sheema Classic – (1) – Rewilding (2011)
- Dubai World Cup – (1) – Monterosso (2012)
- St. Leger – (1) – Encke (2012)
- Deutsches Derby – (1) – Buzzword (2010)
Mahmood Al Zarooni (born October 16, 1975) is an Emirati horse-racing trainer at the Godolphin horse-racing operation along with Saeed bin Suroor. He was born in Dubai, and became trainer on 24 March 2010, before the Dubai World Cup meeting. His first winner was Calming Influence, who won the Godolphin Mile.
On 22 April 2013, the British Horseracing Authority disclosed that 11 horses trained by Mahmood al-Zarooni tested positive for anabolic steroids. He admitted being in breach of the rules of racing. All 11 horses were banned from racing and Mahmood al-Zarooni faced disciplinary charges. [1] On 25 April 2013, he was banned from racing for eight years. [2] [3]
In June 2021, Al Zarooni announced his return to racing. [4] His racing licence was returned by the Emirates Racing Authority and he is now based at the Sharjah Equestrian Club. [5] His first runner since the ban was Major Cinnamon at Meydan Racecourse on November 4, finishing 12th. [6]
The Dubai World Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1996 and contested at the Meydan Racecourse which in Arabic suggests a place where people congregate and compete, a sort of meeting point in the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The race is operated through the Emirates Racing Authority (ERA) whose Chairman is Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs of the United Arab Emirates. It offers nine races, consisting of eight Thoroughbred contests and one Purebred Arabian contest.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), its Minister of Defence, as well as the Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. He succeeded his brother Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum as ruler in 2006 after his death.
Godolphin is the Maktoum family's private Thoroughbred horseracing stable and was named in honour of the Godolphin Arabian, who came from the desert to become one of the three founding stallions of the modern Thoroughbred. Godolphin is buried at Wandlebury Park in Cambridge, where there is a stone to commemorate this horse in the passageway of the old buildings.
The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in March.
The Dubai Turf, known as Dubai Duty Free 1996 to 2014. is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for four-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,800 metres on the turf at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai during the Dubai World Cup Night in March.
Dubai World Cup Night is a series of eight thoroughbred horse races and one Purebred Arabian race held annually at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. From 1996 through to 2009, the event was held at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse.
Meydan Racecourse is a racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The grandstand is over a mile in length, and can accommodate over 60,000 spectators.
Al Quoz Sprint is a thoroughbred horse race held in Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was first run in 2007 as part of the then, Dubai International Racing Carnival and subsequently moved to Dubai World Cup night in 2010 to coincide with the opening of Meydan Racecourse. In 2009, it became a Group 3 and is now run at Group 1 level.
William Buick is a British-Norwegian flat jockey. He shared the champion apprentice jockey title in 2008 with David Probert and won the Lester Award for Apprentice Jockey of the Year in 2007 and 2008. From 2010 to 2014 he was stable jockey to John Gosden. In 2015 he signed with Godolphin. Buick won his first Group1 race in Canada in 2010 and since then has won Group 1 races in England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. He has won four Classics: the St Leger in 2010, 2011 and 2021 and the Derby in 2018.
Monterosso is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He was originally trained in Britain, where he won three handicap races and the King Edward VII Stakes as a three-year-old in 2010. After being moved to the United Arab Emirates he recorded his most important success when he won the Dubai World Cup on 31 March 2012.
Encke was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse on 15 September 2012 when he defeated the Triple Crown bid of Camelot. In spring of 2013 Encke was banned from racing after failing a drug test. He returned to racing in 2014 and was placed in three races including the Irish St. Leger. He sustained a fatal injury in training in October 2014.
Certify is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In her first season of racing, which began in July 2012 she won all four of her races including the Group One Fillies' Mile and ended the British season as one of the year's most highly rated two-year-old fillies. She was regarded as a leading contender for the following year's classics but was suspended from racing after failing a drug test in April 2013.
Outstrip is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the leading two-year-old in Britain in 2013 when he won the Champagne Stakes and was placed in both the Vintage Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. In November he was sent to the United States where he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
The 2014 Dubai World Cup was a horse race held at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday 29 March 2014. It was the 19th running of the Dubai World Cup.
The 2012 Dubai World Cup was a horse race held at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday 31 March 2012. It was the 17th running of the Dubai World Cup.
Lyric of Light is a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was one of the best two-year-old fillies of her generation in Britain in 2011 when she was unbeaten in three races of increasing importance. After winning a minor race on her debut she won the Group Two May Hill Stakes and the Group One Fillies' Mile. In the following spring she finished last when fancied for the 1000 Guineas after which she failed a drug test. She never raced again and was retired from racing.
Ibn Khaldun was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed. He had his greatest success racing as a two-year-old in Britain in 2007 when he won four consecutive races including the Autumn Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy. He was strongly fancied for the following year's 2000 Guineas but ran poorly in the race. After a long absence he returned to the track in Dubai as a five-year-old but was well beaten in both his races.
The Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 3, is a horse race run over a distance of 2,000 metres on dirt in March at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. It is the third of three races in the Al Maktoum Challenge series which serve as trial races for the Dubai World Cup.
The Al Fahidi Fort, is a horse race run over a distance of 1,400 metres on turf in January at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. The race is named after the oldest existing building in Dubai.
The Al Rashidiya, is a horse race run over a distance of 1,800 metres on turf in late January or early February at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. The race is named after a locality in Eastern Dubai.