UAE- Godolphin and Darley set for mega merger

Date

12/28/2015 6:09:43 PM

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

The global racing and breeding empires of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai are set to merge into one seamless operation under Godolphin in the New Year.

John Ferguson currently bloodstock advisor to Shaikh Mohammed has been appointed chief executive and racing manager to the re-shaped and streamlined Godolphin it was announced on Tuesday.

Darley under which all Shaikh Mohammed's bloodstock holdings formerly operated is now to be used solely as a brand to promote stallions.

Ferguson a highly-successful jumps trainer in the UK - he is currently fifth on the trainers' list - has simultaneously announced that he will hand in his licence at the end of April 2016 in order to devote more time to Godolphin.

The best of his horses who were almost exclusively recruited from Godolphin and Darley and ran over jumps in the ownership of Bloomfields will now re-join Godolphin at Charlie Appleby's Moulton Paddocks Newmarket.

Ferguson's stable staff at Bloomfields will be invited to join Godolphin.

Ferguson said: "I am extremely proud of the team at Bloomfields and the excellent job they have done over the past five years. They are a fantastic group who have given everything to the stable and I am very grateful for their hard work."

He noted the changes were simply building on the evolution of Godolphin over the past two years.

"It is an exciting new chapter in the Godolphin story. Our long-term objective is to improve on Godolphin's results on the racetrack. I feel honoured to be appointed Chief Executive and Racing Manager but I realise that it will require more of my time and attention.

"I will miss the training. Jump racing has always been one of my sporting passions and I love the involvement.

"I am very grateful to Shaikh Mohammed for giving me the horses to send jumping in the first place. In fact he wanted me to continue but I could see that Godolphin must always be a priority and requires my undivided attention.

"It makes sense for the racing and breeding operations to merge. One is sourcing the other and a well-planned common strategy can only strengthen both.

"We must ensure that Godolphin continues to represent excellence in racing and that the brand serves as a constant reminder of the vibrancy and energy of Dubai" he said.

Godolphin has 2000 horses in training worldwide 2500 breeding stock and employs 1500 staff.

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