THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN - GODOLPHIN TO BE A FORCEFUL, PERMANENT PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA

By Graham Potter | Sunday, July 20, 2014

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily

The distinctive royal blue colours of Godolphin will become a forceful presence in Australia from the start of the new season.

To some, the announcement of the switch of racing silks to be carried by horses trained by John O’Shea from the maroon of the Darley operation to the blue of Godolphin may seem little more than a cosmetic exercise … but there is more to the story than that.

Godolphin is the international racing stable founded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai. As John Ferguson, Bloodstock Advisor to Sheikh Mohammed, so aptly stated, “Godolphin represents the crown jewels of Sheikh Mohammed's horseracing operations and the establishment of a permanent presence in Australia is not only testament to his on-going commitment to the racing industry, but also to the country at large.”

Godolphin race for success. It is their prime motivation with profit margins of minor consequence as they obviously have the means to sustain a long run. The fact that Godolphin has, to date, secured 211 Group 1 winners since the stable’s inception in 1994 stands as a testament to the on-going international success of their mission.

As confirmed on the Godolphin website, ‘the establishment of Godolphin in Australia will make it the largest horseracing operation in the southern hemisphere and increase its global footprint with operations also based in the UK, Ireland, France, the USA, and Dubai.

Statistics give further perspective and lend weight to that description.

To date in the calendar year of 2014 Godolphin has scored 102 victories worldwide (including 25 stakes wins and a 16.53 per cent strike-rate) from 617 races when having 277 horses in training for the stake earnings of US$ 14 633 467.

That puts them a little behind the eight ball in terms of chasing down their 2013 totals of 228 wins worldwide (including 60 stakes wins and a 19.52 per cent strike-rate) from 1168 races when having 368 horses in training for stake earnings of US$ 20 798 990 … but the indisputable fact remains that we are talking about a major force in racing here with their decision translating into a significant development in Australian racing.

Pride is at stake and with Godolphin now opting for a permanent presence in Australia … as distinct from the annual raid on the Melbourne Cup … the royal blue silks arrive with certain expectations which, in turn, brings certain pressures to those directly involved in managing the Australian branch of the Godolphin operation.

So, yes, a subtle change it might be, but it does represent more than a change of window-dressing.

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But apparently nothing in racing is simple.

Victoria’s Chief Steward has already expressed his concern about the similarity of the colours between the Godolphin and Aquanita runners and the problem that situation could pose.

“We have spoken to Godolphin and told them that as Aquanita is registered in Victoria it will have precedence,” said Terry Bailey … meaning that the onus will simply be on Godolphin to change their cap if and when required.

Hardly a difficulty. Hardly a story … yet somehow, so typical of racing sometimes complicating its own existence, it made headlines. Once there, anything can happen.

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