'He had a great passion for the sport' - Andrea Atzeni leads tributes to owner-breeder Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum

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Andrea Atzeni, who rode more winners than any other jockey for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, on Tuesday led tributes to the prominent owner-breeder after his death on Monday.

Atzeni had multiple Group 1 successes around the world for Obaid during an eight-year stint as retained rider to the owner.

He partnered Obaid’s star Postponed to victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in 2015 and the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan, Coronation Cup at Epsom and Juddmonte International at York the following year.

Atzeni, who is now based in Hong Kong, rode 193 winners in Britain for Obaid, with other high-profile successes including Ajman Princess in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in 2017, Zabeel Prince in the Prix D’Ispahan at Longchamp in 2019 and Defoe in the Coronation Cup in the same year.

He also won the Sprint Cup on Emaraaty Ana at Haydock in 2021, a year before his riding agreement with Obaid ended.

Atzeni said: "I was devastated to hear of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's passing. Besides our work relationship, we had a personal relationship as well. I was very close to him when I was riding for him, and when the work relationship ended, we actually became even closer. I only spoke to him three days ago over Christmas and he was a great friend and a real family man.

"It was the best news ever when I told him I was going to become a father as he kept telling me that I was at the age to start having a family. He was the happiest man alive when I told him we're having a boy.

"He was a big help for my career and came along at the right time. He had a great passion for the sport, we used to talk before and after racing. He had his opinion and liked his horses to be ridden forward. He would get involved in tactics and everything – he loved his horses. His main passions were family and racing.

"He's bred some brilliant horses, even in the last few years in Rosallion and Inisherin, and it looked like he was set for a really big year in 2026 with many smart horses, including a nice crop of three-year-olds. It's sad for his family and I wish them all the best."

Andrea Atzeni celebrates landing the 2015 King George on Sheikh Mohammed Obaid's PostponedCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Atzeni has fond memories of riding flagship horse Postponed for Obaid, having partnered the top-class middle-distance horse on 16 of his 20 starts.

"He was a brilliant horse," said Atzeni. "He was bought as a yearling and progressed through the ranks gradually. He just got better and better with age and was one of the best horses around over middle distances. For a horse like him to come along was brilliant and we had many great days. I was fortunate to ride many top horses for Sheikh Obaid but he was the best one."

The Karl Burke-trained Royal Champion was Obaid's last high-profile winner when landing the valuable Bahrain International Trophy in November and the Spigot Lodge trainer described the owner as "a huge part of our set-up". 

Burke said: "It was a big shock. I only spoke to him an hour or two before he passed. We had a good chat on the phone and he was looking forward to all the horses for next year. It's terrible for his family.

"This was going to be our fifth year training for him and he was a huge part of our set-up, we have the guts of 30 horses for him.

"When we first started training for him, Kevin Ryan said don't believe everything you've read about him, and he was right. He said then if he'd left him tomorrow he wouldn't have a bad word to say about him.

Royal Champion: won the Bahrain International Trophy in NovemberCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"He was a good man to deal with. You dealt directly with him, there was no real middle man. He had his opinion but he liked you to challenge that opinion as well.

"He had a fantastic broodmare band. His homebreds were unbelievable. We managed to buy him some lovely horses and won plenty of Group races for him, but what his broodmare produced were different class. 

"He really enjoyed it. He didn't go racing that much but he'd always be on the phone. And I think it gave him a lot of pleasure when Royal Champion won in Bahrain."

Obaid was a cousin of Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai and founder of Godolphin, and was the breeder of Dubawi's dam Zomaradah and Reem Three, whose progeny included Queen Anne winner Triple Time and Ajman Princess.

Liam O'Rourke, director of studs, stallions and breeding at Godolphin, said, "The passing of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid is a tremendous loss to racing and breeding.

"He has been an outstanding owner and breeder for over three decades and his contribution to the sport has been enormous. We send our condolences to his family, and he will be greatly missed by everyone at Godolphin."

Without A Fight: completed the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid in 2023Credit: Morgan Hancock (Getty Images)

Olivier Peslier rode Obaid's Derby winner High-Rise, trained by Luca Cumani, in 1998 and said: "The day I won the Derby for Sheikh Obaid on High-Rise is one of my finest memories, which will stay with me forever."

Sam Freedman was also associated with Obaid’s horses during his time working for Roger Varian, and along with his father Anthony trained Without A Fight to win the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup in 2023.

Freedman said: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. His passion and support for the thoroughbred industry globally will be greatly missed.

“We will forever be grateful for the opportunity to train his Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup champion Without A Fight. Our thoughts are with his family and those close to him during this time.”

Tributes on social media

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