Memorable Milestone – Saeed hits 2,000 winners
J A McGrath
21 September, 2016
Saeed bin Suroor, Godolphin trainer for 22 years, has registered his 2,000th winner.
The milestone was reached when Sky Hunter won the Listed Foundation Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday, 21st September 2016 by a comfortable three and a quarter lengths.
Saeed, born and raised in Dubai, was appointed a Godolphin trainer in 1994 after His Highness Sheikh Mohammed became impressed by the hard-working young man, who looked after a small string of horses early each morning before heading off to work as a policeman for the rest of the day.
"I did two jobs, policeman and training horses, for four years before Sheikh Mohammed advised me that I couldn't really do both. I then joined Godolphin," Saeed recalls.
In more than two decades as the global stable's appointed trainer, Saeed has put together a highly-impressive portfolio of major wins and achievements.
He has been four times champion trainer in the UK -- and he has trained the winners of every British Classic, including the G1 Derby (Lammtarra, 1995) and 5 G1 St Legers.
Saeed has won the G1 Ascot Gold Cup 5 times, plus Ascot's mid-summer showpiece, the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, also a total of 5 times.
He has trained 12 British Classic winners.
On an international level, Saeed has sent out 3 winners of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France, 4 winners of the G1 Irish Champion Stakes, as well as winning 3 G1 Breeders' Cup races and a G1 Caulfield Cup in Melbourne.
On home territory in Dubai, Saeed, 7 times champion trainer at the World Cup Carnival, has trained the winners of 7 G1 Dubai World Cups, including the 2000 champion Dubai Millennium.
In the Northern Hemisphere winter, he trains the Godolphin string from Al Quoz Stables, Dubai, while in summer, he is based at Godolphin Stables, Newmarket (UK).
Saeed, 47, married with 10 children, thoroughly enjoys his position as Godolphin trainer. "I am very grateful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed for entrusting me with the responsibility of training his horses," he points out.
"At Godolphin, we have a great team, and we have had great success together over the years. I am now looking ahead to more winners to add to the 2,000," he says.
