Prince Khalid Abdullah, who has died aged 85, created one of the most remarkable racing empires in the long history of the turf.
Most owner-breeders would count themselves lucky to produce one great horse. Khalid Abdullah s green, pink and white colours (suggested by Lord Weinstock to match the prince s office curtains) were carried by four: the incomparable Frankel, unbeaten in 14 races, including 10 Group 1s; Enable, twice winner of the Prix de l Arc de Triomphe; the electrifying Dancing Brave, also an Arc winner and an unlucky loser in the Epsom Derby; and the American horse Arrogate, rated the world best racehorse in 2016 and 2017.
Prince Khalid Abdullah, owner-breeder of champion horses including Frankel and Dancing Brave – obituary
His Juddmonte Farms turned out winners of a string of British Classics and worked with trainers Sir Henry Cecil, John Gosden and many others
21 January 2021 • 2:33pm
Prince Khalid Abdullah, right, and, left, the trainer Sir Henry Cecil with Frankel after winning the Queen Elizabeth II stakes at Ascot, October 2011
Credit: Hugh Routledge/Rex
Prince Khalid Abdullah, who has died aged 85, created one of the most remarkable racing empires in the long history of the Turf.
Most owner-breeders would count themselves lucky to produce one great horse. Khalid Abdullah’s green, pink and white colours (suggested by Lord Weinstock to match the Prince’s office curtains) were carried by four: the incomparable Frankel, unbeaten in 14 races, including 10 Group Ones; Enable, twice winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe; the electrifying Dancing Brave, also an Arc winner and a desper
UPDATED 6:37PM, JAN 12 2021
Khalid Abdullah s Juddmonte Farms ranks as one of the world s most prestigious and productive breeding operations. It has few peers, with only perhaps the Aga Khan Studs and Coolmore able to match its strength in depth and achievements.
At the last count, Juddmonte had bred 113 individual Group/Grade 1 winners of 220 elite races, including 28 Classic winners. Its produce includes household names such as Frankel, Enable and Zafonic.
The seeds of such spectacular success were sown in the 1970s when the young owner, a scion of the Saudi royal family but self-styled with typical humility as Mr Khalid Abdullah rather than Prince , recruited former Newmarket trainer Humphrey Cottrill to act as his agent in order to realise lofty long-term ambitions in racing.