The Dubai royal family is the common denominator in each of Lee Freedman’s most recent two Australian victories as a solo trainer, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Safeeya winning 3,659 days after Darley-owned Cornell.
Prior to Safeeya’s two-and-a-half-length triumph under Jim Byrne in Wednesday’s Sky Racing Class 3 Handicap at Eagle Farm, Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee Freedman had not experienced solo success in his home country since 2012 Port Adelaide Guineas winner Cornell broke his maiden under Daniel Moor at Geelong Synthetic on Friday 1 July 2011.
Safeeya’s breeder Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum is a cousin of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, who founded Darley, the global thoroughbred stallion division of Godolphin. Archipenko, Asiatic Boy and Honour Devil are three of the star gallopers which have carried Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s yellow and royal blue colours with great distinction.
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