Posted: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 5:34 PM

 

 

 

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, who has bought plenty of top horses both at auction and in training, recently purchased a six-year-old horse who started in 11 claiming races this year.

Sheikh Mohammed purchased Watchtower (Ire), a horse by his beloved homebred Dubai Millennium, who sired just one crop before dying prematurely. Sheikh Mohammed acquired most of the 56 foals from Dubai Millennium’s lone crop. Dubai Millennium won nine of ten starts, including four Group 1s, and earned $4,470,404.

After the purchase of Watchtower, he was promptly retired and sent to The New England Thoroughbred Retirement Center. According to the center, Sheikh Mohammed also provided a “generous pension.”

The center has renamed its farm in Deerfield, New Hampshire, “Watchtower Farm.” The farm cares for Thoroughbreds off the track and some are retrained for adoption as riding horses and sport horses.

While Watchtower failed to win a start until he was five years old, he fared well in the claiming ranks, registering seven wins from 20 starts in the last two seasons. The center said trainer Lorita Lindermann prepared all the proper contracts and completed travel arrangements for Watchtower’s move from Suffolk Downs to the farm.

Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times