Watchtower

On 8 August, 2008 the Thoroughbred stallion Watchtower was retired and presented as a gift, along with a generous pension, to the New England Thoroughbred Retirement Center by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, and his Darley Stud Management LLC.

Watchtower was bred, trained and raced by Darley and Godolphin in Great Britain and later sold and exported to the United States. When H.H. Sheikh Mohammed learned that Watchtower had recently been running in the low-level, claiming races at Suffolk Downs, he engaged us to re-purchase him on his behalf and Watchtower was delivered to the Retirement Center in less than seventy-two hours.

Watchtower was one of just fifty-six foals from the only crop by his sire, Dubai Millennium. Bred by Sheikh Mohammed and raced under the royal blue colour of his Godolphin Racing, Dubai Millennium was Godolphin's greatest horse, and Sheikh Mohammed's personal favourite. He won nine of his 10 starts including a stunning victory in the world's richest race, the Dubai World Cup, in 2000 – a race Sheikh Mohammed named him to win.

Watchtower’s is one of the more remarkable pedigrees in all of Thoroughbred history. In 1999 his sire Dubai Millennium and his dam Balisada raced against one another in a field of just four horses in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. Dubai Millennium won the race and Balisada finished fourth. The following year, Dubai Millennium was retired to stud after sustaining an injury and in 2001 he and Balisada were reunited in the breeding shed at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud where Watchtower was conceived!

Sadly, Dubai Millennium was euthanized in 2001 after contracting grass fever and before any of his offspring were born. Sheikh Mohammed was at the side of his beloved horse to share the last moments of his life.

Sheikh Mohammed’s devotion to his magnificent stallion Dubai Millennium, and to all of his horses, is extraordinary. The New England Thoroughbred Retirement Center is honoured to be commended with the care of the brilliant stallion Watchtower.

SEEKING THE GOLD (USA)

Truly, the most powerful thing in the world is the right decision, made at the right time.

~ Sheikh Mohammed