In the 1970s the prince began buying yearlings, starting a trend that still exists today of large scale investment in horses by Middle East royalty and the wealthy.
Despite having limited success with early purchases, the 1978 acquisition of Known Fact would be the turning point for Abdullah and Humphrey Cottrill, the prince’s trainer at the time. Paying $225,000 for the colt at Keeneland Sales, an American Thoroughbred auction house in Lexington, Kentucky, the horse gave him his first winner at the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket Autumn 1979. The next year the horse won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. The win at the 2,000 Guineas was the first time an Arab owner had won an English Classic race.
In 1980, he founded Juddmonte Farms which although headquartered in Newmarket is a collective of farms with four in England, two in Ireland and two in Kentucky in the States. Prince Khalid Abdullah’s strategy was to buy the best prospects as well as implementing a breeding programme.
Within two years this tactic paid dividends. Fine Edge, who was out of the prince’s first broodmare Metair, become Juddmonte’s first homebred winner and many more would soon follow. These bred horses include Wicklow Brave, the son of Beat Hollow and won the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle, The Punchestown Champion Hurdle and Irish St Leger. Prohibit, son of Oasis Dream who won the King’s Stand Stakes. Brian Boru, son of broodmare Eva Luna, winner of the Racing Post Trophy and British St Leger. Powerscourt, son of broodmare Rainbow Lake who won the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Arlington Millions. Foreteller, son of Dansili who won the Australian Ranvet Stakes, Makybe Diva Stakes and Underwood Stakes. Harlem, son of Champs Elysees twice winner of the Australian Cup and Mirage Dancer, a son of Frankel who won The Metropolitan.
In recent times, the prince and Juddmonte enjoyed success with Enable. The mare won Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe twice and claimed a record third King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
However, Frankel is likely to be the biggest highlight of Abdullah’s long relation with horseracing.
Born 11 February 2008 and named after American trainer Bobby Frankel, he made his debut in August 2010. He was likened to sprinter Usain Bolt as Enable didn’t just win races; he won races by distance. Before retiring in 2012, Frankel won 10 Group One races by at least four lengths with an average top speed of 43 mph.
Frankel’s winning distances:
- Aug 2010: Newmarket ½ length
- Sep 2010: Doncaster 13l
- Sep 2010: Ascot 10l
- Oct 2010: Newmarket 2¼l
- Apr 2011: Newbury 4l
- April 2011: Newmarket 6l
- June 2011: Ascot ¾l
- Jul 2011: Goodwood 5l
- Oct 2011: Ascot 4l
- May 2012: Newbury 5l
- Jun 2012: Ascot 11l
- Aug 2012: Goodwood 6l
- Aug 2012: York 7l
- Oct 2012: 1¾l
Frankle was retired for stud in 2012, ending his career unbeaten after 14 races which included 10 Group One triumphs.
Despite the immense success that Prince Abdullah had enjoyed, those close to him said he was a humble winner, a testament to this is his insistence of being called simply Mr K Abdullah on race cards, downplaying his royalty.
