Middle East interest in English racing

Press, 13 May 1981, Page 29

Middle East interest in English racing

NZPA ■' • ■_. London Millionaire Middle East businessmen are investing heavily in England’s thoroughbred horse industry. is. This was revealed yesterday by,Mr Frank Chapman, 1 of Newmarket,- who is business and racing manager for Mr Mahmoud Foustok. He said that over the Hast four to five years there had been a steady flow of capital investment from the Middle East into England's horse racing. Mr Foustok and Mr I. Moubarak have their own private trainer <at Newmarket, a Lebanese, Michael Albina. At the moment, Albina is leasing Lester Piggott’s yard, an establishment the champion jockey built for himself to carry on as a trainer when he retires from race riding. „

However, as this is only temporary, Mr -’Moubarak has purchased land at New market from the Jockey Club where he plans to construct a training track and stabling for about 40 horses. Mr Moubarak is the driving force behind the Middle East assault on the English racing scene.

One of the biggest foreign stud sales just completed has been for the prestigious Hadrian Stud at Newmarket by Mr Souren Vanian.

.4 Mr. Vanian. who lives in Francs;, has spread his thoroughbred horse investments around the world; even as far as Australia where owns the Manado Stud on the Goulbum River in New South Wales. ■a Since, 1947, the Hadrian Stud has been run as a private [concern by Sir David Wills. It comprises 69 hectares, divided into 20 paddocks with 60 modern boxes. Britain’s newest yainer is an Italian nobleman, 47-year old Marchese don Enrico In* cisa Della Rochette.

He paid $238,000 for Thorngill Stables in North Yorkshire, and lias spent an other $200,000 in modern* ising them. This yard was formerly occupied by Eric Collingwood, who moved to Hong Kong. The Marchese, who was based in Milan, has an illus* trious family background. His father, Mario Incisa Dell ■RoChetta, was in partnership with the famous Frederico Tessio, and between them they founded the Dormello Olgiata. where the immortals, Ribot and Nearco, were bred and foaled. The Marchese said he hoped to get the patronage of British owners.

Although he would. not directly confirm the idea, it is understood he left Italy because of the unsettled political situation.