Sheik Mohammed/DIC Go Shopping Again

[Bender]

Sheik Mohammed has bought Woodlands Stud, the big force in Australian racing, for nearly £230million.

It is the biggest ever bloodstock deal.

Woodlands have had over 5,000 winners, 83 at Group One level.

Sheik Mohammed's purchase has netted him 200 foals, 200 yearlings, 300 mares and 350 racehorses.

The flexing of financial clout extends his recent voracious expansion.


Since June, the Sheik has invested heavily worldwide in a fresh batch of stallions including Derby winner Authorized.

Australians see the deal as a proof the country is now a major international force.

British Flat racing, propped up largely by Arab investment, will not feel so comfortable, especially with prizemoney a hot topic.

Paul Dixon, president of the Racehorse Owners Association, said: "Sheik Mohammed is a global player who will expand where he can but we have to make sure we look after these people like him and running races for two and a half thousand pounds doesn't help."

[Vermilion]

Awe, you could have spent that on us fella................

[Sarb]

Should be buying 2 donkeys instead..

[TheRedDragon]

He's a strange ****er this Arab.

He spends money like it's going out of fashion on Horses etc.... that sometimes offer very little return, how ever refuses to spend a little ott to gain one of the most decorated Clubs in the World....

If LFC was a race horse he would have bought us by now, this to me says one thing, His Heart Is Not In It, there for I can not see it being the Dogs balearics that every one thinks they might be.

[dom9]

Sheik Mohammed has bought Woodlands Stud, the big force in Australian racing, for nearly £230million.

It is the biggest ever bloodstock deal.

Woodlands have had over 5,000 winners, 83 at Group One level.

Sheik Mohammed's purchase has netted him 200 foals, 200 yearlings, 300 mares and 350 racehorses.

The flexing of financial clout extends his recent voracious expansion.


Since June, the Sheik has invested heavily worldwide in a fresh batch of stallions including Derby winner Authorized.

Australians see the deal as a proof the country is now a major international force.

British Flat racing, propped up largely by Arab investment, will not feel so comfortable, especially with prizemoney a hot topic.

Paul Dixon, president of the Racehorse Owners Association, said: "Sheik Mohammed is a global player who will expand where he can but we have to make sure we look after these people like him and running races for two and a half thousand pounds doesn't help."

What relevance is this? DIC have nothing to do with racehorses.

[CJ]

isnt there a huge differrence as HE buys the horses and HE owns godolphin (is it? )

but his investment company is buying LFC and they will look for returns. the hopeful difference is that DIC have funds to invest to make the return

[CJ]

sorry i mean the investment company are hoping to buy LFC

[AFII]

What relevance is this? DIC have nothing to do with racehorses.

DIC would only own us on paper. In reality it would be the Sheikh who decides how much DIC will spend on new players and so on.

[Woobus]

He's a strange ****er this Arab.

If LFC was a race horse he would have bought us by now, this to me says one thing, His Heart Is Not In It, there for I can not see it being the Dogs balearics that every one thinks they might be.

If the stories are true then he is willing to buy the club for twice what it was worth a couple of years ago. The problem isnt him not offering enough money its Hicks trying to play hard ball and not selling.

[Skillz]

He's a strange ****er this Arab.

He spends money like it's going out of fashion on Horses etc.... that sometimes offer very little return, how ever refuses to spend a little ott to gain one of the most decorated Clubs in the World....

If LFC was a race horse he would have bought us by now, this to me says one thing, His Heart Is Not In It, there for I can not see it being the Dogs balearics that every one thinks they might be.

as an Aussie who likes a punt, can i just say that is not the most intelligent of posts. Woodlands was run by people like him, horse lovers. The Ingham brothers went in with the intention of building an empire and they did.

It may not be the best investment in the world but it won't lose money. it is a very successful operation and one of the biggest success stories in Australian Racing. Infact the closest thing I could compare it too would be Darley.

Therefore, considering one of the Ingham has passed on and the other is getting on, this transaction makes perfect sense and allows the Sheik to upgrade his Australian operations to a level he is more accustomed eg the top.

[CJ]

AFII

The shiek may be the ultimate owner but there is a clear difference between him buying us personally. and usind his INVESTMENT company to do it.

Now there is a clue in the word INVESTMENT. if we where to be his personal plaything like the horses he would have bought us himself.

Its not rocket science is it.

[TheRedDragon]

as an Aussie who likes a punt, can i just say that is not the most intelligent of posts. Woodlands was run by people like him, horse lovers. The Ingham brothers went in with the intention of building an empire and they did.

It may not be the best investment in the world but it won't lose money. it is a very successful operation and one of the biggest success stories in Australian Racing. Infact the closest thing I could compare it too would be Darley.

Therefore, considering one of the Ingham has passed on and the other is getting on, this transaction makes perfect sense and allows the Sheik to upgrade his Australian operations to a level he is more accustomed eg the top.

Mate I was not just suggesting woodlands being the waste of money etc... I was suggesting buying horses in general, not many horses bring in the money/returns you would hope for when purchasing at prices that the Sheik does.

I was mealy stating his love for Horses and hence the reason he spends big on them.

Something I believe he will not do if he owned us, because his love is not in Football.

[AFII]

AFII

The shiek may be the ultimate owner but there is a clear difference between him buying us personally. and usind his INVESTMENT company to do it.

Now there is a clue in the word INVESTMENT. if we where to be his personal plaything like the horses he would have bought us himself.

Its not rocket science is it.

I know that DIC is owned by shareholders but it's the Sheihk that has the final say.

We would more or less be his plaything, like it or not, when it comes down to how much money we spend. We won't be run to make a profit. DIC will run us with a loss to make the DIC portfolio worth more.

Think big, think bigger. That is what they will do.

For example, if Rafa, or whatever manager they want, want Aguero and Atletico say that they want £35m for him then the manager will get the £35m to sign him.

That is what I have been told.

[TheRedDragon]

I know that DIC is owned by shareholders but it's the Sheihk that has the final say.

We would more or less be his plaything, like it or not, when it comes down to how much money we spend. We won't be run to make a profit. DIC will run us with a loss to make the DIC portfolio worth more.

Think big, think bigger. That is what they will do.

For example, if Rafa, or whatever manager they want, want Aguero and Atletico say that they want £35m for him then the manager will get the £35m to sign him.

That is what I have been told.

I like the sound of that.

By who?.

[Skillz]

Mate I was not just suggesting woodlands being the waste of money etc... I was suggesting buying horses in general, not many horses bring in the money/returns you would hope for when purchasing at prices that the Sheik does.

I was mealy stating his love for Horses and hence the reason he spends big on them.

Something I believe he will not do if he owned us, because his love is not in Football.

I apologise if my post was strong.

As for what the Sheik spends on horses, remember what a good stallion can earn. I am not sure how many horses the Sheik sells and I doubt many of his best see an Auction but he could make a fortune if he already isn't.

As for what his business plan is I have no idea, but I would have good money on it being a lot better than what Hicks and Gillet have planned. I won't predict Ambromivich spending but I bet we get a fair wedge to spend and to be honest I do not think we need to spend like Roman.

More importantly though I want DIC because I won't have to worry about LFC going broke.