A Special Owner of the Month

Mansoor Gandhi has his own trainer and a forty horse barn in Penang, ten horses in training with Mark Walker in Singapore, and although not having met David Ellis he wants to talk to him about taking Te Akau global.

“I have not met David, only spoken to him on mobile, but he sounds like a lovely person, has plenty of experience and hopefully someone I can learn a lot from about the racing industry,” said Mansoor, from Singapore.

“I haven't mentioned it to him yet, and will wait until we can sit down and discuss things together, see what we can establish, but I would love to see Te Akau extend to Europe.

“Te Akau has the expertise and the people and because I have family there and they love the animal and love the enthusiasm of horse racing."

Mansoor is first generation in Singapore; his late father was Persian, mother from Arabia, and after graduating in Business and Management in the U.K., he became an entrepreneur in shipping and transportation, trading oil and gas.

“I started off when I was very young, twenty years ago, starting from scratch, and I've never looked back,” he said.

His introduction to horse racing came via family, based in Arabia, some in Bahrain, and most of them in the United Arab Emirates.

“I used to go to the Dubai World Cup, Royal Ascot when I was in the U.K., and I developed a love of horses and gained inspiration to own horses from family.

“I had to find the right time to do it (own horses) and with the business in oil and gas slowing down a little because of the world economy I found some spare time to buy nice thoroughbreds for racing.  It started about three years ago when I bought my first horse and since then it hasn't stopped."

Most recently, Te Akau principal David Ellis purchased three horses for Mansoor at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale at Karaka: Lot 41, a Savabeel colt, for $280,000, Lot 180, an Ocean Park colt, for $135,000, and Lot 436, a Star Witness colt, for $170,000.

“The Savabeel colt was one of the best I've ever seen,” said Ellis, who has a developed a fabulous eye for good, sound and athletic horses during thirty-five years as mastermind of Te Akau Racing.

“I was really surprised that I was able to buy him for two eighty as I thought he would make more, but it was early in the sale and that was a big help. He is out of an O'Reilly mare and the Savabeel/O'Reilly cross has been unbelievably successful.

“The Ocean Park colt is a half-brother to Mexican Rose, who was the Champion Two-Year-Old and Champion Three-Year-Old in Singapore. The mare, Down View, by Gone West is Mr. Prospector's most successful son at stud and the Mr. Prospector blood is on fire around the world at present. The colt, which we bought from his breeder, Jamieson Park, is a half-brother to a recent stakes' placed mare we train in Latin Rose, and he put in a fantastic performance at the breeze-ups to be regarded as one of the star workers.

“The Star Witness colt was breezed-up and had been ridden by one of our jockeys, who a month earlier had alerted me to the fact that this colt could be quite special. He is from the same family as Princess Mellay, who won eighteen races, including the New Zealand Oaks and the New Zealand Cup, twice. Also Prince Majestic, who won nineteen races, including what is now the BMW at Rosehill, and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick, and was one of the best horse I've seen. Out of an O'Reilly mare, this colt was bred at the great Widden Stud, in the Hunter Valley, and he really has the makings of being first-class.

“It is quite unusual to have one person invest in three such lovely horses and being able to select them for Mansoor is a privilege as he is someone who believes highly in loyalty and honesty,” Ellis said.

“As well as these horses, he also has mares with us in New Zealand.

“His mare Peta's Girl, by Carnegie, has been served by Power. He owns a Show A Heart mare called Rhianna, who's had a Darci Brahma colt foal and will be served by Darci Brahma, plus he owns a mare called Alrina.

“He owns a Smart Missile colt that we bought at the Gold Coast Sales, in June, and he has a two-year-old gelding by Darci Brahma out of Peta's Girl.

“Mansoor is a really genuine person to deal with, extremely loyal, and we are thrilled to be training horses for him in New Zealand and Singapore,” Ellis said.

On the day of speaking with Mansoor, he was informed that Iffragal (2 f Iffraaj - Regal Thrills) had been an impressive trial winner, with Cameron Lammas aboard, at Te Teko.

“Jamie (Richards) phoned me with the news that she had blitzed them by four lengths, so that's a relief,” said Mansoor, with a laugh.

Iffragal displayed the benefit of a good education provided by world-class track work riders, as she railed beautifully, changed stride, and did everything professionally. 

Ellis said: “She was a beautiful Iffraaj filly that I bought at the sales for Mansoor, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, for $200,000, and I'm thrilled she has trialled so well."

New Zealander Cherie Hamilton trains horses for Mansoor in Penang, where they are currently second in the trainers' premiership and also second in the premiership for owners.

“We still have one more month of racing to go and it looks like it's going to be a very good year,” Mansoor said.

“I have a very nice horse from the first crop of Showcasing, called Showboy, and he has won four in a row.

“Two weeks back I had my second winner at Kranji, in my colours (see below and main pic) but racing in Singapore is a lot tougher than in Malaysia.

“I have the horses there with Mark Walker and we had our first winner in September.  Mark is a prolific trainer and, of course, my first choice.

“More than just a trainer, he is a great friend and someone I can talk with about family, the world, and life.

“He (Mark) is extremely professional and the only guy I know that wakes up at four o'clock in the morning to be the first person in the barn and make sure everything goes well.  He doesn't miss a day - rain, hail, or thunder, he's there.

“He is all about the well-being of the horses; he's a truly professional trainer and I think he will go very, very far in his career.  His record speaks for itself, winning five premierships in New Zealand, and the racing there is no different to Singapore when it comes to the competitiveness.

“I am very lucky to have met Mark and in a very compact industry we need people like him to take it to the next level.

“The important part in this industry is the initial part, which will either make or break, so I'm very happy to have this relationship with Mark, with horses, and it doesn't stop there.

“Five times champion in New Zealand, he won the premiership last year in Singapore, third this year and hopefully more winners next year,” said Mansoor, of the trainer who has won Group One races in New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore.

“One of the most important things in winning is the thoroughbred itself, and I said to Mark ‘we'll get good thoroughbreds, groom them, educate them, and teach them to be a winner'.

“It all has to work as a team and I feel I have that with Te Akau, which is very pleasing and gives me a lot of satisfaction.  I can rest in peace during all the travelling to business meetings that everything is taken care of by people that love the horses, love the industry, knows the industry very well and are very professional.

“When I go and see the horses the other trainers look at me because I am so keen and enthusiastic, but I feel spoilt by it and with the help of almighty God.

“I'm not a pushy sort of owner, as I like to see the horses develop by themselves and I love them so I don't want to see them harmed. If they are sick then get the vet and if they are not fit for racing then they can do equestrian or go to the kids riding school.

“Talking about this reminds me of a story,” said Mansoor.

“One of my first horses with Mark, she died and I was practically in tears and thought how could that happen. Mark was also a little shocked and it came as a surprise to everyone, but these things happen because they are living things, like human beings.

“Some people look at them like a money machine, but they should be treated like a normal living being, not human beings, but living beings.

“I like to see them treated right, given rest before their next race, and they should be ready and physically fit before racing and I always say to Mark Walker ‘only put them in the race when they're ready'. It doesn't matter if it takes a year or so to prepare them."

Known for his honesty and loyalty, Mansoor had his morals shaped early in life and continues to carry them through his business relationships and involvement in the thoroughbred industry.

“It goes back to the experiences I have had with my families, and they really taught me a lot,” Mansoor said.

“Loyalty and trust: it's like any partnership, or relationship, or marriage, if there is a smell of mistrust then it just breaks the whole thing down, and this is the principal I operate by day-to-day.

“It (racing) is a lovely hobby and we have to get the best people to make it successful, and we hope to make it profitable for the investment we put in.

“David has vast experience and sincerity and he has a special eye for horses, and Stephen (Autridge) and Jamie (Richards) won the premiership in their first season together.

“I met Jamie when he was in Singapore. He is a lovely guy and we had dinner together with Mark - a nice time together.  Jamie is young, energetic, and enthusiastic."

Although Mansoor has not visited New Zealand, it is on his soon ‘to do' list.

“I'm planning to go to New Zealand, catch up with David and his lovely wife, Karyn, and the team there.

“David has been so lovely and so kind, and kept inviting me over, and when I go there I just want to put my work aside and enjoy myself.   It won't be too long and I can go down there and meet the loveliest people in the world.

“The most important thing is the relationship and I think we are in it for a long, long way.  I know it's a process, and we have got started so hopefully we can see a good result.

“I have never been to New Zealand, but made an investment of three million dollars on horses and for that I have to really believe and trust the people.  I like to work with people who are sincere, loyal, and honest, and I will support them throughout wherever I can.

“I know I don't have to call Mark, or David, to ask about the horses as I know they are in good hands and because, when people start calling it means they start doubting. So, I trust them and in every successful business the most important element is trust.

“I know I don't have to be there to look at every angle about it. I have four broodmares, too, with Te Akau, which recently had a colt and a filly, and I said to David that hopefully we have some good mares for a continuation process and maybe even scout around for a handsome stallion, or produce one ourselves - like Darci Brahma."

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