'He couldn't have done much more both on and off the track' - Group 1-winning racehorse and sire Al Maher dies aged 23

Emirates Park have announced the death of their 2005 Australian Guineas winner Al Maher at the age of 23. 

Bred by the stud's founder Hussain Nasser Abdullah Lootah in 2000 from a daughter of blue hen mare Dancing Show, Al Maher would go on to become one of Emirates Park's most accomplished racehorses before joining the farm's stallion roster in 2005 and remaining in service for 18 consecutive seasons. He covered his last mare in September 2022.

Under the guidance of Gai Waterhouse, Al Maher won the Australian Guineas at Flemington by two and three-quarter lengths over Danehill Express, sealing his place on the Emirates Park stallion roster for the coming breeding season.

At stud, Al Maher would go on to sire a total of 39 individual stakes winners, including Group 1 winner and A$10 million earner Private Eye, and fellow elite-level scorers Delicacy, Almalad, Fat Al and Diamond Drille.

"Very few thoroughbred breeding and racing concerns in Australia have realised a better outcome than that which emanated from the decision of the boss [H.E. Nasser Lootah] to put Show Dancing to Danehill," said Emirates Park general manager Bryan Carlson.

"Everyone to have been associated with the farm can be eternally grateful for everything Al Maher has achieved. It has been immense.

"It's a very sad day for our close-knit team at Murrurundi, where Al Maher has been a fixture for the best part of 20 years. He very much became a cornerstone of the operation soon after Emirates Park had safely negotiated its formative period, and he has been instrumental in our success ever since.

"Homebred Group 1 winners who in turn sire Group 1 winners rarely come along in any lifetime. Al Maher really couldn't have done much more both on and off the track."

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