Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Atzeni Part Ways
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Photo: Steven Cargill/RACINGFOTOS.COM
Andrea Atzeni (second from left) and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (third from right) in the winner's enclosure after Postponed's victory in the 2016 Juddmonte International Stakes at York
After eight years together, the partnership between jockey Andrea Atzeni and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum has ended.
Atzeni released a statement on Twitter Sept. 26 confirming the two had parted ways after combining for many group 1 wins, most famously with Postponed , who won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) in 2015 and the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) in 2016.
The statement said: "My contract with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum has come to an end and will not be renewed. We have had a great eight years together and enjoyed plenty of success.
"We part on good terms and I hope we enjoy more big wins together in the future. I'm enjoying a good season and very much looking forward to going freelance and seeing what the future holds."
Atzeni has ridden 193 winners from 939 rides for the owner—operating at a 20% strike rate—with recent notable victories, including the 2020 Skybet Ebor Handicap (G2) with Fujaira Prince and the Betfair Sprint Cup (G1) last year with Emaraaty Ana .
This is the second high-profile split featuring the Emirati owner in the last seven years, after he took more than 30 horses away from Postponed's former trainer, Luca Cumani, who also trained High-Rise to Derby glory for the sheikh in 1998.
Roger Varian, who was sent those Cumani horses in 2015, is still a major trainer for the owner, who also has horses with Kevin Ryan, Simon and Ed Crisford, Richard Hannon, Andrew Balding, and Karl Burke.