A day in the life of a top UAE racehorse trainer

Musabbeh Al Mheiri, who begins his day at 4:30 in the morning, opens up about how he became one of the UAE's most successful and respected racehorse trainers

- Leslie Wilson Jr [e-mail]

At first glance, the life of a racehorse trainer might appear to be a glamorous pursuit, a world of elite thoroughbreds, million dirham races, and the thrill of victory at the iconic Meydan Racecourse as the world watches.

But step inside the Oasis 1 Stables with UAE champion trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri and a different truth emerges. It is one of devotion and determination that begins long before the first streak of dawn touches the stables, which overlook the gigantic racecourse.

Against the disappearing darkness, grooms move swiftly and quietly between stalls, and the soft thud of hooves fills the air. By 4:30 am, Al Mheiri, who has already driven from his home in Ajman, is on his morning rounds, beginning another day in the life that has made him one of the UAE's most successful and respected racehorse trainers.

A former amateur jockey, Al Mheiri's story begins far from Meydan. As a boy, he rode horses bareback along the sandy beaches of Ajman, often in the company of his brother-in-law and future UAE champion trainer, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

"Back then, we were not thinking about competition," he recalls. "It was about instinct, feeling the rhythm of the horse under you, understanding how to control him, when to push and when to let go. Those mornings on the beach with Ali taught me the value of patience. It became part of me from a young age and it has never left."

That instinct has carried him far. Today, Al Mheiri is a three-time UAE Champion trainer, with more than 550 winners to his name. His achievements span prestigious Group 1 victories including the Gr 1 Al Quoz Sprint (Danyah), the Gr 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (Muarrab), the Gr 1 Al Maktoum Challenge (Military Law), and two wins in the Jebel Hatta (Alfareeq). These milestones have cemented his status among the elite of UAE racing.