Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Ozzie Kheir is an incredibly successful businessman. He has made his millions in property, specifically at the helm of the family-owned Resimax Group.
A self-described ‘workaholic’, Kheir needed an outlet, something to take his mind off work, so about a decade ago, with some encouragement from friends, he turned to racing.
Given his achievements in his professional life, it comes as no surprise that Kheir has become one of Australia’s biggest and most successful owners. He has won most of Australia’s big races. He has two Caulfield Cups, with Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in 2020 and Incentivise (Shamus Award) in 2021, and two Melbourne Cups - Protectionist (Ger) in 2014 and Verry Elleegant in 2021. He scaled The Everest with Yes Yes Yes in 2019, and the following year, Tagaloa handed Kheir a maiden Blue Diamond S. victory, before Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) bested his rivals in the Cox Plate. Then there’s Hitotsu, who, had it not been for injury, could have been anything. During his fledgling career, he won the G1 Victoria Derby, G1 Australian Guineas and G1 ATC Australian Derby.
Gallery: Some of the horses Kheir has enjoyed elite-level success with, images courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Kheir loves the thrill of winning big races and is always on the hunt for the next star. With that in mind, he recently partnered with Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Thani’s global racing and bloodstock giant Qatar Racing, and on Saturday, their talented entire, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Valiant King (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}), lines up in the $5 million G1 Caulfield Cup.
During this year’s Royal Ascot Carnival, Kheir and some fellow owners bought into Qatar Racing’s Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock), Saint George (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) and Valiant King.
“The relationship with Qatar Racing is a growing one,” Kheir told The Thoroughbred Report.
“They’ve been great to deal with and hopefully we can enjoy some success together. We race a few horses overseas with them and vice versa, they will have a few horses racing with us here in Australia. It’s exciting.”
“They’ve (Qatar Racing) been great to deal with and hopefully we can enjoy some success together.” - Ozzie Kheir
Valiant King is beautifully bred. A son of the brilliant four-time Group 1 winner Roaring Lion (USA), who sadly died from colic in 2019, he is from the winning Candy Ride (Arg) mare Assembly (USA) and she is a half-sister to the Listed winner Seismic Wave (USA) (Tapit {USA}) and the stakes performers Bugle Major (USA) (Mizzen Mast {USA}) and Teletext (USA). Other stakes winners on his page include Newsletter (Ire) (Sir Percy {GB}) and Verbal (USA) (Flintshire {GB}), while his fourth dam Euphonic (USA) (The Minstrel {Can}) is a half-sister to the great Danehill (USA).
The 4-year-old boasts one win and four minor placings from seven starts, and two starts ago, he placed second behind the Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in the G3 Ballyroan S. at Naas.
“Initially, we were attracted to his form, and his racing credentials were on the improve,” Kheir explained. “He was only lightly raced, his page was full of quality and he showed a really good turn of foot, so we were very keen on getting him. The form around him was good and I just thought he was a horse that would continue to improve over time.
“We looked at him after his second start (at the Curragh in August, 2022) and then we bought into him after his third start (after running second at Royal Ascot).
“He (Valiant King) was only lightly raced, his page was full of quality and he showed a really good turn of foot, so we were very keen on getting him.” - Ozzie Kheir
“He’ll only have a light preparation this year and we hope he improves next year.”
A stallion in waiting?
A career at stud beckons if Valiant King can win a feature race, but Kheir believes that opportunity is more likely to be in the Northern Hemisphere, if at all.
“He’s very well bred, so potentially that is an option, but there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge; he’s got to do it on the track first, he hasn’t won a stakes race as yet,” said Kheir. “If we can get there, then great, and even if we do, I’m not sure if that would be in Australia, it might be overseas.
“I think he would have to win over 10 furlongs (2000 metres) to be considered for a life at stud in Australia. Again, at this stage, he’s a racehorse for us. Hopefully, he can get there in time, but for now, it’s all about building his profile.”
“I think he (Valiant King) would have to win over 10 furlongs (2000 metres) to be considered for a life at stud in Australia.” - Ozzie Kheir
Kheir is no stranger to being a shareholder in high-class stallions. He has an interest in Coolmore’s Yes Yes Yes, as well as the Yulong Stud resident Tagaloa and the triple Group 1 winner Hitotsu, who is a recent addition to the Arrowfield Stud roster.
“That part of it excites me and I really enjoy it,” Kheir said.
“I think that’s most people’s goal, to make a stallion and see their progeny hit the track. If they do find a good home at stud, it means they have been successful.
“I think that’s most people’s goal, to make a stallion and see their progeny hit the track.” - Ozzie Kheir
“We’ve had a bit of success with those three horses and now we hope they can make their mark at stud. We will see how we go.”
Caulfield Cup prospects
Valiant King is one of two runners Kheir has in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, with stablemate Soulcombe (GB) (Frankel {GB}) also to run for the $3 million winner’s cheque.
Soulcombe (GB) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Valiant King has sneaked into the field. We weren’t sure he would get a run. He’s only got 50kg, which is a touch less than what I thought he would get, we’ve locked in Jamie Kah and we’re very happy to have her. He travelled over here really well and we’ve drawn barrier one, which I don’t mind,” Kheir remarked.
“He’ll put himself right up there and with 50kg on his back he’ll get his chance.”
“He’ll (Valiant King) put himself right up there and with 50kg on his back he’ll get his chance.” - Ozzie Kheir
“Soulcombe couldn’t be going better. He gets out to a trip where, in the past, we would have thought that’s when he would be getting warm; we never thought he would be competitive until we got him to 2400 metres, so the fact he’s getting there now is exciting.
“To see what he did in the Underwood and the Turnbull, he’s been very impressive, and his work on Tuesday on the course proper at Caulfield was very good. We’re very happy.”
