Osama Bin Laden relative spends £1.8million buying horses to race in Britain

05 October 2023 , 14:13

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A relative of Osama Bin Laden bought seven horses at Tattersalls (Image: Getty Images)

A relative of Osama Bin Laden is set to join the ranks of racehorse owners in Britain.

Saudi businessman Mohammed Saleh Bin Laden has spent more than £1.8 million buying horses at book one of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in Newmarket.

He is a nephew of Bakr Bin Laden, a half-brother of Osama Bin Laden who was disowned by his family after he founded and led the Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation until his death in 2011.

During the opening two days of the elite sale, seven fillies were purchased for Salhia Stud, whose majority shareholder is Mohammed Saleh Bin Laden.

Hossam Alsaady, a director of Salhia Stud, told the Racing Post the stud was seeking to establish itself in Britain.

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He said: “We are big in Arabian breeding but have never been in thoroughbreds before now; we have only recently decided to do this.

“We have invested and spent a lot on UK business and are involved in many areas of the UK, so we thought why not British racing too and let’s see what we can do.

“It’s a long-term project. What we are doing is inspired by Juddmonte, who are Saudi, and I believe they started off with ten fillies and have grown to where they are now. That said, if we see a colt that we like then we will take a chance with him too.

Osama Bin Laden: disowned by his family after founding Al Qaeda (Getty Images)

“We want to be here in the UK for a long time and we are going to be investing in the horses at the sales for the next few years.”

According to the Al Salhia Stud website, Bin Laden’s interest in horses was fuelled from a young age.

“Since childhood, his passion for the horse was instilled by the gift of a horse from his uncle Sheikh Bakr Binladen,” it says.

Among the yearling fillies purchased by Bin Laden were a 500,000gns Dubawi half-sister to Group 1 winner Barney Roy and a 300,000gns daughter of Frankel.

Alsaady added: “Mr Bin Laden is a very successful Saudi businessman and his love of horses is massive. He has a love affair with Arabians, but he wants to support British racing and these will be his first thoroughbreds. We’re coming in and we’re hoping for success.”

Jon Lees