It is not only the Arabs who have an intimate, almost mystical
involvement with the horse. In Istanbul for the Topkapi Trophy, sitting
beside the largest kebab I have ever seen (and, I kid you not, it was more
than 12 feet long), I was reminded by my genial host Mehmet Kurt that
the horse was special to the Ottomans, too. Their warriors, he insisted,
were unbeatable. They never changed horses and their equine partners
often saved their lives with their uncanny ability to anticipate and counter
the enemy’s moves. There was perfect synchronisation of thought and
movement between horse and warrior.
Mehmet Kurt’s own orange and white colours have twice been carried to
victory in the Turkish Derby at Veliefendi and the prominent Istanbul
owner, a construction and property millionaire, plans to have horses soon
in Britain. Touring his stables some 50 minutes out of Turkey’s liveliest
city there was plenty on which to feast the eye, notably nice two-yearolds
by Montjeu, Rock of Gibraltar and Galileo. I particularly liked the look
of South Center, by Royal Abjar.