Thegreatcollection Fulfills Dubai Dreams for Centofanti

In early 2010 horseman and consignor Raffaele Centofanti and his parents, Alexandro Centofanti and Kathleen Amaya, had a burgeoning broodmare band of 35 mares on their farm in Citra, Fla. At the height of the family's breeding program, the plan was to send their mares to Florida stallions with the intent to run the resulting progeny in the Sunshine State where they would be eligible for the regional racing bonuses for Florida-breds. But on March 27, one of those Centofanti Florida-breds—Thegreatcollection—will line up in a starting gate almost 7,000 miles from where he was born when he makes his start in the 25th running of the $12 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) at Meydan. "To see him be invited was crazy," said Raffaele Centofanti. "I called and told my mom and she had no idea. My dad couldn't believe it. They keep up with the races but not as much as I do, and they really had no idea he'd been invited. They both said, 'You're not lying to us, right?' I think they were both in shock." Seven-year-old Thegreatcollection is from the final crop of foals bred and foaled by Centofanti and his parents, who have since shifted their focus to breaking, training, and consigning young racehorses for their own program and for clients. From humble origins, Thegreatcollection was the first foal born to the mare Cactus Cadillac (by Cactus Ridge), who had been purchased by Centofanti's father as a broodmare prospect for a modest $14,000 in 2013 from the consignment of James Keogh to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale. The Centofantis decided to send the mare to the stallion Saint Anddan, who stood in Florida at Journeyman Stallions until he was moved to Saudi Arabia in 2015. "At the time, we were trying to breed to Florida stallions to compete in races like the Florida Sire Stakes," said Centofanti. "There was good money in that, and my dad and mom sent our mares to farms like Journeyman Stud, Ocala Stud, and Pleasant Acres. We bred that mare to Saint Anddan, who my dad really liked physically. He thought he was a very nice stallion from an A.P. Indy line, and we thought he would work well with that mare, so we gave him a chance. "Funny enough, the foal looked great. There wasn't much pedigree to him, but when we started training him we really liked him. He just got better as he got older." It was Centofanti's mother who named the foal Thegreatcollection in honor of a small, personal collection of art owned by the family. "I usually name the horses but she really wanted to name that one for some reason," said Centofanti. "But that fit well with the horse and it has meaning to it. She foaled him out as well. She was in charge when we had all of our broodmares. She did it all herself, and she has emotional attachments to everything that comes through the farm, but he is special to her." Thegreatcollection was one of the first graduates to be put through his paces in what has since developed into the Centofanti Thoroughbreds training program. Once he made it to the track, trainer Efren Loza Jr. took over the horse's conditioning. The horse impressed his connections early, breaking his maiden on debut at Gulfstream Park before winning the Evangeline Downs Prince Stakes at Evangeline Downs next out. Thegreatcollection's third start—a runner-up finish in the In Reality division of the Florida Sire Stakes series at Gulfstream—would be his last in the continental United States. Approached by interested parties hoping to buy the horse, a private deal was brokered by Conor Foley of Oracle Bloodstock and Thegreatcollection was purchased by current owner, Zaur Sekrekov. While Centofanti said it was bittersweet to watch the colt be moved to Dubai permanently, he was happy to see the horse be afforded larger opportunities than he likely could have found in North America. "We're a small operation, and we love racing, but sometimes you have to sell horses to keep going. It's an expensive business," said Centofanti. "At the time, our farm was family operated by just my parents and me. Now we've branched out to pinhooking and having more clients and doing breaking and training, but back then we always liked to sell if the money was right, and we thought it was a good move for him. We are so happy with his accomplishments." Since he was acquired by the new ownership, Thegreatcollection has 25 starts in the United Arab Emirates for trainer Doug Watson. Despite his age, he has remained incredibly consistent throughout his career. In 2021 alone, Thegreatcollection has finished runner up in both the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 Sponsored by Mina by Azizi (G2) and the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G2). He most recently finished fourth in the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) at Meydan March 6. Thegreatcollection's last win came in December when he took the Dubai Creek Mile Presented by Longines. He holds a 7-7-2 record from 28 starts and $564,583 in earnings. "It's hard to keep up with him when following races in Dubai, but I always watched for him," said Centofanti. "When he was first shipped over there they gave him time, and what I really like about Dubai is that they don't run their horses in as many races as we do here. They really rest their horses, and I think that really helped him get where he is today. "Doug Watson and his owner have done a fantastic job. I follow them on Instagram and that's how I've kept up with him mostly. They've done a great job with him, and they really take care of their horses. They picked the right races for him, and as he got older, like I said, he got better. He's in very good hands, and that is what makes me happy. To see a horse that we bred do that well and for him to be taken care of, that is what matters. I give them a lot of credit. If it wasn't for the way they've handled him, I don't know if he would still be running as well as he is today. Now he's competing in the Dubai World Cup, and it's really an honor. It's also an accomplishment for my dad, my mom, and myself. It's not ever something we thought would happen." Thegreatcollection, who has drawn post 8 in Saturday's 10-furlong Dubai World Cup, will face a handful of familiar competitors. He finished second to Military Law (GB) (post 5) and in front of Salute The Soldier (GER) (post 11) in Round 1 of the Al Maktoum Challenge and was runner-up to Salute The Soldier (GER) in Round 2. Last time out in Round 3, he was fourth behind Salute The Soldier and runner-up Hypothetical (IRE) (post 2). Jockey Pat Cosgrave is slated to have the call on Thegreatcollection. While the morning-line odds have slated Thegreatcollection as a longshot at 30-1, Centofanti said he's hopeful that the horse will be able to use his familiarity of the Meydan surface to his advantage over the weekend. "I think he's got a nice chance," said Centofanti. "Hopefully, there will be a lot of speed to him, and I think he'll be coming in well. He's got a nice pace to him, and I like the two turns for him. I think he'll run well having a home-field advantage, and I think there is no Lasix allowed in that race also. It'll be interesting. I'll be rooting for him." No matter the outcome, Centofanti said Thegreatcollection has gone above and beyond his and his parents' expectations for their breeding program and will forever hold a special place in their hearts and in their farm's legacy. "I would love to have a horse run in that kind of race every year, but it's very hard," said Centofanti. "To see a horse compete in the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Kentucky Oaks (G1), or the Dubai World Cup—not many horses get that chance. So many horses are retired or they get hurt or their ability to run deteriorates, so it's great to see him running so well. I'm super excited that he's made it."