User:Stephenagrant/Dhruba Selvaratnam

Dhruba Selvaratnam (Born 4th of November 1950) is a race horse trainer currently working in Dubai, U.A.E for His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Beginning his horse racing career in Pakistan in the 1970s, he saddled four Classic winners and was crowned Champion Trainer in 1972/1973.

Career
In 1975 Dhruba moved to Kingsclere in Berkshire to become assistant trainer to Ian Balding after which he took up the same position under Robert Armstrong in Newmarket.

For ten years after this he was assistent to "The Master", Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle where a few of his charges included the Guineas winner El Gran Senor and the legendary Sadler`s Wells. He took out Irish nationality and it was here that he met his wife to be.

In 1990, he was offered the chance to train horses for His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in the U.A.E., as his private trainer. Dhruba, his wife Marian and accompanied by their son Dash moved to Dubai in 1990 where Dhruba was largely responsible for setting up Jebel Ali Racecourse and its extended training facilities.

Dhruba held no reservations towards making his mark in Dubai wining the Trainers Championship four times in 1992/3 season. In his first 13 years in the UAE he either won or came second for the Championship on eight separate occasions.

To-date he has currently saddled over 960 winners in a career which extends over thirty years.

Accolades
Over the years Dhruba has worked with many famous racing legends including the likes of Lester Piggot, Bret Doyle, Jonny Murtagh and Willie Supple.

He has had numerous successes including winning six out of seven races at a single meeting, with jockey Willie Supple riding five of them

Holds the record of trainer with the most wins at the Dubai Golden Shaheen.

Family
Dhruba married his wife Marian in 1982. They met whilst she was working as a work jockey in Ballydoyle. The have one son Dash Tiberius Triton Selvaratnam who went on to represent Ireland in several international squash tournaments at home and Internationally. Dhruba's brother Gopi works with him in Dubai as his assistant trainer.