The Geegees: Inside dope on the sheikh

A scandal involving a VIP hits the headlines. Illegal activity, unfair advantage and family interests promoted in a murky conspiracy.

Shock, horror, spin doctoring. A commission of inquiry is set up "to get to the bottom of it".

Months later, findings emerge. Blow me down with a feather: Mr Big, No1, is found to have been oblivious to what was going on. He was busy with other important things at the time, naturally, and is exonerated. Snivelling serfs who betrayed his trust must face the music.

This is a scenario close to home and South Africa's political nuthouse. But it is also a racing story far afield.

Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai and - as kingpin of the vast Godolphin racing and Darley stud operations - just about the most influential man in horseracing in the world, was this week cleared of any blame for the doping scandal that hit his empire last year.

The inquiry by a former British police chief confirms the findings of an earlier probe by the British racing authorities.

Both reports identified "management failings, insufficient oversight and complacency" - which they could hardly fail to do after British rozzers nicked the sheikh's bagmen with gallons of performance-enhancing dope.

The bad guy is Mahmood al-Zarooni, trainer to the sheikh, although other Godolphin minions will also "be dealt with".

The whole business is a disgrace and a stain on racing. Nonetheless, one can't help feeling a smidgen of sympathy for the racing officials who have had to deal with the catastrophe.

Sheikh Mohammed is the biggest investor in the British racing industry, and a towering figure in other countries - not to mention the brains behind his own Dubai World Cup, the richest race in the world. (Godolphin isn't yet predominant in South Africa, though silks of some of the sheikh's relatives are a growing presence and Dubai dirhams have flowed at thoroughbred sales in Johannesburg and Cape Town.)

Without Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed, global racing would be considerably reduced. So you don't want the geezer getting cheesed off at a scolding - or, horrors, a ban - to the extent that he sulkily picks up his football and goes home to his tent in the desert. That would mean lots of folk out of jobs.

Mea culpa is not a common thing among the elite, though there'll always be a sense among us disempowered masses that government bosses should bear responsibility for departments, and ditto for corporate CEOs and their staffs. After all, they trouser the big pay cheques to ensure that their toiling underlings get it approximately right.

Most politicians are untroubled by the concept of shame and a "bad name", but that other elite, the wealthy, often are. One can only hope the rich people who own horses hold responsibility and reputation dear and pursue a path of decency and honesty in racing.

Racing has always been a thing of tenuous hope and absurd optimism.

• TURFFONTEIN: PA - 1,11 x 4,14 x 4,5 x 7 x 2,8,12 x 3,8 x 4,14 (R96)