Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum lands in the Mediterranean the week Royal Ascot begins

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum flew from Barling Airfield in England to a point in the Mediterranean south of Crete on June 16, a 2-hour-54-minute hop aboard his Boeing 747-433M Combi, tail A6-COM. The aircraft, a rare passenger-freight hybrid, is often used to move horses and staff between the Dubai royal family's global equestrian operations.

The flight arrives the same week Royal Ascot begins in England, where Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin stable is expected to play a leading role, per the Khaleej Times. The five-day festival, which started June 16, features Godolphin runners in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes and St James's Palace Stakes, among others. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum founded Godolphin in 1992 and has recorded more than 60 winners at the meeting.

The ruler's recent flight patterns show heavy shuttling between Dubai and Newmarket, home to Godolphin's UK base, with multiple trips in the days before Royal Ascot. The Combi's ability to carry both passengers and racehorses makes it a logical choice for a week when the stable's top thoroughbreds compete on one of racing's grandest stages.