Shadwell's Purebred Arabian dispersal raises €1,728,000

A rare opportunity to purchase broodmares from Shadwell's Purebred Arabian operation produced impressive turnover of €1,728,000 in an online sale by Auctav on Tuesday.

The racing and breeding empire of the late Hamdan Al Maktoum has been downsizing following his death earlier this year and 22 prestige lots were offered, for which Auctav registered nearly 200 new accounts opened and participation from 15 countries.

Some 16 minutes of extra time had to be allowed for top lot Tashreefat, where YAS Horse Racing Management won the battle with a bid of €310,000, a new auction record for Auctav.

She is thought to be the top-priced Arabian to have been sold in France in three years, being Group 1-placed and already the producer of champions Moshrif, Barnamaj and Muraaqib.

Two fillies out of Tashreefat were also in the catalogue: Ajaayib, in foal to AF Al Buraq, was sold for €275,000. Maraasem was bought for €170,000 by the Saubouas Bloodstock.

Paul Basquin of Saubouas said: “In addition to our own purchases, Ajaayib and Jamaheer will come to the Saubouas stud farm, having been acquired by owners who were already customers of Saubouas.

"This is the future we have invested in tonight. This is the case for Tashreefat's sister, Watheeqa, bought for €225,000, who will hopefully produce as well as her sister. She is a very beautiful mare with a lot of frame and she moves very well.

Tashreefat's sister Watheeqa, who made €225,000 in the sale on TuesdayCredit: Auctav

"I was lucky to have the two Tashreefat daughters in pre-training for Shadwell. François Rohaut did a great job in training with these fillies. This is a new step regarding my involvement in those mares’ lives with their new careers at stud.

"I was able to inspect the mares at Haras de Thouars. This was a very nice sale, very well organised, where the very good fillies made the price they deserved."

A Group 1-placed descendant of the all-time favourite Cherifa named Jamaheer, in foal to AF Al Buraq, was also the subject of a fierce bidding battle before being sold for €210,000.

Will Douglass of Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock acquired both her and Ajaayib.

"The mares are for well established clients who have been breeding Arabians for a long time," he said. "The Shadwell dispersal gives us a unique opportunity to buy some high quality mares. I saw all the mares, foals and yearlings at Shadwell. If you want to upgrade your Arabians, it’s the best place to start. This is an unmissable sale."

With five lots passing €150,000, Auctav's managing director Arnaud Angeliaume said: "The result of this Shadwell sale is absolutely fantastic. We are delighted to have had the chance to host this historic sale in the history of the purebred Arabians.

"We of course thank Shadwell for their trust, Haras de Thouars for the wonderful welcome extended to the visitors of these 22 incredible mares and all the bidders and purchasers. The future of the Arabian racing was certainly written during this sale, which impressed me with the enthusiasm it generated among investors.

"We know how lucky we were to organise this historic sale for Shadwell, for the purebred Arabian breed but also for Auctav who signed a new auction record at €310,000, thanks to the amazing Tashreefat."

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