Foundation families support breeding operation envied the world over

Juddmonte Farms is one of those rare entities. Built upon a framework of sound advice and shrewd early purchases, it has been self-sufficient for much of its history, functioning around a home grown stallion roster that has long been supported by a powerful broodmare band.

As such, Prince Khalid Abdullah has rarely felt the need to invest further in the market; after all, his creation is a tight run ship that has produced the winners of 205 Group/Grade 1 races, many sired by the stud’s own stallions. And yet on the rare occasions his team have gone to market, they have enhanced the operation with a horse of the stature of Arrogate.

The seeds were sown for such a distinguished association with the sport via a series of important early acquisitions. The catalyst was arguably Known Fact, whose career paid tribute to the skills of two people in whom Abdullah placed his early trust – Humphrey Cottrill, who bought the colt for $225,000 as a yearling, and Beckhampton trainer Jeremy Tree, who sent him out to ‘win’ the 1980 2,000 Guineas upon the demotion of Nureyev.