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Shadwell to disband racing and breeding operation in Australia and South Africa

Newmarket  Sheikh Hamdan
Hamdan Al Maktoum: won the Melbourne Cup with At Talaq (1986) and Jeune (1994)Credit: Edward Whitaker

Shadwell, one of the world's biggest racing and breeding operations, is to wind down its interests in the southern hemisphere following a global review of the business.

In a move that will have major financial implications on racing's global scene, Shadwell founder Hamdan Al Maktoum has made the decision to disband the thoroughbred holdings of Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd and sell off his star horses in Australia and South Africa over the next few months.

Sheikh Hamdan has cited his inability to be as closely involved as he would like as a core reason behind the decision.

The sheikh's famous blue and white colours have lit up European racecourses through the likes of Nashwan, Salsabil, Dayjur and Battaash, and also in Australia, most notably with Melbourne Cup wins for At Talaq (1986) and Jeune (1994).

Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold said: "Sheikh Hamdan has had a long and successful involvement in Australia, initially thanks to his close friendship with Colin Hayes and subsequently with his son David when he took over the licence.

"During that time, and from initially small numbers of horses in training, champions such as At Talaq, Almaarad, Zabeel and Jeune, together with Group 1 winners Azzaam, Fraar, Istidaad, Tawqeet, Rewaaya and Qafila have raced in his world famous colours.

"However, as those who know him will attest, Sheikh Hamdan is very much a 'hands on' man who likes to be closely involved with the Shadwell horses, and due to his commitments in UAE he has not been able to devote as much time as he would like to following their horses in Australia.

"As a result, and as part of a global review of the Shadwell operation, it has been decided to wind down its racing and breeding operations in the southern hemisphere over the next few months; the entire Australian yearling crop will be offered at public auction at the various upcoming sales, with the cream of them going to the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, and the breeding stock will all be sold at the Magic Millions Breeding Stock Sale at the end of May – the horses in training will gradually be dispersed in due course."

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum greets sprint star Battaash after the 2019 Nunthorpe Stakes
Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum greets sprint star Battaash after the 2019 Nunthorpe StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Sheikh Hamdan, 75, has had a long association with the Hayes family, with Colin responsible for At Talaq's Melbourne Cup success in 1986, not long after they joined forces.

When Hayes retired at the end of the 1989-90 season, his son David assumed control of Shadwell's Australian horses and masterminded a second Melbourne Cup win for the operation with Jeune in 1994. David's son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig train the current team.

Gold added: "On Sheikh Hamdan's behalf I would like to thank the extended Hayes family, namely Colin, Peter and David, as well as Tony McEvoy, and latterly Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig together with their excellent staff, for the outstanding job they have done over the years for Sheikh Hamdan and Shadwell; equally I would like to pay tribute to Arthur and Harry Mitchell and their team at Yarraman Park for all their hard work in looking after our breeding stock for the last twenty years or so.


Sheikh Hamdan: shy, loyal, knowledgeable and a man fond of having a good laugh (Members' Club)


"Shadwell have been a huge supporter of the Australasian yearling market for a number of years now and have been rewarded with numerous stakes winners both in Australia and South Africa – as well as the horses mentioned earlier they have won three runnings of the Blue Diamond with Mahaasin, Nadeem and Reaan, though having been underbidders on both Miss Finland and Estijaab unfortunately the Golden Slipper eluded us – other recent stakes winners include Enbihaar, Rimraam, Madeenaty, Zamzam and Minhaaj, all of whom will be offered for sale, as well as champions Rafeef, Mustaaqeem, Majmu and Entisaar in South Africa.

"We have made a conscious effort to upgrade the quality of the breeding stock over the last few years and I feel sure that there will be plenty of good buying opportunities for prospective buyers at the upcoming sales.

"Although it is very sad that we will no longer be represented on the track in Australia I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sheikh Hamdan for his loyal support of the industry over so many years, and to wish all prospective purchasers the best of luck in the years ahead – as we have seen from the recent successful yearling sales on the Gold Coast and at the Classic sale in Sydney there certainly couldn’t be a more exciting time to be involved in such a thriving racing industry."


Read more:

Lack of another great stallion is Sheikh Hamdan's 'biggest sadness'

Sheikh Hamdan will bid to continue 'fantastic year' in Middle Park with Minzaal

Impressive Raabihah cut for Arc as Sheikh Hamdan riches continue to flow


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Andrew DietzReporter

Published on 12 February 2021inInternational

Last updated 10:32, 12 February 2021

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