Shadwell to End Southern Hemisphere Racing, Breeding

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 Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum has made the decision to disband the Thoroughbred holdings of Shadwell Stud Australasia 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 colors 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 license. 

"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 colors.

"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, 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 20 years or so. 

"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."