Brilliant Baaeed's Opening Fee £80K at Nunnery Stud

Baaeed , the brilliant winner of six group 1s and the highest-rated turf performer in the world, is set to commence his stallion career at an opening fee of £80,000 (US$92,057), Shadwell announced Nov. 8. 

Standing at the late Hamdan Al Maktoum's Nunnery Stud alongside fellow Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) winner Mohaather , promising first-season sire Tasleet  and Commonwealth Cup (G1) scorer Eqtidaar , Baaeed retired as the winner of ten of his 11 races. 

The son of Sea The Stars  and outstanding producer Aghareed  was unraced at two but rapidly made up for lost time for William Haggas with two wins at the highest level last year in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) on Champions Day alongside the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (G3) and Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes. 

Baaeed sauntered to easy successes this year in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1), Queen Anne Stakes (G1), and Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) over a mile before a career-defining victory in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1), demolishing 2021 victor Mishriff  by six and a half lengths. That signature win earned him a career-best Racing Post Rating of 138. 

Stephen Collins, European bloodstock manager for Shadwell, said: "Baaeed's fee reflects his current status as the champion turf horse in the world for 2022 and also his impeccable race record and superb pedigree, being a direct descendant of Height of Fashion, the dam of top-class performers Nashwan, Nayef, and Unfuwain."

He added: "The 135-rated Baaeed is a wonderful addition to the Shadwell stallion roster and we have been inundated with inquiries for nominations. We have been overwhelmed by the response from breeders from all over Europe and further afield."

The team are also preparing for the arrival of Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (G1) winner Minzaal  at Shadwell's Derrinstown Stud in Ireland.

The son of Mehmas  won Haydock's showpiece group 1 by nearly four lengths alongside the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (G2) at two for Owen Burrows and has been introduced at €15,000 ($15,043). 

Collins said: "At a fee of €15,000, we have no doubt that Minzaal will prove very popular with breeders. He's a strong, good-looking individual who was a very high-class 2-year-old and developed into an exceptional older sprinter, winning the Sprint Cup in devastating style.

"His immense talent combined with his superb attitude will stand him in very good stead for what we firmly believe will be an equally successful stallion career."

Mohaather, the winner of the Sussex Stakes in 2020, will remain at a fee of £15,000 ($17,260). The top-class son of Showcasing  will see his first foals sell at upcoming auctions shortly. 

Tasleet, the sire of this year's impressive Coventry Stakes (G2) winner Bradsell , has had his fee adjusted to £6,000 ($6,904) (from £5,000 last season). Eqtidaar, whose first yearlings went through the ring this term, will remain at £5,000 ($5,753).

Collins added: "The forthcoming sales will see Mohaather's first foals sell at public auction, which will be exciting for us all. We have a number of very nice foals by him on the farm and very much look forward to seeing how his other progeny are received in the sales ring over the coming weeks.

"Tasleet's yearlings sold well at public auctions throughout the autumn, which is no surprise given Bradsell's success in the Coventry Stakes and other eye-catching performances from the sire's progeny in 2022. Eqtidaar's first yearlings through the ring have also been making their mark with his progeny realizing up to 12 times his stud fee."

Alongside Minzaal at Derrinstown is Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) hero Awtaad , whose season highlights included a brace of group 2 winners on Arc weekend in Qatar Prix Chaudenay (G2) scorer Al Qareem  and Shadwell's exciting Qatar Prix Dollar (G2) victor Anmaat .

The son of Cape Cross  remains unchanged at €5,000 ($5,014). 

Tamayuz , a dual group 1 winner and the sire of 14 individual group winners, including four at the highest level, has been retired from duty aged 17.

The son of Nayef is best known for siring Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1) victor Mustashry  as well as Abu Dhabi Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (G1) heroine Precieuse , Betfred Sprint Cup (G1) hero G Force  and E P Taylor Stakes (G1) scorer Blond Me . His star performer this term came in the form of Qatar Prix Niel (G2) winner and Grand Prix de Paris (G1) second Simca Mille .