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After 36 years of heavy investment and involvement in Australia, the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Stud decided to disband its thoroughbred holdings in the region earlier this year.
Shadwell has been one of the most substantial investors in the Australasian racing and breeding scene over the last three decades and has been rewarded with numerous stakes winners both in Australia and South Africa.
Shadwell’s recent unreserved dispersal of yearlings, broodmares, weanlings and the reduction sale of race fillies has brought over AUD $35 million delighting Shadwell’s racing manager, Angus Gold.
Sheikh Hamdan’s famous blue and white colours were carried to victory in two Melbourne Cups by At Talaq in 1986 and Jeune in 1994, and they won three editions of the Blue Diamond with Mahaasin in 1990,Nadeem in 2006 and Reaan in 2008. Although the Golden Slipper has eluded the operation, other recent stakes winners include Enbihaar, Madeenaty, Zamzam and Minhaaj, all of whom were sold in the recent dispersal, as well as champions Rafeef, Mustaaqeem,Majmu andEntisaar in South Africa.
In an exclusive interview with Angus Gold, he shares his thoughts about the results of the sale and provides a glimpse into Shadwell’s future.
Q: One was you sold 37 horses at the recent Broodmare and Weanling sales for about A$25 million. Were you happy with the pricing? Is this what you were expecting?
A: I was very happy, with the result. It was an exceptional sale. Obviously, we had some lovely horses there. But, you know, with a dispersal, you never quite know. Because obviously, you can't put any reserves on. I was hoping initially, we might make between A$18 and A$19 million. So to get 25 million with, with 11 individual mares and fillies making over an A1 million was fantastic, and was a great reflection of Sheikh Hamdan's investment in Australia over the years.
Q: Now that you have exited Australia and South Africa, what are your plans for Shadwell?
A: Well, we're in the process of doing so. We still have some horses in training in Australia and we are selling more yearlings. So, it still going on and will probably continue until the end of this year. And that's what we're working on.
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Q: And where do you see Shadwell next?
A: We haven't had a chance to talk to the family yet. - they have obviously been very busy since Sheikh Hamdan sadly died. Then Ramadan was on and the (racing) season's been on here. So I haven't had a chance to meet up with Sheikh Hamdan's family yet. And everything depends on exactly what they want to do. We'll see when we have a chance to sit down. Hopefully, there will be plenty of horses in training going forward. But obviously, that's a decision they need to make.
Q: Shadwell is Sheikh Hamdan's rich legacy in so many ways. So it will be interesting to find out what happens next.
A: Exactly. We have a lot of horses entered in the July sales Newmarket as well and then there's our farm in America. So there are lots of questions. I'm sure when we sit down with them, we'll be able to have a good chat just to find out exactly what they would like to do. It's a huge legacy to take on, and I can't second guess them it's entirely their decision. We are waiting to be told what they would like to do.