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Expectations were high for the Shadwell Stud Australasia dispersal, but 11 million-dollar mares changing hands in not much longer than an hour still had many experienced participants in awe of what had just occurred. Such was the appetite from buyers to take advantage of the rare event, brought on by the ill-health and then death of Shadwell founder Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, it led to major players joining forces in order to secure their chosen lots.
South Australian Derby (Gr.1, 2500m) winner Qafila (Not A Single Doubt), who was offered in foal to Dundeel (High Chaparral), garnered the most attention, with GSA Bloodstock’s Jonathan Munz partnering with Coolmore to buy the talented mare.
Munz has a share in Coolmore’s dual Gr.1-winning 2YO and first season sire King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice) and Hawthorne indicated the two parties are likely to do more business together in the future.
Go Bloodstock’s Sir Owen Glenn also combined with Coolmore to land a Shadwell mare, Minhaaj’s dam, Telaawa (Lonhro), for $1.7 million. She was sold in foal with an early service date to Exceed And Excel (Danehill). Dean Hawthorne paid $900,000 for Telaawa’s Exceed And Excel yearling filly at the Inglis Australian Easter Sale last month.
It was great to partner with Coolmore, who we own some great horses with, like Merchant Navy. She's a lovely mare to have and she is an outcross to all these Danehillline stallions that will be retiring for us. Yarraman Park, where the Shadwell stock had been kept for many years, consigned the draft which grossed $25.135 million.
Despite the startling figures, Yarraman Park’s Arthur Mitchell was not completely shocked by what occurred in the sales ring yesterday.
(Shadwell representative) Angus Gold has done an amazing job and this is the culmination. It is sad to see the end of Shadwell's investment in Australia. Maybe there's a chance they may come back, but it was obviously a phenomenal sale tonight.