'It's a bit of a sad day' - reaction to Sheikh Hamdan's southern hemisphere cuts

After 36 years of heavy investment and involvement in Australia, the news on Thursday night that Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Stud is to disband its thoroughbred holdings in the region came as a blow to the racing and breeding industries.

Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold explained the move by saying that due to his commitments in the UAE, Sheikh Hamdan - known to be a hands-on owner-breeder - had not been able to devote as much time as he would like to following their horses in Australia, and that as a result, and as part of a global review of the Shadwell operation, it had been decided to wind down its racing and breeding operations in the southern hemisphere over the next few months.

Shadwell’s entire Australian yearling crop will be offered at public auction, with the cream of the youngsters bound for the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Shadwell’s breeding stock will be presented for sale by close associates Yarraman Park at the Magic Millions Breeding Stock Sale on May 20.

While disappointed to be bidding farewell to his biggest client over the past 20 years, Yarraman principal Harry Mitchell was philosophical about Shadwell’s decision.

“It’s a bit of a sad day really," he said. "We have had a very good relationship through Angus for a long time, but things move on.

“They have been great clients of ours for a long time and they will be sorely missed.”

Shadwell’sunreserved dispersal of broodmares, weanlings and the reduction sale of race fillies will provide the market with an opportunity to acquire top quality bloodstock from one of the most substantial investors in the Australian racing and breeding scene over the last three decades.

“Shadwell has been a huge part of the Australian racing and breeding industry for decades and the legacy through their stock in the breeding barn and on the racetrack will be seen for many years in the future,” said Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch.

“It is certainly a bittersweet moment to see the culmination of Sheikh Hamdan’s Australian investments down under. However, it is a great honour for Magic Millions to be entrusted to market and sell the Shadwell unreserved dispersal, given it all began here in the 80s.

“We are tremendously excited to present this unique buying opportunity on behalf of Sheikh Hamdan.”

Some of the high-class broodmares set to go under the hammer at Magic Millions includeSouth Australian Derby winner Qafila, who is by Not A Single Doubt, Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Rimraam (Commands) and 2015 Blue Diamond Stakes runner-up Reemah (Redoute’s Choice). Grade 1 winners in South Africa will alsobe sold.

Barry Bowditch of Magic Millions: 'It is certainly a bittersweet moment to see the culmination of Sheikh Hamdan’s Australian investments down under'

Older mares such as Rewaaya, a daughter of Singspiel, will not be auctioned and will instead remain in the first-class care of the team at Yarraman to see out their living days on the farm as nannies.

Mitchell added: “It will be a good dispersal. There’s some very good stock there and we will be sad to have them leave the farm."

Gold paid tribute to the Mitchell family along with David Hayes for their professional support during Shadwell’s long involvement with breeding and racing in Australia.

“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,” he said.

“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 has been a huge supporter of the Australasian yearling market for many years and has been rewarded with numerous stakes winners both in Australia and South Africa.

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.

Having been underbidders on Miss Finland and Estijaab, the Golden Slipper eluded the operation, but other recent stakes winners include Enbihaar, Madeenaty, Zamzam and Minhaaj, all of whom will be offered for sale, as well as champions Rafeef, Mustaaqeem, Majmu and Entisaar in South Africa.

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