'Time to move on' - Richard Lancaster standing down as Shadwell stud director

Shadwell's long-serving stud director Richard Lancaster is to leave the powerhouse owner-breeder operation, which recently lost its founder and guiding light Hamdan Al Maktoum.

Lancaster, 69, has worked for Shadwell for 35 years, successfully leading Nunnery Stud in Norfolk through the decades of the game-changing Green Desert - sire of Invincible Spirit, Oasis Dream and Cape Cross - to Nashwan, Sakhee, Unfuwain and more recently Mohaather and Muhaarar.

He said on Monday: "Following the sad death of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum I've decided after 35 very happy years that it's time to move on.

"I'm extremely proud of everything we built up over my time at Shadwell, and I wish everyone at Shadwell the very best for the future. I'm now looking forward to new challenges ahead."

Sheikh Hamdan died in March aged 75, after setting in motion a contraction of his vast Shadwell empire - focused mainly on the Australasian and South African arms - which he had built up to be one of the most prominent and influential organisations in racing and breeding over the past 40 years.

Having purchased the Shadwell Estate in Norfolk in 1984, Sheikh Hamdan went on to appoint the likes of Lancaster, racing manager Angus Gold and US manager Rick Nichols, with the strong loyalty of boss and employees a theme running throughout the business.

Green Desert: immensely influential stallion at ShadwellCredit: Edward Whitaker

A statement released by Shadwell on Monday read: “Richard Lancaster has decided that, following the sad death of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the time is right for him to step down as stud director of Shadwell Estate Company Limited.

"Richard has been involved with the development of Shadwell from the beginning, starting as assistant to Captain Bobby Dolbey, and has been leading Shadwell as stud director for more than 20 years.

"Shadwell are very grateful to Richard for all his skill and hard work, helping Shadwell become one of the leading owner-breeders in the world. We wish him all the best for the future.”

While racing and breeding stock in Australasia and South Africa has been dispersed, senior Shadwell figures, including Gold, expect "an operation of some size" will continue, albeit at a more manageable level.

Sheikh Hamdan's daughter SheikhaHissa, owner of this year's Lincoln Handicap winner Haqeeqy and who was central in discussions which led to Mohaafeth being a late non-runner in the Derby this month, is expected to play a leading role within the family's future involvement.

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