Shadwell empire to be taken on by Hamdan Al Maktoum's daughter Sheikha Hissa

The future of Shadwell Estate is significantly clearer after it was confirmed Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum will succeed her late father Sheikh Hamdan as the head of one of Flat racing's most powerhouse owner-breeder operations.

The move, confirmed by Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold to the Racing Post on Tuesday following a meeting in Dubai with Sheikha Hissa, provides clarity over the future of the famous blue and white silks carried by superstars Dayjur, Sakhee and Nashwan and more recently by the likes of Muhaarar, Mohaather and Battaash, following the death of its founder Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum in March at the age of 75.

Speaking from Cyprus where he is quarantining in a hotel before returning to Britain next week, Gold said it was "fantastic" Sheikha Hissa was taking over the mantle.

He said: "We've been communicating with Sheikha Hissa over the past couple of months since Sheikh Hamdan sadly died and I'm currently on my way back from a trip out to Dubai to meet her to discuss things in person.

"She confirmed to me that she and her family are very keen to honour Sheikh Hamdan's legacy and keep the whole thing going, which is fantastic. It's wonderful for his memory that she has the passion and her brothers are going to support her taking it forward and we'll do our best to do the same."

Sheikha Hissa already has a handful of horses in training in Britain in her own name and colours, most notably the John and Thady Gosden-trained Haqeeqy who won the Lincoln at Doncaster in March.

In her late 20s, Hissa has a very busy social media presence with more than 25 thousand followers on Twitter. She also regularly retweets and comments on videos of Shadwell horses winning races across the world.

Sheikh Hamdan: had started to scale back before his death in MarchCredit: Laura Green

Gold said: "Sheikh Hamdan used to involve Sheikha Hissa quite a bit. She knows horses, loves horses and has horses of her own in Dubai. She enjoys the racing and has very much taken over his mantle since he died. Sheikh Hamdan had six children, of whom Sheikha Hissa is going to be the spokesperson on the horse front."

Before his death, Sheikh Hamdan had started to scale back his empire – with the focus mainly in Australia and South Africa – but Shadwell still has a vast breeding empire in Britian, the US and Ireland and these are set to continue.

Gold, who has been racing manager for the operation since 1987, added: "This was just a brief outline meeting but for the moment the horses will stay in the Shadwell name and colours. I think it's very important to the whole family the colours will be maintained.

"The Lincoln winner Haqeeqy and Tawahub, who won the other day for John and Thady Gosden, are the best Hissa has in her own name but it's early days of her own operation. I don't know if she'll maintain some in her own name or join them all up together."

The streamlining of Shadwell will continue in the coming months, while the news comes just a day after the operation's long-serving director Richard Lancaster announced he is to leave the operation after 35 years.

Gold added: "Everyone knows that we've got quite a few horses in the July Sales, which is part of a natural process of getting rid of horses we should have got rid of last year and some others that haven't come up to scratch this year.

Angus Gold and Sheikh Hamdan compare notes on a yearlingCredit: Trevor Jones

"As is well documented, we had started to reduce the number of horses in training and broodmares even before Sheikh Hamdan died and we'll also be selling more mares at Goffs and at the December Sales at Tattersalls."

Gold has already missed some key domestic races due to his trip to Dubai, which is currently on the UK red list of countries for travel, and he added: "I'm back next Tuesday but then I'll have to isolate for ten days so I'll miss the July meeting.

"But it was important to get out there to see what the family wanted to do and thankfully I'm coming back with some good news. It's exciting times for all of us and hopefully some exciting times along the way."

Read more:

Hamdan Al Maktoum, influential owner and breeder, dies at the age of 75

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

Shadwell reveals exciting mating plans for illustrious broodmare band