Shadwell to sell some of its stock in wake of Sheikh Hamdan's death

Shadwell Stud announced Thursday that it will disperse some of its stock following the death in March of its founder, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

Shadwell, founded in 1980, released a statement on Thursday saying it is “undertaking a full review of all its activities that will result in important changes for the business.”

“As a result,” the statement said, “its operations in the UK, Ireland and the USA will contract, with a focus on quality and competition at the highest level of the sport.”

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The statement said that a number of homebred yearlings and horses in training will be sold this fall, while the broodmare band will be reduced through dispersals at auction. The opportunity to acquire stock, especially broodmares, from families cultivated by one of the world’s leading operations will likely provide a major shake-up for the global auction marketplace.

Shadwell, the Eclipse Award-winning outstanding owner of 2007, campaigned champions Battaash, Dayjur, Invasor, and Lahudood, along with other classic and top-level winners. The operation's current star in the U.S. is Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat. The operation announced in June that its founder's daughter Sheikha Hissa Hamdan al-Maktoum has taken a leadership role in the continuing operation.

“The family wish to stress that they remain extremely passionate about the sport and, through the chairmanship of Sheikha Hissa, herself an accomplished horsewoman, are committed to ensuring that their father’s legacy endures for many years to come,” Shadwell’s statement read. “They intend to retain a significant number of homebred foals and will continue their global stallion operations.”

Shadwell stands stallions Eqtidaar, Mohaather, Muhaarar, and Tasleet at its headquarters in England, and Awtaad, Haatef, King Of Change, Markas, and Tamayuz at its sister farm in Ireland. Shadwell Farm in Lexington, Ky., stands the young stallions Mohaymen, Qurbaan, and Tamarkuz.