Sheikha Hissa making impact on first Keeneland September trip

LEXINGTON, Ky. – In her first trip to the Keeneland September yearling sale since taking the helm of the international operation founded by her late father, Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum purchased four yearlings in the name of Shadwell Racing over the first days of the auction, led by a $2.3 million Into Mischief filly.

“She’s such a smart person, she’s very much like her father,” Keeneland vice president of sales Tony Lacy said. “Very passionate, very intelligent, very well educated in pedigrees and form lines. . . . She knows exactly what she’s doing.”

Shadwell founder Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum died in March 2021. Shadwell purchased a handful of yearlings at Keeneland September in 2022, but the family was not in attendance. This week, Sheikha Hissa and her associates viewed horses in the sale barns and in the back walking rings before doing their bidding from a private room on the Keeneland grounds.

“We’re delighted to have her, and welcome her and her whole team,” Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “They are, I think, about to embark on a really exciting new stage for Shadwell.”

In addition to the $2.3 million Into Mischief filly, who is the third-highest price of the sale overall, Shadwell’s other purchases included a $1.1 million Medaglia d’Oro filly, a $750,000 Uncle Mo filly, and a $700,000 Munnings filly.

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