Shadwell To Launch Commercial Venture In January

Shadwell Farm, owned by Sheikh Hamdan of Dubai, will launch a new commercial venture at the 2002 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale. Shadwell will have 14 horses in its consignment--13mares and one stallion prospect. The Kentucky farm also plans to offer approximately 40 yearlings in 2002 at Keeneland in July, Saratoga, and Keeneland in September.

"We decided a couple of years ago to head in this direction," said Rick Nichols, Shadwell's vice president and general manager. "We have a large operation and being more commercial will help with the costs. We also want to be more involved in the marketplace because we stand stallions."

Tim Miller, a longtime assistant farm manager at Shadwell, will oversee the sales division. The farm has established a commercial band of approximately 70 mares, and all of their offspring will be offered at public auction.

"There are three granddaughters of Height of Fashion (an English champion and major producer) in the group," Nichols said. "We want people to realize this is a serious venture into the commercial business. We don't want them to think that we are trying to get rid of horses that we don't want."

Sheikh Hamdan has approximately 300 mares in his international breeding operation. About 170 are located in Kentucky at Shadwell.
Years ago, the farm sold a few horses under the Shadwell banner, Nichols said, and also has offered horses for sale through agents. But the new venture will mark the first time that Shadwell has consigned horses to American auctions on a regular basis.

Sheikh Hamdan bred 2000 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (gr. I) winner Sakhee, who finished second in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) while carrying the colors of Godolphin. Horses from Sheikh Hamdan's operation also have won such races as the Epsom Derby (Eng-I), Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), Melbourne Cup (Aus-I), Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I), One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I), Epsom Oaks (Eng-I), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Eng-I), and Irish Derby (Ire-I).