Shadwell is the global racing and breeding operation founded by the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, former deputy ruler of Dubai, who died in 2021 at the age of 75. The familiar blue and white colours of Sheikh Hamdan were first carried to victory by Mushref, trained by Harry Thomson ‘Tom’ Jones, at Redcar on July 30, 1980. Over the next four years, Sheikh Hamdan acquired Derrinstown Stud in County Kildare, Shadwell Estate in Norfolk and Shadwell Farm in Kentucky, thereby forming the backbone of an enterprise that would make him one of the most influential owner-breeders worldwide. Indeed, in Britain, he was champion Flat owner a total of nine times between 1990 and 2020.
The homebred Nashwan, trained by Dick Hern, who won the 2,000 Guineas, Derby, Coral Ecplise Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes in 1989, was the first real superstar under the Shadwell banner, but there were plenty more to follow. The very next year, for example, Salsabil, trained by John Dunlop, won the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks, Irish Derby and Prix Vermeille.
Rightly described by the ‘Racing Post’ as “a colussus of the turf”, Sheikh Hamdan won the Derby again, with another homebred, Erhaab, also trained by John Dunlop, in 1994. Notable Group 1 or Grade 1 winners on his long list of luminaries include top-class sprinters Dayjur and Baataash, Dubai World Cup winners Almutawakel and Invasor amd Melbourne Cup winners At Talaq and Jeune. Following his death, the Sea The Stars colt Baeed, trained by William Haggas, continued to fly the flag for Shadwell Estate Company Ltd., winning the Prix Moulin and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes later in 2021 and the Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes, Sussex Stakes and Juddmonte International Stakes in 2022. In fact, he was beaten just once in his 11-race career, when turned over at odds of 1/4 on his final start in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.