In an announcement last week, Shadwell Stud said it would disband the thoroughbred holdings of Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd, due to the inability of founder Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum to work closely with the team.
A statement from Shadwell highlighted that along with Sheikh Hamdan's geographic location in the United Arab Emirates, as well as a global review of the stud's operation — it was decided to wind down Shadwell's racing and breeding operations in the Southern Hemisphere in the coming months.
The decision to dissolve the Australian operation will end a decades long partnership with Euroa's Lindsay Park Racing stable.
Sheikh Hamdan and Lindsay Park founder Colin Hayes joined forces more than 30 years ago, when At Talaq claimed the 1986 Melbourne Cup.
“Sheikh Hamdan has had a long and successful involvement in Australia, initially thanks to his close friendship with Colin Hayes and subsequently with his son David when he took over the licence,” Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold said in a statement.
“During that time, and from initially small numbers of horses in training, champions such as At Talaq, Almaarad, Zabeel and Jeune, together with Group One winners Azzaam, Fraar, Istidaad, Tawqeet, Rewaaya and Qafila have raced in his world famous colours.
“On Sheikh Hamdan’s behalf, I would like to thank the extended Hayes family, namely Colin, Peter and David, as well as Tony McEvoy, and latterly Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig together with their excellent staff, for the outstanding job they have done over the years for Sheikh Hamdan and Shadwell.”
Coincidentally, the announcement last week came before Lindsay Park saddled up Shadwell Stud-owned Aysar in the C.S Hayes Stakes on Saturday.
The promising colt finished second behind Tagaloa in the Group Three race.
Lindsay Park posted a heartfelt social media post which thanked Shadwell Stud for its involvement over the past three decades.
“It has been an honour to train for Shadwell Stud in Australia for the last 36 years,” the post read.
“Whilst we are sad that a great era has come to an end, we are so grateful for the close relationship and unwavering support from Shadwell across three generations of Lindsay Park.”
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