Eqtidaar

By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin On Tuesday the European Pattern Committee (EPC) announced that 42 races are at risk of being downgraded in 2025, including Britain's G1 Commonwealth Cup. Its status will depend very much on its performance in 2024, which will mark the tenth running of the race introduced to the British calendar in 2015 as a readymade Group 1 in order to "create a more balanced programme and better opportunities for high-class sprinters". The Commonwealth Cup, run at Royal Ascot over six furlongs for three-year-olds only, was...

Shadwell Stud have been dealt a bitter blow with the news that Commonwealth Cup winner and young stallion Eqtidaar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) has died.  A high-class sprinter for Sir Michael Stoute, Eqtidaar won the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in 2018.  The eight-year-old had achieved his greatest result in the sales ring on Tuesday when a filly consigned by Danny O'Donovan sold for £120,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze Up Sale to Peter and Ross Doyle on behalf of Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing operation.  A statement published by...

Speaking in the TDN's Conversations series last month, Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold reiterated the fortuitous appearance of Baaeed (GB) on the global stage so soon after the sad death of his breeder Sheikh Hamdam Al Maktoum. "I don't think it could be overstated how important Baaeed coming along, and the timing of it, was," Gold told Brian Sheerin. Baaeed's significance as a racehorse was exemplified by his recent ratification as the top-rated turf horse in the world in 2022, his mark of 135 making him the clear leader among...

The insatiable demand for foals was evident in the figures recorded at Goffs last week with turnover rising 16% to €29,561,000 and the average climbing 16% to €40,110. At the top end of the market, Kingman (GB) dominated with three foals by the Juddmonte-based stallion selling for a combined €1,540,000 and one of Europe's leading pinhookers Philipp Stauffenberg signing for the €550,000 top lot by the sire.  Tally-Ho Stud may be best known for being sellers but they pipped Stauffenberg for the biggest spenders title by signing for 19 foals...

Connections of six-time Group 1 winner Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Aghareed, by Kingmambo) have confirmed that he will join the stallion roster at Shadwell's Nunnery Stud in Norfolk for 2023. Sheikha Hissa described herself and her family to be "so proud" of Baaeed's achievements on the track and thanked trainer William Haggas for managing the career of one of the greatest horses of the modern era. Although the fee at which Baaeed will stand for in his debut season has yet to be announced, Angus Gold, Shadwell's racing manager,...

Last year's G1 Sussex S. scorer Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) will stand his second season at Shadwell's Nunnery Stud in 2022 for a fee of £15,000, down slightly from his opening price of £20,000. The highest-rated son of Showcasing, Mohaather covered 146 mares this year. Tom Pennington, nominations and marketing manager at Shadwell, said, "We've taken the decision to reduce Mohaather's fee for 2022 in recognition of the fact that there is a significant premium placed upon first-season sires in the commercial market, and that stallions entering their second year...

The mating plans for the high-quality Shadwell broodmare band were announced by the stud on Monday. Nunnery Stud's four stallions, led by new recruit Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), will all be well supported by Shadwell. Several top-flight winners are booked to the 2020 G1 Sussex S. victor, among them dual Group 1 winners Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) and South African multiple Grade 1 winner Majmu (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). They are joined by Ghanaati's Rahy half-sister, the stakes winner and G1 Oaks third Rumoush, who already...

Group 1 winner Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}-Roodeye {GB}, by Inchinor {GB}), one of four stallions on the Nunnery Stud roster in 2021, will stand for £20,000 in his first year. Retired to stud in August after securing group races at two, three and four, including the G1 Sussex S. the bay is a full-brother to MGSW Prize Exhibit (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), whose Galileo (Ire) yearling filly brought 2.8 million guineas during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, as well as a half-brother to the dam of G1 Queen...

G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Eqtidaar (Ire) has had his first three mares scanned in foal. The son of Invincible Spirit stands at Shadwell's Nunnery Stud for £6,500. "Eqtidaar has taken to his new role exceptionally well and has been incredibly straightforward in the breeding shed," said Shadwell Stud Director Richard Lancaster. "At this early stage, it appears he's a very fertile horse and we look forward to a long and successful breeding season."  

With the first foals of 2020 starting to appear and the finalization of mating plans taking place, there is no better time than the present to consider the new stallions who have joined rosters across Europe. On that list is Eqtidaar (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who has joined his owner/breeder Sheikh Hamdan's Nunnery Stud just outside Newmarket. Eqtidaar was an impressive winner of the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, a win which on closer inspection showed strong form lines and which Tom Pennington, nominations and marketing Manager at Shadwell,...