There’s no doubt that Shadwell Estate Company Limited are one of the most iconic owners in British flat racing.
Their blue and white silks (pictured above) are unmistakable and often seen in the winner’s enclosure at the biggest meetings of the year.
Despite the passing of the founder Hamdan Al Maktoum two years ago, and the subsequent scaling down of operations under his daughter Sheika Hissa Bint Hamdan Al Maktoum, they continue to thrive.
Baaeed became the highest-rated turf horse in the world for a decade after winning six Group 1s and was named Cartier Horse of the Year in 2022. Shadwell were named Champion Owners for the eighth time following the conclusion of the 2023 season at Champions Day recently.
With the likes of Godolphin, Juddmonte and Coolmore arguably having a stronger contingent than Shadwell in horse racing today, not many would have tipped them to take home the prestigious title at the end of the season.
But it’s a credit to Sheika Hissa that she has continued to keep Shadwell competitive with the biggest names in the sport.
That said, let’s take a look at some of Shadwell’s standout horses from the 2023 season.
Mostahdaf
Shadwell’s biggest money-maker this year was Mostahdaf.
The five-year-old raked in £567,100 when he won the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes from 10/1 at Royal Ascot in June.
Mostahdaf took the lead about a mile into the one-mile, two-furlong contest, and went clear from over one furlong out to win by a comfortable four lengths from Aidan O’Brien’s favourite Luxembourg.
The five-year-old followed that up with a win in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York after a 63-day break.
Frankie Dettori took over from the suspended Jim Crowley. Mostadaf made all the running to win by a length from Nashwa and take home another £567,100.
The multiple Group 1 winner missed Champions Day due to unsuitable ground but could head to the lucrative Breeders’ Cup to round off a glittering career.
Hukum
Another Shadwell horse who took home a decent prize purse this season was Hukum.
The six-year-old made his reappearance after a 356-day absence in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May, and beat former Derby hero Desert Crown – who was the odds-on favourite at 2/5, by a half-a-length in a thrilling finish.
After another 65 days of rest, Hukum returned to win the prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot in July.
It was an enthralling ending, with the six-year-old holding off Westover by just a head to scope the eye-watering £708,875. It was for this ride that Crowley was handed a suspension as he exceeded the whip rule, and therefore, missed the Juddmonte with Mostahdaf.
Hukum finished ninth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the beginning of October and has since been retired to stud in Japan.
Al Husn
Al Husn also enjoyed a fantastic season, coming second in the Group 2 Howden Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on reappearance before going on a run of three straight wins throughout the summer.
She won the Listed Rothesay Stakes from odds-on at Ayr and just kept progressing through the grades, landing the Group 3 Hoppings Fillies’ Stakes on the all-weather at Newcastle when beating the heavily-backed Nashwa next time out.
Al Husn’s biggest win of the season, however, came in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The four-year-old was as far out as 9/1, but raced in second under Crowley before taking the lead two furlongs out and keeping on well inside the final furlong to win by half-a-length.