Juddmonte

C

chroniclandlord

Senior Jockey
Joined
Oct 4, 2007
Messages
5,779
Location
Co. Armagh
Khaled Abdullah, who both bred and owned the unbeaten wonder horse Frankel, is to dispose of part of his powerful global racing empire.​

However, one of his key lieutenants insisted on Friday that the move did not signal a withdrawal from the sport by the Saudi prince but said he was unable to quantify the extent of the disposal or whether Frankel would be part of the sale.​

The most significant news of the bloodstock year will both shock and excite the breeding world with some of the sport's biggest operations desperate to get their hands on the prized bloodlines of Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms empire.​

At the front of the queue and with deeper pockets than almost any other competitive buyers could be the Qatari investors of Sheik Fahad Al Thani and his brothers plus Sheik Joaan Al Thani.​

Recent purchases have shown their intent on becoming major players in the sport with Sheik Fahad's buys including 50 per cent of Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture plus German-trained Derby seventh Chopin.​

The potential to buy stallions, mares and racing stock from Juddmonte would potentially fast-track the growing Qatari racing empire.

While Frankel, valued at £100million, in his first season standing at Banstead Manor Stud near Newmarket, is the figurehead of the Juddmonte empire, the global operation numbers over 900 horses.

Juddmonte also has studs at Henley and Tetbury in Britain, as well as farms in Ireland and Kentucky.​

Its stallions also include Oasis Dream, Dansili and Rail Link with Kind, the dam of Frankel, heading their list of broodmares.​

Douglas Erskine Crum, chief executive for Juddmonte, said: 'His Highness has decided to make some disposals but what they are and what the plan is has yet to be decided.​

'It is early days and we are just beginning to think about it. It certainly does not mark a complete exit from the sport. His Highness's interest in racing is still extremely high.'​

Asked if the disposal might involve Frankel, Erskine Crum said: 'It involves everything. We're looking at a plan. At the moment nobody here has mentioned Frankel.​

'All we have said is that there will be some disposals and have not worked out what they may be. It is early days.' Since entering racing in the late 1970s, Abdullah, who was born in 1937, has seen some great racehorses carry his familiar green, pink and white silks.​

They include Arc winners Dancing Brave (1986), Rail Link (2006), Rainbow Quest (1985) and Workforce (2010) plus the brilliant miler Warning.​

His European string is spread around trainers including Roger Charlton, Andre Fabre, John Gosden, Charlie Hills and Dermot Weld and he is the main patron of the Sir Henry Cecil stable.​

Cecil trains one of the Prince's big hopes for Royal Ascot, which starts a week on Tuesday, and racing manager Lord Grimthorpe says Joyeuse is still on course for the Albany Stakes.​

Frankel's half-sister was impressive when winning on her debut at Lingfield last month.​



(Daily Mail)​


 
Last edited:
This has been rumbling on in Newmarket for the past month or so. Juddmonte's breeding side goes lock, stock and barrel. Frankel and all. Abdullah has always said he would not leave it to his children as they have no interest. He wants it kept as a going concern, not broken up in a dispersal sale. Sheikh Fahad Al Thani is probably the only one who would have the income to finance it, Sheikh Joann Al Thani is the other obvious contender but he is unlikely to be able to afford it due to the way the income streams from the Emir work.

It will be interesting to see if Redvers takes over the management of Juddmonte or if the current management is retained. Hopefully the latter.
 
That's reassuring as Juddmonte is good for the sport. I hope the Qatari's do buy it, Sheikh Fahad seems like a good man and a racing fan.
 
Wow, that's an end of an era, for sure...... Remember going to check the tiling in the stallion boxes at Cayton when that was being rebuilt...so that's going back over thirty years!!
 
Not a word about it on either the website or the app of the so-called industry daily paper...the RP's online presence is an embarrassment when it comes to news.

Understandable, especially given KA's age, but a shame nonetheless. I'd be interested to know how selling Juddmonte as a complete going concern sits with Erskine-Crum's quote that it won't mean the end of the prince's racing involvement. Would the horses currently in training will remain in his ownership until the last one retires, or is Erskine-Crum being diplomatic / not scaremongering?

I was lucky enough to see Frankel at Juddmonte a couple of weeks ago...the place is something else (even if the lawn is covered in goose crap!)
 
This is why You cant have all in life


What a disgrace for Abdullah, quite possibly the best breeder ever, Able to build such an empire in 30 years and he doesnt have a son who likes racing.
 
The first time I saw Prince Abdullah in the flesh was Irish 2000 gns day 1989. Danehill was running along with 2 or 3 other Juddmonte horses. I was standing beside him as Danehill was being saddled in the old saddling area when one of his managers came to him to say that he could come inside to see his horse saddled. The Prince politely refused saying he was quite happy where he was. That his name was listed K Abdullah without any extra titles said a lot about him. At 76 he may like to reduce his stock. I bet Jamie Spencer is licking his lips!
Wishing him all the best whatever decision he makes. He has done racing a great service.
 
I must say that Abdullah and the Aga Khan have proven that if you do it right, you will get results. They have worked on these families for generations. If Abdullah thinks his breeding stock will be sold off individually, then I think its a great idea to keep it all together.
 
Not a huge shock given his age and the fact his two nephews (who were both heavily involved in racing) both passed away when they were still relatively young :(

Martin
 
edgt said:
The first time I saw Prince Abdullah in the flesh was Irish 2000 gns day 1989. Danehill was running along with 2 or 3 other Juddmonte horses. I was standing beside him as Danehill was being saddled in the old saddling area when one of his managers came to him to say that he could come inside to see his horse saddled. The Prince politely refused saying he was quite happy where he was. That his name was listed K Abdullah without any extra titles said a lot about him. At 76 he may like to reduce his stock. I bet Jamie Spencer is licking his lips!
Wishing him all the best whatever decision he makes. He has done racing a great service.
Click to expand...

I wish I had a dad like you Edgt. I would never get bored and wouldn't have to endure mind numbing television at mums house which is currently the case haha! :)
 
Last edited:
You'd be more fitting as it goes Edgt... My real dad was of Irish decent, a man from 'way down South' I'm hearing just now from my madre haha! :)

Seriously, another intriguing story from your good self. Any chance of a book of short stories from you? I wrote one myself recently, and I've had good feedback about it. :)
 
Last edited:
Back
Top