COOLMORE has bought almost 1,100 acres of Shadwell Farm lands in Kentucky for close to $50m, the Irish Farmers Journal has reported.

Shadwell was owned by the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, the older brother of Sheikh Mohammed.

The racing and breeding operation has been undergoing a review, since Hamdan Al Maktoum died in March 2021.

Shadwell announced that year that it would be selling a “substantial” amount of its yearlings, broodmares and horses in training in what was described by Sheikh Hamdan’s racing manager, Angus Gold, as a “trimming” process.

The land purchased by Coolmore is close to Ashford Stud one of Coolmore America’s existing stud farms in Versailles near Lexington, Kentucky. The stud farm is also strategically located near to Keeneland Racetrack and sales ground as well as Lexington Bluegrass Airport and the famous Calumet Stud Farm.

Since 1980 the famous blue and white silks of the late Sheikh Hamdan have been carried to victory by a succession of champions, from Nashwan to Baaeed. Salsabil, Dayjur and Battaash are others to have won at the top level for Shadwell in Europe.

In the USA their best performers have included Breeders’ Cup winner Invasor (also won the Dubai World Cup) and two-time Eclipse Award winner Malathaat.

Shadwell also won the Melbourne Cup in 1986 with At Talaq but closed its Australian operation shortly after Sheikh Hamdan’s death.