“Top-Class Racehorse” Hukum Retires To Stand At Darley Japan For 2024

Hukum, the brilliant winner of this year's King George at Ascot, has been retired to stand at Darley Japan for 2024 where he will remain in the ownership of Shadwell. A full-brother to six-time Group 1 winner Baaeed, Hukum will join the roster in Hokkaido and nomination details will be announced at a later date. 

Trained by Owen Burrows, Hukum enjoyed a stellar career and was twice successful at the highest level. Along with that memorable King George triumph, where he got the better of subsequent Arc runner-up Westover, Hukum landed the 2022 Coronation Cup at Epsom. 

Hukum retires with 11 wins from 18 starts including nine wins at stakes level, with eight of those triumphs coming in Group company. He achieved a career-high official rating of 128 and a Timeform rating of 131. 

The homebred son of Sea The Stars is out of the Listed-winning Kingmambo mare Aghareed, who in turn is out of 2007 Champion Turf Mare in the USA, Lahudood, a descendant of Sheikh Hamdan's celebrated producer Height Of Fashion, the dam of Nashwan, Nayef and Unfuwain. 

Stephen Collins, European Bloodstock Manager, commented, “Shadwell is delighted that Hukum, a full-brother to Baaeed, the highest-rated turf horse in the last decade, will stand at Darley Japan. 

“Hukum has all the attributes to be a hugely successful stallion. A top-class racehorse, possessing a wonderful physique, he hails from one of Shadwell's most successful families tracing back to the highly influential broodmare Height Of Fashion.”

He added, “We are thrilled that Japanese breeders will be able to avail of such a wonderful bloodline that his late HH Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum and his family have developed and maintained at the highest level over the last 40 years. Sheikha Hissa and her family very much look forward to following Hukum's new career very closely and it wouldn't surprise me if Shadwell were to support him with some high-quality broodmares going forward as he is held in the highest regard by us all.” 

Burrows heaped praise on Hukum upon the announcement of his stable star's retirement on Tuesday and backed the six-year-old to be a success at stud.

He said, “It has been an absolute pleasure to train Hukum over the last four seasons. I will forever be in his debt as he has brought my career to a whole new level. His enthusiasm for work and racing made my job easy.”

Burrows added, “His win in the Coronation Cup by over four lengths and King George win this year showed off all his fine attributes perfectly. Class, guts and will to win. That race will live long in, not just mine, but many racing fans' memories for years to come.

“A superb looking and athletic individual, a full-brother to Baaeed, whom I'm sure will be very popular with breeders in Japan.”

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Sunday Insights: Ellis Park Maidens Highlight Sunday Card

5th-ELP, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 2:45 p.m.

Shadwell's MUAZARAH (Into Mischief) leads a battle of the homebreds in Sunday's fifth race at Ellis Park. The Todd Pletcher trainee is out of a half-sister to the dam of a pair of prolific European runners in MG1SW Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who debuted at Shadwell Stud this season, and MG1SW Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}).

Just to his outside, Unreasonable (Honor Code), racing in the Calumet Farm colors, is out of a half to both GISW Geri (Theatrical {Ire}) and MGSW/MGISP A.P. Arrow (A.P. Indy).

One of a pair of starters for Steve Asmussen, Black Iron (Constitution) is a joint venture for breeders Doug and Felicia Branham and Winchell Thoroughbreds. The colt's third dam is responsible for MGISW and leading sire Quality Road (Elusive Quality).

The only colt not racing for his breeders, The Process (More Than Ready) was a $370,000 Keeneland September purchase last year. His half-brother, Confidence Game (Candy Ride {Arg}), took this year's GII Rebel. S. and he is out of a half-sister to the great Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) and to MGISW Balance (Thunder Gulch). TJCIS PPS

7th-ELP, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:50 p.m.

The most expensive buy of this field, Awesome Road (Quality Road) was a $600,000 yearling at Keeneland and is a half to SW/GISP Endless Chatter (First Samurai) as well as SW/G1SP Whitecliffsofdover (War Front). His dam is a half to MGSW and late sire Pulpit (A.P. Indy) while his extended family includes GSW/MGISP and sire Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat).

Just to his inside is another Calumet homebred in Loma Paloma (Mineshaft) whose dam is a half to SW and young sire Nashville (Speightstown).

Beyond Stoked (Into Mischief) brought $450,000 at this year's OBS March Sale and races for Boardshorts Stables and trainer Brian Lynch.

Rounding out the group to the outside is Chryso Alogo (Bolt d'Oro), a Brad Cox trainee whose dam is a full-sister to GSW Shumoos and a half to SW/GSP Steady On (Pioneerof the Nile). He brought a final bid of $400,000 from a lengthy ownership group that includes Qatar Racing LLC and Spendthrift Farm at last year's Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. TJCIS PPS

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Modern Games Returns To Keeneland In Friday’s Maker’s Mark

Last year's Eclipse champion turf male returns to the place of his Breeders' Cup glory Friday with an expected start in the GI Maker's Mark Mile S. Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), trained by Charlie Appleby, makes his 4-year-old debut since taking the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland last November.

Off the board in only two of his 13 prior starts, the chestnut just missed in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot leading into the Breeders' Cup, took the GI Woodbine Mile by 5 1/4 lengths three starts back and finished second only to Cartier Horse of the Year Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) four back in the G1 Qatar Sussex Cup at Goodwood.

Up to challenge him from the inside is Todd Pletcher's 'TDN Rising Star' Emmanuel (More Than Ready), entered off a pair of graded-stakes wins in Florida this spring for owners WinStar Farm and Sien

a Farm in Tampa's GIII Tampa Bay S. and Gulfstream's GIII Canadian Turf S.

A Group 1-placed juvenile in Ireland, Dr Zempf (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) makes just his second start stateside off a win against optional claiming company at Gulfstream Mar. 10 for Chad Brown and Peter Brant

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Baaeed, Minzaal Continue Reporting In-Foal Mares

Shadwell and Derrinstown Stud report that both Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the highest-rated turf racehorse in the world for a decade, and Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), the highest-rated sprinter in Europe in 2022, have over 30 mares scanning in-foal as the stallions commence covering their first books.

Baaeed's in-foal mares include G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. winner Eshaada (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}); Seeking Solace (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), dam of 2019 champion 3-year-old sprinter in Europe and joint champion 3-year-old colt in England & Ireland in 2019, Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (No Nay Never); Azafata (Spa) (Motivator {GB}), dam of Group 1-performers Fleeting (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Jannah Flower (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}); and Darmoiselle (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the stakes-placed full-sister to 2018 champion 2-year-old colt in Europe and 2019 champion 3-year-old miler in Europe Too Darn Hot (GB), as well as MG1SP Lah Ti Dar (GB) and GSW & G1SP So Mi Dar (GB), among others.

Minzaal's mares scanned in-foal include Shenoya (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}), his first mare scanned in foal, a stakes placed half-sister to GSP Like A Charm (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), belonging to Minzaal's breeder Ringfort Stud; G1SP Sparkling Beam (Ire) (Nayef); GSW Distinctive (GB) (Tobougg {Ire}); and Street Kitty (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), dam of MG1SP Sir Busker (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}).

“We are thrilled with how both Baaeed and Minzaal have commenced their first books, with each horse consistently reporting in-foal mares on a daily basis. Baaeed's extraordinary achievements on the racecourse speak for themself and he has been supported by many of the world's leading breeders with an excellent first book,” said European Bloodstock Manager Stephen Collins. “Meanwhile, Minzaal has also been incredibly well-received and has proven tremendously popular with commercial breeders as he continues to cover a high-class first book of mares. We would like to thank all our breeders for their support this season with all of our stallions, particularly our two extremely exciting new stallion prospects.”

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