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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