Derrinstown Stud is owned by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It comprises of 10 stud farms set in 2,000 acres of calcium enriched land, perfect for the rearing of young thoroughbreds. It has also been rebuilt from scratch to incorporate the most advanced technology, without diminishing the role of traditional equine care.

Originally purchased as a 375 acre farm in 1982, the stud has established itself as a world-class centre of excellence for horses and their owners. The service provided at Derrinstown Stud combines the best Irish traditions of equine care with Dubai’s passion for horse racing and a commitment to maintaining standards by limiting the number of mares the stallions cover. The farm has a resident vet and a staff of 90, most of whom have been internationally trained. Derrinstown Stud offers a policy of quality service coupled with good value in their stallion fees. Derrinstown Stud has some of the best facilities to be found anywhere in the world. From the lush paddocks and the state-of-the-art veterinary equipment, only the best does for the best.

General Manager Stephen Collins and Manager Jimmy Lenehan run the operation and, in addition to the resident stallions, our home breeding operation includes 120 mares, 100 foals and 100 yearlings. At Derrinstown we offer breeders the opportunity to send their mares to our stallions, each possessing good conformation, pedigree and racecourse ability. They are available at commercially competitive prices and at the same time, we limit the number of mares they cover.

Homebred winners

Derrinstown has bred and raised some notable Group 1 winners over the years – Alhaarth, Dewhurst Stakes winner and sire; Lahan, English 1000 Guineas winner; Muhtathir, Prix Jacques le Marois winner; Almutawakel, Dubai World Cup winner; Eswarah, English Oaks winner; Haafhd, English 2000 Guineas and Champion Stakes winner; Lahudood Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf Flower Bowl Invitational winner; Tamayuz, Prix Jean Prix and Prix Jacques le Marois winner; Aqlaam, 2009 Prix du Moulin winner and Awzaan, Middle Park winner. This is a short list of some of the fine thoroughbreds that have grazed the pastures at Derrinstown Stud in Ireland

STALLIONS - HIGHLIGHTS OF 2010

ALHAARTH – Fee €7,000 1st January SLF

The phrase “it takes a champion to sire a champion” certainly rings true with our first candidate. Alhaarth was an unbeaten two-Year-old champion, winning five races including the Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes, where he defeated Danehill Dancer. Already the sire of two champions, Alhaarth came up with another potential star in 2009 in the shape of Awzaan. Undefeated in four starts, Awzaan rounded off his campaign with resounding success in the Group 1 Shadwell Middle Park Stakes, having previously won the Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes. He is joined by the Group 3 Autumn Stakes winner Morana as serious Classic prospects for his sire in 2010.

BAHRI – Fee €3,000 1st January SLF

Dual Group 1 winner and European Champion Miler Bahri, who stands at €3,000 (slf 1st January) also has a champion to his name in the shape of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sakhee. Bahri has always proved popular on the continent where he is renowned as a reliable winner-producing sire. His 2009 haul included the multiple Stakes winner Gesture and leading Italian performer Tapioka Express. Closer to home, he was represented by the smart sprinters Redford and Magic Mornings.

ELNADIM – Fee €6,000 1st January SLF

Elnadim is now proving to be an outstanding son of his illustrious father Danzig (also sire of Danehill and Green Desert, among others). A dual Champion Sprinter who set a new course record when slamming three other Gr.1 winners in the July Cup, Elnadim has been a revelation since returning from America, regularly punching above his weight for a stallion standing at such a relatively modest fee. Even so, his record this season has been remarkable, with his successes including Group 1 winner Culminate, Group 3 winner Pasar Silbano and five other individual Stakes horses.

HAATEF– Fee €4,000 1st January SLF

A new recruit to Derrinstown in 2009 was Haatef, who comes from the speed end of the spectrum. Like our dual Champion Sprinter, Elnadim, Haatef is by the renowned sire of sires, Danzig, who is also responsible for Danehill, Green Desert and Anabaa, while his dam is a daughter of the Princess Margaret Stakes winner Muhbubh. Haatef showed all the speed you would expect from such a pedigree, winning four races, including the Gr.2 Diadem Stakes at Ascot, and finishing just three lengths behind Champion 2yo Teofilo when not drawn well in the Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes.

INTIKHAB – Fee €5,500 1st January SLF

Who can forget the sight of Intikhab spread-eagling a top class field in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, eventually sauntering home by eight lengths. That performance saw him achieve an international rating of 135 and be crowned the World Champion Turf Miler. Retired to stand at Derrinstown Stud, the son of Red Ransom has proved equally successful in his new career, siring, among others, the magnificently tough and classy Red Evie (dual Gr.1 winner of nine races) and the two-year-old Gr.1 winner and Classic placed, Paita. Intikhab continues to produce tough and talented individuals, highlighted in 2009 by the multiple Stakes performers Indiana Gal and Shamakiya. He also went close to Group 1 glory with Lexlenos while his promising two year olds include the dual Group placed Snow Fairy.

MARJU – Fee €20,000 1st January SLF

Marju already widely recognised as an outstanding sire of fillies, including the likes of Gr.1 winners Soviet Song, My Emma, Marbye, Sil Sila and Marju Snip, is sometimes overlooked for just how good his male offspring are. However in recent years, the multiple Gr.1 winning Hong Kong champion, Viva Pataca and Watar, carrying the flag in Europe with success in the Gr.2 Jean Chaudenay, have certainly set the record straight. The Derrinstown stalwart again demonstrated his undiminished ability to sire classy horses like Chinchon, Asset, Enroller, Remarque and Spirit of Sport in 2009, while his up-and-coming youngsters included the highly regarded Simenon and Fremont. Some things never change.

TAMAYUZ– Fee €15,000 1st January SLF

Another new recruit in 2009, the unbeaten two-year-old Tamayuz, was also one of the best milers to have raced in France in recent years. Anyone doubting this claim need only look to his performance in the Gr.1 Prix Jacques le Marois where he put fellow Gr.1 winners Natagora and Sageburg to the sword in hugely impressive fashion. It was, according to Racing Post, “a scintillating effort” and worth more than the two and a half length margin by which he won.

This followed an earlier, equally impressive rout of Raven’s Pass in the Gr.1 Prix Jean Prat, where he had the French 2000 Guineas winner, Falco, more than ten lengths in arrears.

Tamayuz’s pedigree matches his performance. He is by multiple Gr.1 winner, Nayef, who has made a bright start to his stud career with two Gr.1 winners from his first crop. His dam is a half sister to the Gr.1 sire Anabaa Blue, while his Group winning grandam is half sister to Gr.1 sire King’s Best and Urban Sea (dam of three Gr.1 winners, including World Champion Sea The Stars and Champion Sire Galileo ). In short, he really looks “the genuine article”.