Sheikh Fahad Announces Dunaden Incentives

Dunaden (Fr) (Nicobar {GB}–La Marlia {Fr}, by Kaldounevees {Fr}), the first winner of the G1 Melbourne Cup to stand at stud in Britain since the 1890 winner Carbine, will stand for an introductory stud fee of £3,000, with a raft of bonuses designed to make the record-breaking three-time Group 1 winner as attractive to breeders as possible. 

Rated 130 by Timeform for his form over 12 furlongs, Dunaden was retired earlier this year and will stand at Overbury Stud, Gloucestershire. He amassed earnings of more than £5 million and beat no fewer than 60 Group 1 winners in his 46-race career, among them the G1 QIPCO Champion S. favorite Cirrus des Aigles (Fr) (Even Top {Ire}). 

All of Dunaden’s first-crop foals will qualify for ‘Dunaden Owners & Breeders’ Premiums,’ modeled on the famous French ‘primes’: 2- and 3-year-olds by Dunaden will have their winnings in Britain and Ireland supplemented by 64% paid to owners, with breeders earning an additional 15% of the combined prizemoney and premium. 

“Dunaden gave me an unbelievable thrill winning his races around the world,” says his owner Sheikh Fahad. “And I want as many people as possible to share in the joy of owning and racing his foals. Of course, for many racing is a business, but most of all it has to be fun. I’d love to get as much pleasure out of Dunaden’s stud career as I did out of racing him, and what could be more enjoyable than sharing his successes with the racing world?’ 

Among other inducements in the Dunaden Breeders’ Club is ‘+25!’, whereby breeders of any of Dunaden’s stakes winners at two or three in Britain, Ireland or France will be rewarded with one-off £25,000 prizes.

“I look forward to racing many of his stock myself,” added Sheikh Fahad. “I will be supporting Dunaden in both the breeding shed and in the sales ring. Nothing will give me greater delight than racing a good one by him. And why not? The last Melbourne Cup hero to stand in Britain sired a Derby winner!” 

In addition to the Melbourne Cup, Dunaden recorded top-level victories in the 2011 G1 Hong Kong Cup and the 2012 G1 Caulfield Cup over a mile and a half.