Baaeed, the highest-rated horse in Europe for over a decade, will head the 2026 Shadwell stallion roster at a reduced fee of £55,000 (approx. US$72,000).
The champion son of Sea The Stars has been strongly supported since retiring to the Shadwell stallion barn, covering a debut book of 167 mares, followed by books numbering 120 in 2024 and 165 earlier this year. He has been visited by 21 top-flight winners in that time, as well as 21 group 1-producing dams.
His fee was trimmed from £65,000, having stood his first two seasons at £80,000. Baaeed's first yearlings hit the market this year, with 41 of his sons and daughters changing hands for an average price of £189,920. The group is headed by the half-sister to group 3 winner Arabian Crown and group 2 winner The Juliet Rose, who fetched €800,000 from Al Shira'aa Racing at the Arqana August Sale.
Shadwell purchased the most expensive Baaeed colt to be sold at this year's sales when going to 625,000gns for the youngster out of Turret Rocks during Tattersalls Book 1.
Baaeed heads the Beech House Stud line-up alongside Mohaather and Mostahdaf. The former sired his first group 1 winner in 2025 when Big Mojo landed the Haydock Sprint Cup (G1). He will stand the upcoming breeding season at £10,000, down from £12,500.
Mostahdaf, who has covered books numbering 90 and 74 in his first two seasons at Beech House, will see his first crop hit the market during the upcoming breeding stock sales, including the 26 lots he has engaged in the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. The dual group 1-winning son of Frankel has also had his fee clipped for his third season, standing at £9,000, down from £12,500.
Over at Shadwell's Irish stallion division at Derrinstown Stud, Minzaal leads the way at an unchanged €12,500. The group 1-winning son of Mehmas has also seen his first yearlings come under the hammer this year, and they received an especially warm reception from buyers. The 88 lots that changed hands did so at an average price of £76,320, almost six times his initial fee.
The most expensive of those was the half-sister to group 2 winner Asymmetric and group 1 winner Mill Stream that fetched 550,000gns from Amo Racing at Tattersalls Book 1.
Minzaal will stand alongside Awtaad, who has earned a deserved fee increase as he rises from €7,500 to €8,500. The 12-year-old son of Cape Cross recently sired his third top-level winner when Ethical Diamond registered a memorable victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar.
On announcing the operation's fees, a statement from Shadwell read: "The stallion roster represents Shadwell's enduring commitment to building on a legacy of breeding and racing excellence. The fees again offer strong and fair value in an uncertain market and gives breeders the opportunity to share in the success of exceptional young stallions."
