Regally bred colt De Shamekh is to begin stud duty in Queensland at Craiglee Stud this season.
Raced by Hussain Lootah, a son of Emirate Park Stud principal Nasser Lootah, De Shamekh is a son of Encosta de Lago who raced only four times for a two-year-old win at Rosehill and a second at Warwick Farm to subsequent Group winner Flying Snitzel.
De Shamekh’s promising 3-year-old season was badly disrupted with injury issues, leading to the decision to retire him to stud for the 2013 breeding season.
De Shamekh is the third foal of the top class race mare Shamekha.
A three-time G1 winner, Shamekha established herself as one of the finest female performers of her generation winning the Coolmore Classic, TJ Smith Stakes and All Aged Stakes among eight career victories.
A daughter of the highly successful Mr Prospector-line stallion Secret Savings, Shamekha was produced by a half-sister to Brave Warrior, a Queensland stud sensation before his premature death after only two breeding seasons.
De Shamekh’s sire Encosta de Lago, is a dual champion Australian sire with progeny earnings now in excess of $127 million.
His sons include Northern Meteor, the 2012/13 Champion First Season Sire who met with an untimely death last month.
De Shamekh is to commence his stud career at an introductory service fee of $3300.