We are very sad to report that we lost Shastye last night.  On the same day that she had brought great excitement and joy to the team in producing a magnificent Dubawi colt, she succumbed to a sudden and devastating haemorrhage late last night, but mercifully passed away very quickly.

Shastye really was that mare in a million and her achievements and the exploits of her progeny have been well documented over recent years. Bought by Klaus J Jacobs and John Warren at Tattersalls December Sale in 2005 for 625,000gns, she could hardly be considered cheap, but what a bargain she turned out to be. 

Her yearlings alone generated over £15 million at public auction and more importantly she produced three Group 1 winners, (and we unashamedly include Secret Gesture here, who had her Gr.1 Beverley D Stakes victory taken away from her), four Group winners and five Group/Stakes winners overall.

She almost single handedly put the name of Newsells Park Stud back on the map after the purchase and renovation of the stud by the Jacobs family in 2000.  It was Klaus Jacobs’s dream to develop a successful commercial stud capable of producing World class racehorses that would win around the globe: “Your Passion is to race exceptional thoroughbreds capable of competing at the highest level on the International racing circuit.  Our challenge is to breed these athletes for you.”  “Your Passion.  Our Challenge” became a strapline for Newsells Park Stud in the formative years and Shastye was the epitome of that.  Her progeny, including Secret Gesture, Sir Isaac Newton, Japan and Mogul, won Group 1 races in England, France, North America and Hong Kong.

The exploits of her progeny, most notably formed from her wonderful partnership with the extraordinary Galileo, gave us all the most unforgettable moments, whether they came amid the silence of a hushed sales ring, or accompanied by the roar of the crowd at Epsom, York, Longchamp or Sha Tin.

When Newsells Park Stud was put up for sale at the end of 2020, it was Shastye that stood out more than any other mare to prove what was achievable.

Shastye put Newsells Park Stud back on the map, made the Stud commercially successful and helped to attract a new, considerate, enthusiastic and passionate owner in Graham Smith-Bernal to take on the custodianship of the Stud for another generation.   

Rest in peace you wonderful, wonderful lady.