Dalham Hall Stud, set in the heart of the beautiful Newmarket countryside, has been at the heart of Sheikh Mohammed’s thoroughbred operation since it was purchased from the late the Hon. Jim Philipps in 1981 and has been home to leading stallions such as Great Nephew, Dubai Millennium and Dubawi ever since.
Dalham Hall Stud was the first of the 12 studs in Newmarket which now form part of the Darley organisation. Among the ten mares that came with Dalham Hall’s purchase in 1981 was Oh So Fair, at that time carrying Oh So Sharp - winner of the fillies Triple Crown in 1985.
The Stallion Unit was also purchased in 1981. During the Second World War, the stud had been requisitioned by the Army and today’s stallion boxes were utilised as soldiers’ billets and the characteristic stove chimneys can still be seen.
The stallion yard has remained largely unchanged since then. While the dimensions of the boxes, measuring 14’ square, remain unchanged from Sir Alec Black’s time, the interiors have been greatly upgraded and are now lined with American oak. The crescent shaped range of the timber stallion boxes look out onto a spacious lawn.
Lord Milford, who had purchased the stud back in 1942, stood his homebred Honeyway at Dalham Hall Stud. He was essentially a sprinter winning 16 races spread over five seasons, including the July Cup and the Champion stakes. He was a double rig and proved infertile when he first came to stud, but two years later he resumed covering when his services were offered free of charge. He thereafter excelled as a progenitor. To a mating with Sybil’s Niece (winner of the Queen Mary Stakes), he sired Great Nephew, who was destined to occupy his box at Dalham Hall Stud when he retired to stud.
When Sheikh Mohammed took over Dalham Hall Stud, Great Nephew was part of the package. He was by then in his dotage, but lived another 5 years to enjoy his retirement, dying in 1986. He is buried at the stud alongside his own sire Honeyway, plus Ajdal, Reference Point, Shareef Dancer, Dubai Millennium, Polish Precedent, Machiavellian, Singspiel, Mark of Esteem and Lammtarra.
