Ghanaati, an Unforgettable Champion Who Left Her Mark On and Off the Track

Winner of the 1000 Guineas (G1) and the Coronation Stakes (G1) in 2009, the daughter of Giant's Causeway was 20 years old; an emblematic figure for Shadwell, she also shone as a broodmare, producing multiple stakes winners and keeping alive one of the most important families in world breeding

NEWMARKET, England (Special for Turf Diario).— European racing bid farewell to one of the great mares of this century. Ghanaati, the brilliant winner of the 1000 Guineas (G1) and the Coronation Stakes (G1) in 2009, passed away at age 20, leaving behind a legacy that transcended well beyond her extraordinary performances on the track to also establish herself as a valuable producer within Shadwell's powerful broodmare band.

Bred by Shadwell Farm in Kentucky and trained by Barry Hills, the daughter of Giant's Causeway burst onto the scene among the top fillies of her generation following a racing career as brief as it was brilliant.

After scoring by six lengths in her debut at age 2, she returned to the races directly in the 1000 Guineas, surprising all with a dominant victory by a length and a half under Richard Hills. That effort not only gave her the first G1 win of her campaign, but also set the fastest time ever recorded in the history of both Guineas run at Newmarket—a track record that still stands today.

Just over a month later, she proved that her classic triumph was far from a fluke. At Royal Ascot, she once again displayed overwhelming superiority to capture the Coronation Stakes (G1) by two lengths, setting the stakes record and stopping the clock in the second-fastest edition in the race's history.

Those two performances were more than enough to establish her as one of the elite milers of her era.

Upon her retirement, Ghanaati joined Shadwell's select broodmare band, where she left an equally profound mark. Among her offspring, notable performers include Mutasaabeq (Invincible Spirit), a G2 winner; Wafy (Dubawi), a G3 winner; and Afaak (Oasis Dream), who achieved one of the major victories of his career by taking the 2019 Royal Hunt Cup.

The memory of the champion drew heartfelt words from Angus Gold, longtime racing manager for Shadwell. "Ghanaati was an extraordinary mare who gave us two unforgettable days during the spring and summer of 2009. She won the 1000 Guineas impressively on her seasonal reappearance, and then went to Royal Ascot to dominate the Coronation Stakes on the very day Barry Hills was discharged from the hospital after a long illness."

Gold also recalled the deep emotional bond she shared with the family of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

"As a granddaughter of Height of Fashion (Highclere), she held a very special place in Sheikh Hamdan's heart. The entire family received the news of her passing with great sadness, and we will always remember her as a top-class miler and an extraordinary Guineas winner."

In just two seasons on the racecourse, Ghanaati forged a career impressive enough to earn her a place among the great mares of modern European racing history. Later, from the nursery, she extended that influence by producing new stakes winners and reinforcing one of the most prestigious maternal lines in the Shadwell operation. Her passing marks the farewell to a champion whose impact will continue to resonate for generations to come.