Shadwell announced March 3 the death of Mujahid, a Dewhurst Stakes (G1) winner who later became a group 1-producing sire, at Allevamento di Besnate in Italy.
Mujahid initially retired to Shadwell's Beech House Stud and remained there for seven seasons, as well as shuttling to Widden Stud in Australia, before transferring to a new home near Varese. Standing there, he was crowned Italian champion sire on seven occasions and lived to the age of 30.
Allevamento di Besnate's Paolo Crespi said, "He became a big gain for Italy. He is also a very, very good broodmare sire and did very well in Australia in the few years he shuttled. His horses could run forever, every second week, and if you had a racehorse by Mujahid, you would never be let down. His progeny could be running in group, listed, handicap, or even selling races—they would be competitive and totally affordable.
"He was like that himself, always aggressive, eager to cover a mare or to eat a ton of hay. He was the same every day, until his last one. He was our friend."
In a statement, Shadwell added: "Mujahid remained in Shadwell's ownership throughout his life, and the operation would like to extend its sincere gratitude to Paolo Crespi and his team for the care, attention, and diligence shown throughout his time in Italy."
The Kentucky-bred son of Danzig was a homebred for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's operation, and he became a top-class juvenile for John Dunlop, winning his first two starts that term.
Ridden by Richard Hills in all his starts, Mujahid bounced back from a below-par fifth in the 1998 Gimcrack Stakes (G2) to land the Dewhurst, defeating subsequent July Cup (G1) and Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) winner Stravinsky, as well as that season's Middle Park Stakes (G1) victor Lujain and future Prix Ganay (G1) winner Indian Danehill. That victory saw him crowned Europe's champion 2-year-old.
The following season saw Mujahid finish third in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1).
His progeny is headed by Danleigh, whose four top-level victories in Australia included the George Ryder (G1) and Chipping Norton Stakes (G1), and Cleo Fan, whose group 1 win came in the Premio Presidente della Repubblica (G1) in Italy. Mujahid's other pattern winners include Jebel Hatta (G2) scorer Balius and San Clemente Handicap (G2T) victor Starlarks.
Mujahid was also responsible for Baddam, a dual winner at Royal Ascot in 2006 in the Ascot and Queen Alexandra Stakes.
His daughters have produced Prix de la Nonette (G2) winner and Prix de l'Opera (G1) runner-up Tasaday, as well as dual One Thousand Guineas (G1) second Lightning Thunder and Baileys Jubilee, a listed winner who was also third in the Cheveley Park Stakes (G1).
