Sheikh Fahad Al Thani’s Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden will stand for a fee of £3,000 at Overbury Stud next season with a special enticement to encourage breeders to send him mares.

All members of Dunaden’s first crop will qualify for owners’ and breeders’ premiums, which have modelled on the French system. Two- and three-year-olds by Dunaden will have their winnings in Britain and Ireland supplemented by 64% paid to owners, with breeders earning an additional 15% of the combined prize-money and premium. Among other incentives in the Dunaden Breeders’ Club is ‘+25!’, whereby breeders of Dunaden stakes winners at two or three in Britain, Ireland or France will be rewarded with one-off £25,000 prizes.

In launching the scheme, Sheikh Fahad commented: “Dunaden gave me an unbelievable thrill winning his races around the world,’ says his owner, Sheikh Fahad, ‘And I want as many people as possible to share in the joy of owning and racing his foals. Of course, for many racing is a business, but most of all it has to be fun: I’d love to get as much pleasure out of Dunaden’s stud career as I did out of racing him, and what could be more enjoyable than sharing his successes with the racing world?”

Dunaden is the first Melbourne Cup hero to stand at stud in Britain since the 1890 winner Carbine. His three group 1 victories – in the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Hong Kong Vase – contributed to earnings of more than £5 million.

“ I look forward to racing many of his stock myself,” added Sheikh Fahad, “I will be supporting Dunaden in both the breeding shed and in the sales ring. Nothing will give me greater delight than racing a good one by him. And why not? The last Melbourne Cup hero to stand in Britain sired a Derby winner!”