About us
Darley is HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s global breeding operation which currently stands stallions in six countries around the world.
Its headquarters are at Dalham Hall Stud, located within the historic home of racing, Newmarket. When purchased from the Philipps family in 1981, Dalham Hall stood just one stallion and employed fewer than ten people. Since the acquisition of Dalham Hall Stud, various surrounding farms have been added to Darley’s UK portfolio.
Currently heading the line-up of nine stallions at Dalham Hall is the 2008 Derby winner New Approach, who was also the undefeated Champion juvenile of his year . He joins Singspiel, the globetrotting superstar who won the Dubai World Cup and Japan Cup and is now establishing himself as a top-class sire with twelve G1 winners to his name already, another outstanding Derby winner in Authorized; and Manduro, the top-rated horse in the world in 2007. One of the most famous stallions to stand at Dalham Hall was Sheikh Mohammed’s favourite horse, Dubai Millennium. Born on the stud and trained in Newmarket, he also won the Dubai World Cup and was the sensational eight-length winner of the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. Upon his retirement from racing, he returned to the stud but sadly sired just one crop of foals before dying of grass sickness. His most talented son, Dubawi, who emulated his sire with victory in the Prix Jacques le Marois and has enjoyed an outstanding season with his first crop of runners - becoming Europe's leading first-season sire by number of winners - also stands at Dalham Hall.
Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, was purchased in 1986 and is now home to eight stallions, including leading sire Cape Cross, leading first-season sire Shamardal, Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass and Champion two-year-old Teofilo. After the initial purchase of Kildangan, Ragusa Stud, Old Connell Stud, Blackhall Stud and Ballymany Stud, with ywo more recent additions in Ballysheehan Stud in Co. Tipperary and Woodpark Stud in Co. Meath.
Darley’s global expansion continued in 2001 with the purchase of Jonabell Farm, located in the famous bluegrass state of Kentucky in the United States. Founded in 1946 by renowned breeder John A Bell III, Jonabell has produced over 200 Stakes winners and will stand 15 stallions in 2010, a roster which includes the 2007 Kentucky Derby 1-2, Street Sense and Hard Spun, World Champion three-year-old Discreet Cat and two of America's most exciting stallions, Medaglia d'Oro and Street Cry.
Darley also has a stud in Japan, which stands two-time Emirates World Champion Fantastic Light and record-breaking Japan Cup winner Alkaased. They, in addition to Rule Of Law and Xaar, were recently joined by Dubai Duty Free winner and Japan’s top-rated racehorse, Admire Moon.
Darley Australia was established in 2001. It comprises several properties (studs and training facilities) located in the leading thoroughbred areas of New South Wales and Victoria. Our Australian stud stands a roster of stallions including champions Lonhro and shuttle stallion Exceed And Excel who also stands at Dalham Hall. Other selected stallions travel here from Darley's northern hemisphere studs.
In addition to standing stallions, Darley manages the racing interests of Sheikh Mohammed and various members of the Maktoum family, and has racehorses with a number of trainers in the UK, Ireland, France, the United States, Australia and Japan. The best of these horses will transfer to Godolphin to race in the famous blue silks that have been carried to victory in numerous Group One races across the globe.