Blue-blooded books for Darley stallions

As the foaling season gets into full swing, many breeders have already turned their attention to next year’s crop and the Darley stallions are certainly not short of quality in their 2013 books.

It is no surprise that Dubawi, now well established as one of Europe’s leading sires, has attracted yet another superb book of mares. No fewer than 25 G1 winners and 18 G1 producers are due to visit him at Dalham Hall during the coming months, including Shawanda – dam of Godolphin’s 2012 St Leger winner Encke, Summertime Legacy – dam of G1-winning juvenile Mandaean (Manduro), who recently returned to winning ways in impressive style at Meydan, and Land Of Dreams – dam of Dream Ahead.

Also booked to Dubawi this year are G1 winners Blue Bunting, Nahrain and Solemia, plus Express Way – dam of one of Darley’s newest stallion recruits Rio de la Plata.

Another stallion who has been understandably popular having enjoyed a tremendous season that saw him crowned Champion first-season sire and record an unrivalled three juvenile Stakes winners at Royal Ascot is New Approach.

The sire of unbeaten multiple G1 winner Dawn Approach has 14 G1 winners and nine dams of G1 winners booked to him for 2013, including Sant Elena - dam of another of 2012’s superstar two-year-olds in Reckless Abandon, a future Darley stallion who rounded off his season with victory in the G1 Darley Prix Morny and the G1 Middle Park Stakes.

Also due to visit the outstanding dual Champion is Zarkasha, dam of none other than Zarkava (who is herself expecting a foal by Dubawi this year), plus Out West – dam of Motivator, and Street Cry’s G1 Fillies’ Mile winner Lyric Of Light.

Raven’s Pass also enjoyed a superb season with his first crop, headed by record-breaking Royal Lodge Stakes winner Steeler, and he has been rewarded with a high-class book of mares that includes seven G1 winners and seven dams of G1 winners, including Porto Roca, dam of last year’s Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso, Green Minstrel, dam of Rosdhu Queen, and Dolores, dam of Duncan.

Shamardal, who has made the best start at stud of any Irish stallion since Pattern racing began, recorded ten individual Group winners last year – three at the highest level – and excelled at the sales, will once again cover an excellent book of mares this year. 12 G1 winners including White Moonstone will visit him in 2013, plus three dams of G1 winners with Love Divine – dam of Sixties Icon – one of the standout mares due to head to Kildangan Stud.

Two of Darley’s new stallions – Helmet and Sepoy (pictured) – have also proved popular with breeders and have several talented mares due to visit them at Kildangan Stud and Dalham Hall respectively.

Helmet is due to cover Special Dancer, who has already enjoyed tremendous success with Helmet’s sire Exceed And Excel courtesy of G1 winner Margot Did.

Sepoy was himself crowned World Champion three-year-old sprinter, and he will be visited by two mares that have themselves produced speedsters of the highest class in Demerger (dam of Nunthorpe Stakes winner Sole Power) and Easy To Imagine (dam of Prix de l’Abbaye victor Tangerine Trees).

There are many more mares, that either excelled themselves on the racecourse or who have made their mark as a producer, now booked into other members of Darley’s European roster including the dam of Kesampour (due to visit Cape Cross), G1 winner Rock Opera (due to visit Exceed And Excel following the success of their earlier pairing courtesy of Heavy Metal); and the dams of Red Cadeaux, Dark Angel and Hearts Of Fire (all due to visit Teofilo).

So while the focus may now be turning to this year’s foals, and of course the upcoming flat racing season, there are reasons aplenty why 2016 – when the foals produced from this year’s matings will step onto a racecourse – could be one of the most exciting years yet for the Darley stallions.