With the French season just swinging into action Darley stallions have been responsible for a number of highly regarded winners, all of which hold entries in forthcoming classics.
Les Troyens, a colt by Haras du Logis stallion Librettist (pictured), broke his Maiden on March 3 at Deauville over 1300M. Towards the rear early, he finished strongly to win going away by half-a-length, giving every indication that a step up in trip will see further progress and justify his lofty entry in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains.
Owned and bred by Sheikh Mohammed, Les Troyens is out of the unraced Seeking The Gold mare Native Blue, herself a daughter of Prix Saint-Alary winner Rosefinch and granddaughter of Fillies' triple-crown heroine Oh So Sharp. From the first crop of Librettist, he is one of many promising winners from a crop that includes the dual G2 winning juvenile Libranno.
A day later at Bordeaux, the Shamardal filly Suertez made her first appearance on the track a winning one when scoring by two-and-a-half-lengths over a mile.
Regally bred by D. Farm LLC, she is by the five-time G1 winner Shamardal and is a half-sister to Stacelita, who boasts a win in the Prix de Diane amongst her four G1 triumphs. While she has a way to go to match these two great champions, the J-C Rouget trained filly has made the perfect start to a career that could include matching her half-sister in the Prix de Diane.
At Saint-Cloud on March 7, the Iffraaj filly Lyrique also made the perfect start to her racing career, winning a conditions race by one-and-a-half lengths in a well strung-out field over a mile. Highly regarded by her trainer Andre Fabre, she holds entries in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane.
Bred by Darley and owned by Sheikh Mohammed, she is a half-sister to 2010 G1 Arlington Million winner Debussy and from the family of Belmez. Her dam, the G3-placed Opera Comique, also has a two-year-old filly by Cape Cross in training with John Gosden, a yearling filly by Raven's Pass and is due to be bred to Halling this season.
Iffraaj, who stands at Kildangan Stud in Ireland for €15,000, was champion first-season sire in Europe last season with a record 38 individual winners including the unbeaten G1 winner and classic aspirant Wootton Bassett. This season is off to a fast start with Introvert already recording a Stakes win at Meydan.
