By Alan Carasso
Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}–Dalicia {Ger}, by Acatenango {Ger}), the 2011 GI Kentucky Derby winner and Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old and hero of the 2013 G1 Dubai World Cup, will be relocated from Darley's Kentucky base to join the stallion ranks at the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association. Darley's Darren Fox confirmed the news to the TDN.
The chestnut, bred and raced by Team Valor, was a gallant second to dual Horse of the Year Wise Dan (Wiseman's Ferry) off an eight-month absence in the 2012 GI Breeders' Cup Mile and the following month, it was announced that Arrowfield Stud had acquired a majority interest in the stallion, with an eye on beginning his stud career in September 2013. Following his victory in the World Cup, it was announced that Darley had acquired an interest in Animal Kingdom, enabling him to shuttle to Kentucky.
From three crops to race in each hemisphere, Animal Kingdom is the sire of 12 black-type winners and five at the group/graded level, including G1 Australian Derby victor Angel of Truth (Aus). His U.S. graded winners include Regal Glory, who is entered for Saturday's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland; Friday afternoon's GIII Buffalo Trace Franklin County S. heroine Oleksandra (Aus); Untamed Domain, runner-up in the 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf; and Elsa.
Shadai Farm acquired Animal Kingdom's dam Dalicia in 2010 and has bred four winners from her, including the mare's current 3-year-old filly Satono Damsel (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), undefeated in three career starts and entered for this Sunday's G1 Shuka Sho (2000m) at Kyoto. Satono Damsel's 6-year-old full-brother Satono Kingdom (Jpn) has won five of his 21 starts and is approaching $1 million in career earnings, while the unraced 2-year-old colt Deep King (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) fetched ¥80 million (about $724,000) as a yearling at the 2018 JRHA Select Sale.
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