Adayar (Ire)

Lemon Pop, who recently became the first dual winner of the G1 Champions Cup for over a decade, has been introduced at a fee of ¥5 million (€30,615) for 2025, identifying him as the most expensive stallion on the Darley Japan roster. The six-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid, who was crowned the JRA Best Dirt Horse in 2023, will embark on his first season in Hokkaido following his Chukyo swansong which saw him retire as the winner of 13 of his 18 career starts. Trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka, he...

Recent Japanese transplant Palace Malice covered 262 mares in his first season at Darley Japan, the stud announced. The 2013 GI Belmont Stakes-winning son of Curlin has already enjoyed success in the Land of the Rising Sun with his progeny. Jantar Mantar (Jpn) is a winner of the G1 NHK Mile Cup this year and the 2023 G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes the same term he was crowned Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt. Palace Malice, who stood for ¥3,500,000 (€22,139) in 2024, also has the Japanese Group 3 winner Noble Roger...

The 14-strong Darley Japan roster and fees for 2024 were announced on Thursday morning. Leading the way with a ¥4 million fee is GI Forego S. victor Pyro, who is standing his 14th season in Japan. The sire of eight stakes winners is joined by former American-based transplants Palace Malice and Yoshida (Jpn), who will stand for ¥3.5 million and ¥1.5 million, respectively. Palace Malice, a GI Belmont S.-winning half-brother to Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Iron Barows (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) who will face off in Sunday's G1...

Godolphin's G1 Derby winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Anna Salai, by Dubawi {Ire}) will join Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) at Darley Japan for stallion duty in 2024, Darley announced on Thursday. Fees for the G1 King George-winning duo will be revealed later. The first horse to win the Derby and the King George in the same year since his paternal grandsire Galileo (Ire), Adayar was retired in July. The bay broke his maiden by nine lengths at Nottingham at second asking at two for Charlie Appleby, and was group-placed...

The odds for Thursday's Kingdom of Bahrain-sponsored G2 Princess of Wales's S. suggested a measure of redemption was in store for Derby and King George hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), but Shadwell's former handicapper and 7-2 second favourite Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}--Taghrooda {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) confounded those in possession of 1-3 tickets with a power-packed display of his own to claim a career best in the 12-furlong feature. The eventual winner slipstreamed Godolphin duo Global Storm (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Adayar through the early fractions...

Seemingly banging his head against the wall over a mile and a quarter, Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) is back at the Derby trip and back into his comfort zone in Thursday's four-runner G2 Princess of Wales's S. on day one of Newmarket's July Festival. Not seen at 12 furlongs since following his Blue Riband triumph with another in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. two years ago, Godolphin's heavyweight has given no indication in two reverses in the G1 Champion S. and G1 Prince of Wales's S....

Paying tribute to his G1 Dubai Sheema Classic conqueror Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Shadwell's Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Handassa {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) blitzed his better-fancied rivals to register a clear personal-best in Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's S., a qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in California in November. Anchored in last early by Jim Crowley, the 10-1 shot who had been freshened up since his fourth in that Meydan feature swung wide of the warring Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) entering the straight....

Arguably the week's most momentous race, Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's S. is as tight as it gets between a trio of hardcore middle-distance soldiers from all the right establishments. From Moulton Paddocks' 2021 Derby winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to Freemason Lodge's Champion S. winner Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) to Ballydoyle's Irish Champion hero Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), this renewal could come down to small margins and tactical decisions, much as it did last year. Not yet a Group 1 winner, but so obviously an imminent one,...

Waylaid for much of last year, Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) showed he is in a good place this Spring with a smooth winning return in the rescheduled G3 Gordon Richards S. very much a marker of his current wellbeing. Travelling strongly but always under William Buick's control tracking stablemate Highland Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the early stages of the 10-furlong staging post moved to Newmarket from Sandown, the 2021 Derby and King George hero moved to the front passing two out and forged ahead to score by 2 1/2...

Saturday's dour weather at Newmarket means that only the tough need apply in Sunday's G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas. A preference for testing ground is a must and so TDN Rising Star Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) seems in pole position given how electric she was on it when dealing with Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. at The Curragh in September. Dermot Weld resisted the temptation to come here with Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) 12 months ago, despite the fact that she could have ended...

Despite the heavy ground that unfortunately has led to some key withdrawals, Sandown's "Spring Celebration" fixture on Friday sees some big names both past and present, proven and as-yet untested brought for their Esher examination. Godolphin's Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) makes his 5-year-old bow in a customarily-beleaguered G3 Gordon Richards S. and is an altogether mightier presence these days than when making his first big breakthrough as an unlucky second in this venue's 2021 G3 Classic Trial. Since then, Charlie Appleby's goliath has conquered a Derby, a King George and...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Insights features a full-brother to Classic hero Adayar (Ire).   3.15 Newbury, Cond, £50,000, 3yo, 10fT MILITARY ORDER (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) takes part in the latest of the Darley Novice races and is a fascinating runner in this conditions event which has a rich recent history of throwing...