Darley

Darley's Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when the Karl Burke-trained 9-4 favourite Almohandesah (GB) graduated in Sunday's EBF Fillies' Restricted Novice going six furlongs at Pontefract. The 18,000gns Tattersalls December foal and 16,500gns Tattersalls February yearling prevailed by a head from Shouldavbeenmore (Fr) (Penny's Picnic {Ire}). 1st-Pontefract, £6,000, Nov, 6-20, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:17.13, g/f. ALMOHANDESAH (GB) (f, 2, Postponed {Ire}--Chocolate Hills {Fr}, by Exceed and Excel {Aus}), a June 1 debut runner-up over this distance at Redcar in her only prior...

The betting suggested that there would be a Godolphin one-two in Saturday's G3 Jersey S. and that projection was right with Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and James Doyle upstaging Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and William Buick to win the battle of the 5-1 joint-favourites. Always travelling strongly restrained towards the rear of the group racing up the middle, the chestnut who captured the Listed Carnarvon S. over six furlongs at Newbury May 15 moved through to take control of that pack with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. Drifting left...

There was to be no fourth Gold Cup for Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) on Thursday, as the King of Royal Ascot had to surrender his crown to the ultra-impressive Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) in a renewal set to enter into the meeting's folklore. While Mark Johnston's relentless galloper was a worthy winner and can justifiably be viewed as one of the race's best, the outcome was marred by the trouble-in-running that the three-times winner encountered as the fortune of the Gosden icon met an abrupt turn. Stuck in...

There are stallions with far bigger reputations who will never achieve what New Approach (Ire) has in his stud career. Yet somehow the horse who was champion 2-year-old, became the first Derby winner for Galileo (Ire), and was the joint-highest rated horse in the world in 2008 remains somewhat under-appreciated. It is all the more remarkable--and disappointing--given the hugely promising start made by New Approach early in his tenure at Dalham Hall Stud.  Sit through any breeze-up sale and you will regularly hear the auctioneer espousing the Royal Ascot potential...

Staged in dour conditions for late-May, Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh will shine like a beacon for Jim Bolger evermore as Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) edged out Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in a thriller to provide the Coolcullen master with a first renewal of the Classic. Sent straight to the front by Rory Cleary from his inside draw, last year's G1 Futurity Trophy winner Mac Swiney was there to be shot at throughout but it was only his G1 2000 Guineas-winning stablemate...

Richard Hannon trainee Gisburn (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) was unable to make all when an Apr. 16 debut fourth tackling five furlongs at Newbury in his only prior start, but the flashy chestnut powered up over six furlongs at the Berkshire venue to earn TDN Rising Stardom in hugely impressive fashion. The well-backed 6-4 favourite was sharpest from the gates and seized an immediate lead. Last off the bridle after halfway, he was given a shake of the reins with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and surged clear in the closing stages...

He may not be flashiest sire on the Darley stud roster, but the quietly efficacious Midshipman (Unbridled's Song- Fleet Lady, by Avenue of Flags) might just be the most consistent. He ranks second amongst his studmates, behind Jonabell's elder statesman Medaglia d'Oro, in terms of blacktype runners to named foals at over a 12% clip, and his $7,500 stud fee this year only adds to his appeal. "I think the area where Midshipman really excels, and it's a very easy selling point, is that everyone has a mare that would...

All logic pointed to the fact that Darley's first-season sire Profitable (Ire) (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was going to be quick off the mark in 2021 and so it proved as Wednesday's Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day EBF Fillies' Novice S. at Kempton saw Thunder Love (GB) provide that early first winner. Pacey from the outset as she made her way across from a wide draw to shadow the leader Chandrika (Ire) (Requinto {Ire}), Amo Racing Limited's bay took command approaching the furlong pole en route to an authoritative...

Darley has confirmed the addition of four champions to its Australian roster for 2021. The treble Australian Group 1 winner Bivouac (Aus) will be joined by European shuttlers Pinatubo (Ire), Earthlight (Ire) and Ghaiyyath (Ire), as first reported in TDN AusNZ. The announcement marks a significant show of faith in the Australian market just 12 months after Microphone (Aus), Blue Point (Ire) and Too Darn Hot (GB) made their debut on Darley's Australian roster. "The Australian market is going very well and, at the same time, having access to these...

There are few horses-or humans, for that matter-that have logged as many air miles as Exceed and Excel (Aus). The 21-year-old stallion can claim some 338,000, having shuttled for 16 consecutive seasons from his base at Darley Australia's Kelvinside Stud to Sheikh Mohammed's Dalham Hall or Kildangan Studs in Europe. Continued good results as both a sire and broodmare sire in both hemispheres mean that Exceed and Excel is a very notable absentee from the European stallion ranks in 2021, with Darley having called time on the bay's Northern Hemisphere...

As breeding sheds prepare to swing open their doors in the coming weeks, we bring you the final installment of our 2021 Value Sires series. Gone are the days of dissecting sales averages and speculating on the comments of the judges; these elder statesmen have proven their mettle on the racecourse, and a few of them are even available at their lowest ever fees. While value exists in all price brackets and for all budgets, we have chosen to limit the scope of this analysis to stallions standing in Europe...

World champion miler and leading French sire Slickly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}-Slipstream Queen, by Conquistador Cielo) has died aged 25 at Haras du Logis. The grey had been pensioned from stud duties in 2019, having stood at stud at Logis since he retired to stud in 2003. Julian Ince, who has managed Slickly's stud career, said, 'Slickly has been a wonderful horse to have at Logis, and had a very loyal following among French breeders. He was the perfect sire for the French 'primes'--his stock could win as early juveniles and...