Darley's First Crop Yearling Sire Astern

Darley's Astern looks to make a splash at this year's yearling sales with his first crop of American yearlings. Darren Fox spoke to us on Astern's rich pedigree, and how that has translated onto his progeny.

Having raced exclusively in Australia for trainer John O'Shea, Astern won on debut before taking the G2 Silver Slipper S. and the G3 Kindergarten S. From there, he won the G2 Run to the Rose followed by the G1 Golden Rose.

Astern is out of the winning mare Essaouira, who also produced Alizee (Sepoy), a champion 3-year-old filly and three-time G1W in Australia. He also hails from the family of G1W La Baraka (Euclase), as well as Triscay (Marscay), a champion 3-year-old in Australia with five Group 1 wins to her name.

In his first year at stud in the U.S., Astern filled a book of 120 mares with a $15,000 stud fee. While still reverse shuttling to his home base in Australia, he bred an additional 180 mare in his next two books.

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