Darley Star Stallions Sashay Around at Dalham Hall Stud

It was a great privilege to be asked to cover the 2019 stallion parade at the Darley Dalham Hall Stud. It was in 1981 that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai purchased the Dalham Hall Stud, just outside the UK’s racing capital, Newmarket in Suffolk. When he purchased the stud from shipping magnate Laurence Phillpps, there also came one stallion with the deal, Great Nephew and ten brood mares including the dam of the last Triple Crown winner in the UK Oh So Sharp in 1985. This was the start of the Darley breeding operation. Now, the stud is split into two sections, one for the Sheikh’s private stud and the second for the Darley Stud stallion station.

The Stallions

The Darley operation, run from Dalham Hall Stud, covers all the stallions standing at Darley Studs throughout the world. It is a huge operation, and as a result, the stallion roster is split into continents. In this article, we discuss only the 18 stallions shown in the parade. In Europe, His Highness has studs in the UK, Ireland and France where Darley stand 37 stallions including those featured here.

The stallions paraded for two consecutive days in front of about 1500 invited clients who had used Darley stallions in the 2019 season. Each stallion was walked around a large circuit twice, with commentary, and with a giant screen to show either the stallions’ conquests on the racecourse, or the conquests of their off spring. After the parade, a sumptuous lunch was provided before the guests departed for the races.

Blue Point. Just retired to stud. Record Breaking winner of 4 group 1 races.

The best son of Shamardal Blue Point has literally just come off the racecourse, winning the two Group 1 contests; The King Stand and Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2019. A prolific sprinter who won at Group level at 2,3,4 and 5. He is out of a mare by Royal Applause and he will stand his first season in Ireland at Kildangan Stud from next year. He has quite a distinction in his pedigree in that he is free from both Danzig and Saddlers Wells blood.

Brazen Beau. Australian Bred. Australian Champion Sprinter in 2014.

Standing at Dalham Hall, going to stud in 2016. He has had a great start to his stallion career with 6 two year old winners including the pattern race winner Avenger Queen in Italy in 2019. He is by I am Invincible Spirit out of a Snaadee mare and both sides of his pedigree go back to the great Danzig.

Cloth of Stars. Born 2013. By Sea The Stars. Champion Older Horse in Europe.

Standing in France. By Sea of Stars and he is out of a Kingmambo mare. He was winner of 7 races including a Group winner at 2, 3 and 4 over 1 mile to 10 furlongs, including The Prix Ganay Group 1. He did all his racing in France. He goes back to Mr Prospector on both sides of his pedigree. His first season at stud is 2019.

Cracksman. Born 2014. European Champion at 3 and 4

By the great Frankel, Cracksman went to Dalham Hall in 2019 for his first season. He is one of the stars on the Darley Roster. As European Champion for two years he won 8 races from 11 starts including 4 Group 1 races including The Champion Stakes at Ascot twice. His four Group 1 races were over 10 to 12 furlongs. He is out of a Pivitol mare. He is from the same family as Golden Horn.

Dawn Approach. Born 2010. Winner of 2000 Guineas Newmarket.

Standing in Ireland, this son of New Approach out of a mare by Phone Trick was the unbeaten European Champion at 2 including winning two Group 1 races and at 3 winning another brace of Group 1s; The 2000 Guineas and The St James Palace Stakes. He was Champion 3 year old miler in Ireland. He is the sire of many winners including classic contenders Musis Amica and Mary Tudor and Madhmoon.

Dubawi. Born 2002. Group 1 winner at two and three.

This stallion has to be the headline stallion of the Darley group. Dubawi won 5 out of his 8 races including The Irish 2000 Guineas, The Prix Jacques Le Marois and at 2 the National Stakes at the Curragh, all Group 1 races. He is by the European Champion Miler, Dubai Millennium; a horse which it is said that H.H. Sheikh Mohammed thought ‘was the most beautiful horse he had ever seen/owned’. The Sheikh loved Dubai Millennium and seeing the horse myself at Royal Ascot in Prince Of Wales Stakes (which was one of his several Group 1 successes) I think he was one of the most beautiful and handsome horses I have ever seen. It was a tragedy for the thoroughbred industry that Dubai Millennium’s life was so short. Anyway, we digress – back to Dubawi; whose dam is Zomaradah by Deploy. Dubawi is the sire of 40 Group 1 races and the only British based sire to ever sire the winners of over 100 group races. He commands a serious stud fee of £250,000 per covering, but such is his success, there is no shortage of prospective mares to visit him at Dalham Hall. It is no surprise that his yearling progeny sell so well, many making well over £1 million. He is a lovely looking horse. Is he is a handsome as his father? I’m not sure, but would I be proud to own him? Oh yes!!

Exceed And Excel. Born 2000. Champions Australian Sprinter.

One of the older generation at stud, Exceed And Excel is the sire of over 150 stakes winners, one of only a few stallions at stud in the world to claim such an accolade. He is by Danehill out of a Lomond mare and is another standing in Ireland. He is particularly noted for his success in siring prolific two year olds. Many of his sons are also now at stud. Not only in Europe, does Exceed And Excel have a huge number of winners, but also in Australia, where he has a penchant to produce Champions.

Farhh. Born 2008. Winner of both the Champion and Lockinge Stakes.Group 1

Farhh is by Pivotal out  of a mare by Lando. He is another standing at Dalham Hall. He won 5 of his 10 starts from 2 to 5 years including 2 Group 1 races, The Champion Stakes and The Lockinge Stakes. This is his third season with horses on the track and has had many winners. His best horse to date is Derby runner up and current runner Dee Ex Bee.

Fast Company. Born 2005. Sire of classic winning Jet Setting.

Fast Company is another to stand in Ireland. He is by Danehill and out of a Zafonic mare. He won a group 3 at 2 and was second in the Dewhurst Stakes, his only season to race. He is the sire of Irish 1000 Guineas winner Jet Setting and also Robert Bruce, winner of The Breeders Cup Turf in 2018.

Golden Horn. Born 2012. European Champion Winner of the Epsom Derby and Arc.

One of the absolute stars of on the Darley roster. Golden Horn is by Cape Cross out of a Dubai Destination mare. He was rated the best racehorse in the world on the turf in 2015. He won 7 of his 9 starts at 2 and 3 including four Group 1 races at 3. Winner of The Epsom Derby, The Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, The Irish Champion Stakes and The Eclipse Stakes. His first crop are now two year olds and has one winner already from only four runners to date. He stands at Dalham Hall.

THIS IS THE END OF PART ONE. CONTINUE TO READ PART TWO IN NEXT ARTICLE.

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