Darley

by TTR AusNZ/Keely Mckitterick Australian Horse of the Year Lonhro (Aus) (Octagonal {NZ}--Shadea {NZ}, by Straight Strike) has died at the age of 25, Darley Australia announced on Friday. The Woodlands Stud homebred was pensioned in March of 2023. "A wonderful contributor to the Australian racing and breeding worlds, and as 'the people's champion' Lonhro will be forever remembered for what he was able to achieve on the racetrack," said Godolphin Australia's Corporate Director, Ross Cole said in a statement. "Lonhro had a huge and well-earned following, and he earnt...

Former Australian champion sire and influential shuttle stallion Exceed And Excel (Aus) (Danehill), described as "an amazing horse from day dot", has been retired from stud duties by Darley at the age of 23. The announcement came on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the sprinter's victory in the G1 Newmarket H. at Flemington. After that win for owners Nick Moraitis and Alan Osburg, he was bought by Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum as a stallion prospect and made one final start for Tim Martin in the July Cup in...

Darley newcomers Modern Games (Ire), Native Trail (GB) and Triple Time (Ire) have all had their first mares scanned in foal, the operation announced on Tuesday. Dalham Hall Stud resident Modern Games won five races at the top level for Charlie Appleby, notably winning at the Breeders' Cup in successive years when landing the Juvenile Turf in 2021 and Mile in 2022. Modern Games is reported to have four mares in foal, including George Strawbridge's G1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Montare (Ire) (Montjeu {GB}), already the dam of three talented performers...

There is now another reason - or make that 84 reasons - to look forward to the Brocklesby S. in a little over five weeks. The traditional curtain-raiser for the British two-year-old season is the first of 84 races this year to benefit from increased funding through a programme of high-value developmental races in 2024. This initiative, which was launched last year with a series of 63 races, is driven by British stallion studs through the European Breeders' Fund (EBF), Juddmonte, Darley and Tattersalls, and will provide more than £3...

The first reported foals for G1 Platinum Jubilee S. hero Naval Crown (GB) have arrived, Darley Europe announced. A chestnut colt out of A Touch Of Luck (Ger) (Frankel {GB}) arrived this week. He was bred by Robert Draper. His second dam is G1 Preis der Diana third Aigrette Garzette (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). Another new arrival was a colt out of Thaleia (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) from the extended family of multiple group winner Endless Drama (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). David Ryan of Kilfrush Stud said the colt had "size,...

The first foal of the three-time Group 1 winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) was born at Whatton Manor Stud on February 3, Darley announced on Monday. The bay filly is a daughter of the former Richard Fahey trainee Vaulted (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), a half-sister to the multiple Group 2 winners Dimension (GB) (Medicean {GB}) and Spacious (GB) (Nayef). Whatton Manor's Ed Player described her as, "A big, strong filly, nice limbs and [we're] pretty pleased with the model we've got." Perfect Power, who won the G1 Prix Morny and...

Paddy Power have had their say on the first-season sires' championship and the betting giants are unable to separate Pinatubo (Ire) and Sergei Prokofiev at the head of the market at odds of 6-4. It was Blue Point (Ire) who dominated the first-season sires' championship last year in recording 50 individual winners in Europe including two Group 1 scorers. According to Paddy Power, Darley are in a strong position to scoop the prize for the second successive year as, not only can the powerful operation call on joint-favourite Pinatubo, but...

There will be a lot of I-told-you-sos when looking back on the first-season sires' championship with Blue Point (Ire) living up to his lofty billing by amassing 50 individual winners in Europe including two Group 1 scorers in what can only be described as a dream debut season.  The pledge of support behind Blue Point from a very early stage, in what was viewed by many as the most competitive first-season sires' championship in a long time, was telling.  Perhaps one of the most accurate predictions came from trainer Richard...

After playing a starring role in a story that the racing world--and many circles outside the equine industry--will not soon forget, Cody's Wish will now work toward cementing his legacy as he takes up stud duty at Darley's Jonabell Farm. With a $75,000 initial fee, the son of Curlin is the priciest newcomer to join the Kentucky stallion ranks this year, but also the only one to boast five Grade I victories. His resume is further enhanced by a Grade I-winning dam--a distinction that only one other incoming stallion can...

Another breeding right in Darley's standout first-season sire Blue Point (Ire), who is already fully booked for 2024, will be auctioned on their website on Wednesday, Dec. 13-14. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. UK time and run until 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 14. The son of Shamardal has been represented by 51 individual winners so far and is the sire of a pair of colts to strike at the highest level--G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero Rosallion (Ire), and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Big Evs...

With the foal sales at Goffs and Tattersalls confined to the rear view mirror, perhaps now is the time to get a good gauge on the young sires coming through.  Bragging rights belong to St Mark's Basilica (Fr), who topped the December Foal Sale at Tattersalls when a filly by the multiple Group 1-winning stallion out of Oaks winner Talent (GB) sold for 575,000gns.  The St Mark's Basilica sale-topper was consigned by Ashbrittle Stud and bought by agent Jill Lamb on behalf of Newsells Park Stud, with the former labelling...

NEWMARKET, UK -- There are no hotel rooms left in Newmarket. Visitors to Tattersalls are not only spread far and wide across Suffolk and Cambridgeshire but have come from far and wide too. The largest ever contingent from Japan is expected at Park Paddocks this week, and with most of the stallion farms in the region displaying signs saying 'open house' it's the perfect time for international breeders also to consider using a local stallion to cover a new purchase before export. The locals are pretty good after all. Frankel...