Sam Bullard

With Dubawi as its lynchpin, there have of course been plenty of red-letter days for Darley in recent years, but the results from the Arc meeting at Longchamp on Sunday can nevertheless be deemed to be extra special. Best of all was the victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the unbeaten Ace Impact (Ire), a member of the first crop of Cracksman (GB). That stellar performance was backed up by a first-crop Group 1 winner for Blue Point (Ire), who is leading the first-season sires' table and...

Godolphin's Eclipse Champion Male Turf Horse Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Modern Ideals {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) will stand under the Darley banner at Dalham Hall Stud alongside his sire in Newmarket next season. A fee for the five-time top-level victor will be announced in due course. Trained by Charlie Appleby, he won both the G3 Somerville S. and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at two. Sent to France at three, Modern Games duly nabbed the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and was third in the G1 Prix du Jockey...

Classic winner and Group 1 sire Night Of Thunder (Ire) is one of seven European-based Darley stallions available on Southern Hemisphere time whose fees were revealed on Thursday. Set to stand for €50,000 at Kildangan Stud in Ireland, the son of Dubawi (Ire) sired his first international Group 1 winner with Kukeracha (NZ) from his only Australasian-bred crop. Former shuttler Palace Pier (GB) leads the way at Dalham Hall Stud at £25,000; and roster veteran and fellow former shuttle stallion Iffraaj (GB), who has accounted for 11 Group 1 winners...

The British EBF has allocated £1.9-million for total prizemoney contribution in 2022, with £1.7-million designated for over 700 flat races across Great Britain. A further £100,000 has been allocated for a new series for EBF-eligible 2-year-olds, with details to be announced in April. National Hunt prizemoney allocation remains unaltered and will support four series' including the EBF National Hunt Novice Hurdle. In other British EBF news, Ed Harper of Whitsbury Manor Stud joins the board of trustees while Chris Richardson of Cheveley Park Stud retires after two full terms. Shane...

Strip away the brass name plates, parade the Darley stallions in front of seasoned horsemen and ask them to pick the horse who last year sired three Breeders' Cup victors among 38 stakes winners and was the broodmare sire of the Derby winner. Of those who haven't seen him before, it is unlikely that many would choose Dubawi (Ire). Unlike his sire, the brilliant but ill-fated Dubai Millennium (GB), he is not a horse who 'fills the eye' with those long classic lines and fluent stride. On the short side...

Victor Ludorum (GB) (Shamardal-Antiquities {GB}, by Kaldounevees {Fr}), an unbeaten Group 1-winning 2-year-old who trained on to be a Classic winner at three for Godolphin, has been retired from racing and will stand at Haras du Logis in Normandy next year. A fee will be announced at a later date. Sam Bullard, Darley's director of stallions, said, "Victor Ludorum was a great credit to the Godolphin team--a homebred Classic winner who was exceptional at two. We're delighted to be standing him in France, scene of all his races. He hails...

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...

The Darley Europe roster, featuring new stallions Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}-Nightime {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal-Lava Flow {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) and Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal-Winters Moon {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}), has been announced. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most fees have been reduced, some by 25% or more. Leading the overall roster is veteran Dubawi (Ire) (Dubai Millennium {GB}), who will stand for £250,000 at Dalham Hall Stud. The sire of four Group 1 winners this year along, including the brilliant MG1SW Ghaiyyath, his progeny have...

Who has been the biggest inspiration in your career and why? DL: I find this question very difficult to answer. Like most in the industry, I have been lucky enough to work with a wide range of people over the years. I like to think I have picked up things from many of them. Coming from a non-horsey but sporty family background, it was my parents who encouraged me to 'beg, borrow and steal' ponies to ride and fostered the belief that if you want something enough, you will work...