The Darley stallions have made a superb start to 2014, siring 49 Stakes winners worldwide between them, with the Classic season only just underway.
It should be no surprise that super sire Dubawi (pictured) is leading the way, with 13 individual Stakes winners already – more than any other stallion in the world. Night Of Thunder became his third G1 winner of the year on 3 May with a brilliant victory in the 2,000 Guineas- no other stallion in the world has sired more. Earlier in the year Prince Bishop and Tiger Tees also excelled at the highest level when landing the Al Maktoum Challenge and The Galaxy respectively.
Shamardal is not far behind Dubawi, with 11 Stakes winners so far. Five of these have won at Group level, including G2 winners Excellent Result, Ghibellines and Sommerabend. His daughter Ihtimal, winner of two Classics in Dubai, was third in the 1,000 Guineas at the weekend and is currently second favourite to take the Oaks.
Shamardal’s progeny have earned almost £5 million in prize money so far this year – more than any other stallion standing outside of Japan, with their hugely lucrative purses.
Second in the earnings list is Exceed And Excel, with his progeny bringing home more than £4.6 million. His outstanding daughter Earthquake (winner of the G1 Blue Diamond and second in the Golden Slipper) and G1 Al Quoz Sprint victor Amber Sky have been major contributors to their sire’s earnings, together with a further seven Black type winners.
2013 was the best year ever for the Darley stallions in Europe (who sired an outstanding 21 G1 winners and 150 Stakes winners between them), however with the racing-packed summer yet to unfold and many more exciting prospects yet to make their presence felt on the track, this year looks set to be better still.
