2023 fees for Darley's European stallions have been announced, with Royal Ascot G1 winner Naval Crown, the fastest son of Dubawi, a new addition to the roster at Kildangan Stud.
When winning the G1 Platinum Jubilee at this year’s Royal Ascot (pictured), Naval Crown beat no fewer than 11 G1 winners including Highfield Princess, Kinross, Alcohol Free, Campanelle and Minzaal. He was also the first colt home in this year’s G1 July Cup, this time with five G1 winners behind him.
The handsome son of Dubawi broke his maiden by four and a half lengths in the prestigious Convivial Maiden. At three, he was Champion Three-year-Old in the UAE, taking the Meydan Classic where he finished ahead of Master Of The Seas. He enjoyed further success in Dubai this year when winning the G2 Al Fahidi Fort.
Naval Crown is the first foal out of the Stakes-winning Dansili mare Come Alive, herself a daughter of G2 juvenile Portrayal. Naval Crown will stand at a fee of €15,000.
Naval Crown’s sire is of course the world’s best stallion and Champion sire elect, Dubawi, who will now have six sons on the Darley roster.
Dubawi will stand at a fee of £350,000 after a year which even by his stellar standards, has been truly outstanding.
Three Classic winners head up a personal best tally of 43 Black Type winners for Dubawi: he has sired seven G1 winners this year over distances ranging from the six furlongs of the Platinum Jubilee to the 14-and-a-half of the St Leger.
Just last weekend, Dubawi enjoyed another tremendous Breeders’ Cup, taking his tally to five wins in the past two seasons headed by the thrilling Mile hero Modern Games.
Dubawi’s stallion sons have also enjoyed tremendous success this year, with Night Of Thunder further cementing his position as his sire’s successor.
Remarkably, Night Of Thunder is performing even better than Dubawi at the same stage of his career. He has an exceptional 22% Stakes winners from his first crop, led by Europe’s leading sprinter and multiple G1 winner Highfield Princess.
Night Of Thunder has been another star of the sales ring this year, with his yearlings averaging €236,000, with five topping half a million. He will stand at Kildangan at a fee of €100,000.
New to the Dalham Hall Stud roster is speed specialist Perfect Power, who will stand for £15,000.
The first horse for 20 years to win three G1 sprints by June of his three-year-old campaign, Perfect Power annexed the Norfolk at Royal Ascot just eight days after breaking his maiden, before completing the G1 Prix Morny/ Middle Park double. He returned to Royal Ascot this year with a scintillating victory in the G1 Commonwealth Cup.
Young stallions Blue Point and Too Darn Hot, whose fourth-season fees have been trimmed to €35,000 and £40,000, topped the first-crop sires averages in both Goffs Orby and Tattersalls Book 1 and 2. Derby hero Masar (£14,000) had the highest median of any first-crop sire at Book 1 and 2.
Ghaiyyath, Earthlight and Pinatubo have been strongly supported since retiring to stud. They will soon see their first foals go through the ring.
First-season sire Cracksman has exceeded most expectations with his second-crop yearlings averaging £75,000. He has sired three Black Type performers to date including G2 winner Aloa and his fee remains at £17,500.
Harry Angel has also made a superb start to his stud career, with his tally of 24 individual winners and four Stakes horses putting him right up there with the best young stallions in Europe. He will stand at a competitive £10,000.
Ribchester (€7,500) has enjoyed significant success in France courtesy of recent high-profile Group winner Facteur Cheval. He joins the Darley roster at Haras du Logis in Normandy.
Sam Bullard, Director of Stallions, said, “There's no bigger name in the business than Champion sire Dubawi. He's set even higher standards for himself in 2022, and it's only right his new fee should reflect this. Equally, demand for his best stallion son Night Of Thunder is also extremely gratifying.
“It's great news we have Dubawi's Platinum Jubilee winner Naval Crown joining the team in Ireland, and – with Perfect Power at Dalham Hall Stud – we're proud to have two tremendous commercial prospects for breeders to get stuck into.
“Looking down the list, we've tried to be as competitive with our prices as we can, knowing how hard it is for breeders in today’s challenging economic conditions.”
For a full list of fees, click here.
