Darley sires dominate in the G1 Prix de l’Opera

Second straight G1 victory for Shamardal’s Speedy Boarding, with Pleascach (Teofilo) second from So Mi Dar (Dubawi) in third

The Darley stallions recorded their second G1 trifecta in as many days on 2 October when classy Shamardal filly Speedy Boarding just edged out Teofilo’s Pleascach in the Prix de l’Opera at Chantilly, with So Mi Dar (Dubawi) taking third.

Speedy Boarding was settled in third under Freddie Tylicki as Pleascach set the early pace. The two fillies then engaged in a tremendous battle once quickening for home and crossed the line together with only a bob of the head separating the pair. So Mi Dar came with a great late run from towards the rear of the field to take third.

This superb result comes just a day after Quest For More (Teofilo) won the G1 Prix du Cadran from Vazirabad (Manduro) and Nearly Caught (New Approach). Speedy Boarding is the fourth Darley-sired G1 winner so far this weekend, with Wuheida (Dubawi) and Hartnell (Authorized) also succeeding at the highest level on Sunday.

Trained by James Fanshawe, Speedy Boarding is now unbeaten in three starts in France, having won the G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud back in May, before winning the G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville last time out.

Speedy Boarding was bred by Meon Valley Stud and is out of the Stakes-winning Diktat mare Dash To The Front.

Shamardal, who has 21 yearlings due to sell at next week’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, has sired 18 individual Stakes winners so far this year including fellow G1 winners Dariyan and Tryster.