The Weekly Wrap

A round up of all the action for the Darley stallions over the past week
Pakistan Star confirms his promise

Shamardal recorded a new G1 winner in fine style on Sunday, 29 April when his five-year-old son Pakistan Star flew to victory in the QEII Cup, worth a cool HK$24 million.

Always widely regarded by his trainer (and his huge fan base in Hong Kong) and indeed, beaten just a neck in this race 12 months ago, Pakistan Star’s temperament had got the better of him several times, to the point where he was barred from racing last year. But on Sunday, he well and truly came good as under William Buick (who picked up the ride at the 11th hour) he blew away his rivals in a matter of strides and won the ten-furlong contest in the second-fastest time ever recorded.

A trip to Royal Ascot now beckons for Tony Cruz’s charge, with the Queen Anne or the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes possibly options. In the meantime, he will head for the G1 Champions and Chater Cup on Saturday, 27 May.

Purple patch continues for Dubawi

Dubawi is enjoying another outstanding year and on Sunday, 29 April he added his tenth Black Type winner of 2018 when Godolphin filly Kitesurf ran out the easy winner of the Prix Allez France at the official opening of Longchamp following its redevelopment.

Dubawi’s three-year-olds are flying too, with no fewer than six running to ratings of 100 or higher in the UK this season – more than any other stallion.

They include Dubhe, who hacked up by four lengths over 10 furlongs at Sandown on Friday, plus Ispolini, who was beaten just a short head in the G3 Classic Trial at the same meeting.

Classic contenders

The first British Classics of the year take place at Newmarket this weekend and there are plenty of Darley-sired runners to keep an eye on.

Masar (New Approach), so impressive in the G3 Craven Stakes last time out, is currently second favourite for the 2,000 Guineas. He is likely to line up against the talented duo of James Garfield (Exceed And Excel), winner of the Greenham, plus fellow New Approach colt Hey Gaman.

Dubawi flies the Darley flag in the 1,000 Guineas, with three of his daughters due to take their chance on Sunday. Nell Gwyn heroine Soliloquy will be supplemented this week and providing the ground is not too fast, will take on her stablemate Wild Illusion, who impressed in a racecourse gallop at the Craven meeting. The Dubawi trio is completed by Anna Nerium, who bettered the boys in superb style when winning the European Free Handicap at HQ earlier this month.

The Italian 2,000 Guineas took place on Sunday and Helmet’s talented son Met Spectrum put up another solid performance to finish second, beaten less than a length.

Second crop success

The second-season sires continued their strong start to the new season, as Haddaf (Dawn Approach) maintained a clean sheet for 2018 with a victory at Sandown last Friday, while Dee Ex Bee (Farhh) finished a creditable third in the Listed Blue Riband Trial at Epsom on Wednesday, 25 April. He probably now heads to Chester or Lingfield for another trial en route to the Derby.

Dawn Approach is also sire of Black Type winners Musis Amica and Mary Tudor (pictured(, who will be aimed at the French and Irish 1,000 Guineas respectively.

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