The Guineas meeting at Newmarket was a happy hunting ground for Darley-sired runners, who were responsible for three Stakes winners over the two days.
Undoubtedly the most impressive was Wuheida (Dubawi), who was making her seasonal reappearance in the G2 Dahlia Stakes. Winner of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at two and the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf last November, Wuheida was head and shoulders above her rivals on Sunday as she strolled to a four-length victory despite carrying a penalty. A trip to Royal Ascot now beckons for this hugely talented filly.
Key Victory (Teofilo) led home a Darley-sired and Godolphin 1-2 in the Listed Newmarket Stakes on Saturday, with Old Persian (Dubawi) taking second. This was the first half of a Stakes double for Teofilo, who was also responsible for G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup winner Irishcorrespondent at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Dubawi was also responsible for Classic hopeful Lah Ti Dar, who will now head to Epsom for next month’s Oaks following her win in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes. The beautifully bred filly now has two impressive victories from two starts on her record.
Fast Company enjoyed a Stakes double over the weekend, courtesy of Ginnman and Robert Bruce.
Four-year-old colt Ginnman added a first Black Type win to his record on Saturday, landing the nine-furlong Dansk Jockey Club Cup in Denmark.
Later the same day, Fast Company’s Champion son Robert Bruce, who has no fewer than four G1 victories to his name already, ensured his move to the United States was a successful one when he landed the G3 Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont. Robert Bruce is now unbeaten in seven starts.
Fast Company also recorded his second European juvenile winner of the year when Rockin Roy made a successful debut at Beverley, easily winning the five-furlong Novice. He could be one to look out for over the summer.
Haras du Logis sire Masterstroke not only added a first French winner to his record, when Donna Leon made a successful racecourse debut, but he was also responsible for his first Classic winner in Medyna, who landed the Hungarian 1,000 Guineas (a local G3 contest) on her first start of 2018.
Three-parts brothers Epaulette and Helmet have been firing in the winners of late and on Monday, 30 April Epaulette recorded two new winners when Dance on the Day broke her maiden on her seasonal debut (and just her second racecourse start) at Wolverhampton, followed by a convincing win over six furlongs at Thirsk for I Know How.
Two days later, Fayrouz Rose maintained her unbeaten record and looked open to further improvement when storming to a four-and-a-half-length victory at Brighton. Queen Of Dreams then became Epaulette’s third new winner of the week when victorious at Lingfield.
Helmet opened his juvenile winners account for the year on Wednesday, 2 May, when Tin Hat built on a promising second on his debut in April to win the five-and-a-half-furlong Novice at Brighton. Eve Johnson Houghton’s charge won comfortably and a step up could well be on the cards for this colt.
The same trainer was responsible for Statuario (pictured), who ran out the five-length winner of the mile Handicap at Chepstow – the same course at which he broke his maiden at the first time of asking last September.
