A round up of all the action for the Darley stallions over the past week
The best of British
In a stellar week for Dubawi, he not only notched his 100th individual Group winner on Monday through Crown Walk, but also his 101st when his juvenile son Quorto ran out the very impressive winner of the G2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.
Unbeaten in two career starts, the son of the multiple Oaks-placed Volume recorded a Timeform rating of 112 when winning by nearly four lengths, a figure only bettered this season among European juveniles by Coventry Stakes winner Calyx. It was a figure 6lb better than his sire, who won the race back in 2004 before completing his unbeaten juvenile season with victory in the G1 National Stakes.
Dubawi is the only British stallion to have ever sired 100 Group winners, becoming only the 10th in history to reach the century.
He is going Farhh
Second-crop sire Farhh is impressing many breeders and it was another good week for the multiple G1-winning son of Pivotal.
The highlight of his four winners during the week was impressive G3 winner Wells Farhh Go, who supplemented his G3 Acomb win as a juvenile by easily taking the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket, making all the running to beat Loxley (New Approach) by two lengths with a gaping five lengths back to the third. His main aim now is the St Leger, probably via the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York’s Ebor meeting.
Another son looking to line up in the world’s oldest Classic is Dee Ex Bee, and he again showed his class and tenacity to run third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris. The Mark Johnston-trained colt, who was second in the Derby earlier this year, looks tailor made for the step up to a mile and three quarters.
Other winners to look out for are Move Swiftly, now two from three after an easy win at Wolverhampton and the talented Goldophin colt Bedouin’s Story, who won his first race at Salisbury by five lengths.
From his small first crop, Farhh has sired 11% Stakes winners to runners, which is a full three points higher than all other second-crop stallions in the northern hemisphere (with 25+ runners).
Group winners for Teofilo and Raven’s Pass
Two of Kildangan Stud’s established stallions enjoyed a good seven days with both Raven’s Pass and Teofilo both siring Group winners.
On a busy day’s racing on Friday when most eyes were looking at Newmarket, Raven’s Pass’s daughter Raven’s Lady won her first Group race at York in the G3 Summer Stakes. Expertly handled by Marco Botti, she has been a model of consistency and is improving at the age of four, winning on her first attempt at this level.
Another performer that owes his connections nothing is Teofilo’s son Diplomat, who looked as good as ever at the age of seven in the G2 Meilen Trophy in Germany. Well on top late, he was winning his second G2 after a victory in Italy back in 2016. In a career spanning 47 races, he has now won or placed nine times at Group level.
Runners on the rise
Euchen Glen, a son of Derby hero Authorized, continued his upward curve on Saturday when landing the £200,000 John Smith’s Handicap at York. Relishing the step down in trip and the change to front-running tactics, he never saw another rival, making all to win by over two lengths off a lofty rating of 99. Now likely to head towards the Ebor, the Jim Goldie-trained runner produced a career best effort to earn a Timeform rating of 112.
Another runner likely to end being better than just a handicapper is Cross Counter (pictured). The Charlie Appleby-trained son of Teofilo took his career record to three wins from five starts when landing a competitive handicap at Ascot by two lengths. Winning off a handicap mark of 101, Timeform rated the winner at 113, the highest figure they have given to a non-Stakes middle-distance three-year-old this season.
Perfect parade
Dalham Hall Stud opened its doors on Thursday and Friday for its much-anticipated annual stallion parade. Glorious weather greeted around 1,500 clients, as well as Sheikh Mohammed, to view 19 immaculately turned out stallions ranging from the ultimate proven in Dubawi and New Approach, to first-season sires Postponed, Ribchester and Profitable.
The event was a huge success with young stallions Charming Thought and Territories, both of whom have first foals on the ground this year, earning plaudits from prospective breeders.
