The Darley stallions have been enjoying an outstanding year so far and this week has been no exception, with three of the stallions recording Stakes winners on 17 June and first-season sire Iffraaj notching his seventh individual winner.
At Ascot’s Royal meeting, Maqaasid (by Green Desert) maintained her perfect record in style when breaking the juvenile course record to win the G2 Queen Mary Stakes. Sent off the 9/4 favourite, Sheikh Hamdan’s filly was held up early on, before a well-timed run under Richard Hills saw her strike the front with half a furlong to run and she crossed the line a neck in front of Meow.
Bred by Shadwell, Maqaasid is out of the Storm Cat mare Eshaadeh, a half-sister to 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes winner Ghanaati and Champion Stakes second Mawatheeq.
Later the same day, first-season sire Iffraaj recorded his seventh individual winner when Sceal Nua made virtually all to take the seven-furlong fillies' maiden at Kempton.
Bred by Kevin Mitchell, Sceal Nua is out of the Daylami mare Always Mine, a half-sister to G2 winner and multiple Stakes producer Mouramara.
At Chantilly, the feature race of the afternoon was the Listed Prix la Moskowa and Opinion Poll, a four-year-old son of Halling (pictured), recorded his fifth career win and second at Stakes level when taking the 15-furlong contest by three-quarters of a length.
Bred by Darley, Opinion Poll is out of the G2-placed Shirley Heights mare Ahead, who has produced six individual Black type performers. Halling has sired six Stakes performers this year, headed up by G1 winner Cutlass Bay.
Further afield, Able One (Cape Cross) – who has already won at G1 level this year – landed the G3 Premier Cup at Sha Tin to take his tally of Black type victories to five.
