Darley in Europe announces 2027 fees

Champion sire Night Of Thunder heads outstanding roster that includes new additions Bow Echo, Notable Speech and Ombudsman

2027 fees have been announced for the 23-strong roster of stallions that will stand under the Darley banner in Europe.

It has been another outstanding year for the residents of Dalham Hall and Kildangan Stud, who have sired the winners of almost 190 Stakes races, including 36 at G1 level, in 13 different countries.

There are three exciting new additions to the 2027 lineup, all descended from the now dominant Dubawi sireline. They are Bow Echo (Dalham Hall Stud, £65,000 ex VAT), Notable Speech (Kildangan Stud, €40,000 inc VAT) and Ombudsman (Kildangan Stud, €45,000 inc VAT).

Night Of Thunder’s Bow Echo retires as the undefeated Classic hero who went on to win both the G1 St James’s Palace and G1 Sussex Stakes this year. His 2,000 Guineas win was allotted the highest race rating this century, bar Frankel, and he is just the third horse to complete this outstanding G1 treble unbeaten since the Pattern began.

Notable Speech has amassed more G1 wins (no fewer than seven) than any other stallion son of Dubawi and was crowned European Champion three-year-old, Eclipse Champion male turf horse and Champion older miler in Europe. His devastating turn of foot saw him land the 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes at three, the Woodbine and Breeders’ Cup Mile at four and this year, the Lockinge, City Of York and Woodbine Mile.

Europe’s best racehorse and the highest rated yet by Night Of Thunder, Ombudsman recorded five top-flight wins during his outstanding career including back-to-back victories in the Prince Of Wales’s (the first to do so in 30 years) and most recently, his scintillating triumph in the Champion Stakes. 

Night Of Thunder (€450,000 inc VAT) retains his Champion sire title following another banner year that saw him record his 100th individual Stakes winner late last month. He has sired six G1 winners this year and no fewer than 32 Black Type winners. His 4.6 million-guinea colt at Tattersalls Book 1 broke the European sales record and is the highest-priced yearling sold anywhere in the world this year.

In addition to Notable Speech, Dubawi has sired a further 27 Stakes winners including fellow G1 winners Arabian Crown, God’s Window and Imperial Emperor. He also added two new G1 winners as a broodmare sire in Fairy Glen and Al Hudaiba. His fee for 2027 is unchanged at £350,000 (excluding VAT).

Blue Point has had his best year yet, siring four top-flight winners including four-time G1 heroine Blue Bolt and Folsom Blues, who landed the G1 National Stakes before rounding off his season with a fine second in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Only last weekend he sired a new G1 winner when Point Barrow took the VRC Champions Sprint in Australia. He will stand at a fee of €130,000 (inc VAT).

Hugely popular in 2026, Ghaiyyath (€40,000 inc VAT) has sired G1 winners in both hemispheres this year, plus three juvenile Stakes winners and the G1 Golden Fleece runner up. He has also enjoyed spectacular success in the sale ring, with his yearlings selling for up to 1.3 million guineas and averaging seven times their conception fee.

Sam Bullard, Director of Stallions, said, “At Darley, we are incredibly proud of this year’s success, both on the track and in the ring and are hugely excited about the three top-class additions to our roster for 2027.

“Bow Echo is arguably the best commercial stallion prospect to retire to stud in recent years and to stand an unbeaten Champion and Classic winner is a great honour. He has already gone down very well with breeders who have been to see him at Dalham and is letting down into a beautiful horse.

“Notable Speech is Dubawi’s most prolific G1-winning stallion son and if he passes on that electrifying speed that he showed so often, he is a thrilling prospect as a stallion.

“Ombudsman, who will stand alongside his own Champion Sire, has given Godolphin some truly memorable days on the racecourse and is the highest rated descendant of Dubawi yet.

“As ever, the Darley stallions’ success is down to the breeders, so we thank you for your continued support and look forward to discussing your mating plans in the coming weeks.”

For a full list of fees, please click here.

Please note that fees are exclusive of VAT in the UK and France, and inclusive of VAT in Ireland.