Breeders with mares in foal to young Darley stallion Librettist currently have an extra reason to anticipate an exciting spring. The arrival of a new foal is always a time of excitement, and the subsequent months follow in similar vein as breeders see how their foals develop. If one has patronised a young stallion, this can happen alongside the discovery of how the sire is faring.
For those awaiting the birth of one of the first crop of Librettist, it’s too early to see how the sire is going to do, because he obviously doesn’t yet have any runners; however, we’re getting a sneak preview, courtesy of his half-brother Dubai Destination. And, following an extremely promising start with his first two-year-olds in 2007, Dubai Destination is facing the very real possibility of being represented by a live Derby candidate to boost this family of stallions.
Ibn Khaldun just went from strength to strength as a juvenile, following up a Group Three win at Ascot with an emphatic Group One triumph in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, and he looks an obvious candidate to add to the record of past winners of this race, such as recent subsequent Classic winners Authorized, Motivator, American Post and High Chaparral.
Dubai Destination’s burgeoning stud career can only boost the prospects of his half-brother Librettist, because the similarities between the two siblings are great. They were both outstanding milers, the one difference being that Librettist retired with an even better record. His four-year-old campaign in 2006 was superb: his five victories that year included two Group Ones, and he claimed the scalps of many of Europe’s greatest milers, including Manduro (three times), Stormy River, Aussie Rules and Ad Valorem.
Furthermore, both half-brothers are by proven sires of sires: Dubai Destination is by Kingmambo, while Librettist is a son of Danzig, many people’s idea of the ultimate sire of sires courtesy of sire-sons such as Danehill, Green Desert, Anabaa and Chief’s Crown. An added benefit of this cross is that it has already been proven that Danzig works well with his family: champion sprinter Agnes World, a Danzig half-brother to Librettist’s dam Mysterial, is already a Group One-producing stallion.
With Librettist’s first three dams being daughters of Alleged, Seattle Slew and Lyphard, he is blessed with a truly blue-blooded background. His first foals are about to be born, and we believe that they will be growing in tandem with their father’s reputation.
