The Darley stallions in Europe have enjoyed another tremendous year both on the track and in the sales ring, siring the winners of 22 G1 contests in nine different countries, including the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Oaks, the St James’s Palace Stakes, the Irish Champion Stakes, to name but a few. In all, they have been responsible for 147 Black Type victories so far this year, 88 of which have been at Group or Graded level.
The 2025 roster represents a wealth of choice for breeders, ranging from popular young stallions Modern Games, Native Trail and Triple Time (all of whom were very well supported last year) to three of arguably the world’s most exciting sires in Blue Point, Night Of Thunder and Too Darn Hot.
Blue Point has gone from strength to strength in 2024, having become the fastest stallion ever to sire 50 winners last year. Three-time G1 winner Rosallion has been his flagbearer this season, while Big Evs and Kind Of Blue have established themselves as the premier sprinters of their generation. Blue Point’s fee will be €100,000.
Night Of Thunder has further cemented his position as Dubawi’s heir with some exceptional results on the racecourse, headed by Irish Champion hero Economics and brilliant juvenile fillies Desert Flower and Fairy Godmother, both equally impressive when winning the G1 Fillies’ Mile and Albany Stakes respectively. He will stand at a fee of €150,000 in 2025.
Another member of the Dubawi dynasty is Too Darn Hot, who joined an elite group of stallions when siring a G1-winning juvenile in each of his first two crops in Fallen Angel and Futurity Stakes winner Hotazhell. He is also sire of the winners of more European juvenile Group races in his first two crops than any other stallion since the start of the Pattern, and the only stallion in the shuttle era to achieve this plus a G1-winning youngster from his first Australian crop. His 2025 fee will be £90,000.
Dubawi himself will cover a reduced number this year at an unchanged fee of £350,000. Once again, he has had an outstanding year siring his fourth 2,000 Guineas winner in Notable Speech, making him the Classic’s most successful sire since the start of the Pattern. He is also sire this year of Oaks winner Ezeliya and his juveniles continue to shine, headed by G1 colts Ancient Truth and Delacroix.
The first yearlings by Palace Pier (£32,000) and Space Blues (€16,000) have gone through the ring this year, selling for up to 260,000 guineas and €420,000 respectively, while Naval Crown and Perfect Power (€9,000 and £7,500) will be well represented at the forthcoming foal sales.
First-season sires Earthlight (€12,500), Ghaiyyath (€20,000) and Pinatubo (£30,000) have all made very promising starts with their first runners. Highlights for each are Earthlight’s G1 Cheveley Park second and G3 winner Daylight, Gethin (Ghaiyyath) – allotted the highest rating of any juvenile debutant this year, and Pinatubo’s G2 Vintage runner-up Wolf Of Badenoch plus £300,000 sales race victor Hallasan and recent French debutant winners Kirchner and Nizam.
Sam Bullard, Director of Stallions said, “To have three stallions of the calibre of Blue Point, Night Of Thunder and Too Darn Hot is a source of immense pride to the whole team, particularly as they are sons of our own breed shapers Dubawi and Shamardal.
“Our roster provides breeders with a wealth of choices for their mares, from our proven sires to exciting young stallions and we look forward to showing them in the coming months.”
For a full list of fees, please click here.
