The 29th Cartier Racing Awards took place in London on Tuesday, 12 November and the evening proved extremely fruitful for the Darley stallions, who were responsible for no fewer than three winners on the night.
Shamardal’s outstanding son Pinatubo was named Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt, following a perfect season that saw him win six times in as many starts, including a nine-length romp in the G1 National Stakes, plus victory in the G1 Darley Dewhurst. His Timeform rating of 134 makes him the best two-year-old colt for 25 years. He is one of three unbeaten G1-winning juveniles for Shamardal – a feat never achieved before.
Shamardal was also sire of Cartier Sprinter and new Darley stallion, Blue Point. He too enjoyed an unbeaten campaign in 2019, starting the year with three straight wins at Meydan including the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night. He then lit up Royal Ascot, landing the G1 King’s Stand on the opening day and the G1 Diamond Jubilee on the Saturday. He is the only horse ever to win three G1 sprint races at Royal Ascot, having also won the King’s Stand in 2018. Blue Point will cover his first book of mares at Kildangan Stud in Ireland in 2020 at a fee of €45,000.
Another horse joining the Darley roster is Dubawi’s Too Darn Hot, who was named Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt. Too Darn Hot, like Pinatubo, was unbeaten at two and rounded off his campaign with a win in the Dewhurst. This summer he added two further top-flight wins to his record in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville and Sussex Stakes during Glorious Goodwood. He is now preparing for the next chapter in his career at Dalham Hall Stud, where he will stand at a fee of £50,000 in 2020.
Sam Bullard, Director of stallions said, “We are absolutely delighted that both the Darley stallions and Godolphin have enjoyed such a successful evening at the Cartier Awards. Shamardal’s year has been simply outstanding and for him to be the sire of two winners, including our exciting new stallion Blue Point is wonderful.
“It is also a terrific achievement for Dubawi’s Too Darn Hot to win his second consecutive Cartier Award, and we are very pleased with the reception he has had from breeders since his retirement to Dalham Hall Stud.”
