The opening day of the Dubai International Carnival at Meydan provided three Darley European stallions with highly-rated winners.
The first to score was the Shamardal gelding Sarrsar, who landed the nine-and-a-half furlong handicap off an official rating of 101. A Darley homebred and racing in the colours of Godolphin, he has now recorded five victories in a 14-race career, with three of those victories coming on every start he has raced on synthetic surfaces.
A race later another Darley homebred carrying Godolphin’s colours hit the mark, this time through the King’s Best gelding Honour System. Now a five-time winner, he was the victor of the 11-furlong handicap off a mark of 102. King’s Best has a good record in Dubai through the Group winners Calming Influence and Allybar, who went so close in the 2010 Dubai World Cup.
Completing the treble was Addictive Dream, a son of Dalham Hall stallion Kheleyf (pictured). A progressive sprinter in the UK for Walter Swinburn in 2011, he was making his first Dubai appearance on his first start for Dandy Nicholls when taking the five-furlong sprint handicap off 101. Bred by Eugene Matthews, he was only beaten a short-head in the Listed Rous Stakes last season and Stakes glory will beckon this season judged on this performance.
Shamardal will stand this season at Kildangan Stud in Ireland for €50,000, King’s Best at Haras du Logis in France for €12,000 and Kheleyf at Dalham Hall Stud for £4,000. All terms are October 1st, Special live foal.
