A bumper weekend saw global success for Darley with four new Stakes winners and another seven Stakes races falling to horses already stamped with black type.
Infamous Angel led home a Darley-sired trifecta in the Lowther Stakes at Newmarket, becoming the first Group Two winner for her sire Exceed And Excel, whose fine stud record in just his first year with runners boasts another three Group Three winners and three Listed winners.
The son of Danehill has already been crowned Champion freshman sire in Australia and is behind only Kheleyf (who sired two new winners in the last three days to take his tally to 24) in the European first-crop tables with 16 individual winners. Penny’s Gift, by Tobougg, was second in the Lowther, with Langs Lash (Noverre) third.
Elusive Quality had a brace of Stakes winners on Saturday with Raven’s Pass winning the G2 Celebration Mile in the UK and Native Ruler taking the Arlington Sprint Handicap in Chicago. Philadelphia Park was the scene of Delaware River’s latest Stakes success. The son of Quiet American won the Listed Smarty Jones Classic Stakes while Shakis, by the late Machiavellian, who is also the sire of Street Cry, won the G2 Bernard Baruch Handicap.
Lonhro's first-crop son Minnesota Shark claimed Listed honours at Moonee Valley in Melbourne, winning the Mitchell McKenzie Stakes and marking himself down as a colt to follow through the VRC Spring Carnival.
There was also Listed success on Saturday in France for two-year-old Sokar, by Haras du Logis resident Slickly, who is enjoying a tremendous year in France. Sokar finished a short-neck in front of Refuse To Bend's winning first-crop son Canwinn.
The same card featured the first of two Stakes winners for Cape Cross over the weekend when the highly-regarded Russian Cross won the G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano. The three-year-old colt is now being aimed at the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on the first weekend of October.
On Sunday, Cape Cross sired the quinella in the Listed Alice Keppel Stakes at Goodwood courtesy of Crystal Capella and Casilda while Irish-bred Royal Applause colt Whatsthescript continued his superb form Stateside with victory in the G2 Del Mar Mile in California.
Last word goes to Singspiel's gutsy front-running daughter Folk Opera, who runs in the royal blue of Godolphin and posted another excellent effort when winning the G2 Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville.
