World leader

Shamardal has made a tremendous start to 2014, with his progeny already amassing almost €3 million in worldwide prize money, making him the world’s leading sire by earnings.

He already has no fewer than ten Black type performers on the board – with March only just halfway through – headed by G2 Dubai City Of Gold winner Excellent Result, who will line up the in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night next Saturday.

Another of his offspring to shine at Meydan this year is his three-year-old daughter Ihtimal, the wide-margin winner of both the UAE 1,000 Guineas and UAE Oaks. Ihtimal was a very classy juvenile, landing the Sweet Solera and G2 May Hill en route to a creditable third in the G1 Fillies’ Mile and she will now head back to the UK where she is likely to head for the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Epsom Oaks.

Able Friend has been a consistent campaigner for his sire since moving from Australia to Hong Kong and in January added valuable Black type to his record when landing the Hong Kong Classic Mile (a local G1 contest), before finishing second in both the Hong Kong Classic Cup and Hong Kong Derby.

Shamardal is one of only four stallions in the world (excluding Japan) whose progeny have earned more than €2 million so far this year – two of the other three are none other than fellow Darley sires Exceed And Excel and Dubawi.

Sire of ten individual G1 winners to date, Shamardal stands alongside his son Casamento at Kildangan Stud. Their fees are €50,0000 and €5,000 respectively.