Cape Cross takes his tally of European winners past 500

Cape Cross has been a stalwart presence on the Darley stallion roster for 12 years and at the weekend, he took his number of European winners past an astounding 500, the latest landmark in a career that has seen him sire racehorses of the highest class, year in, year out.

When his first runners hit the racecourse in 2003, Cape Cross wasted little time in making an impression and was crowned Champion first-season sire, having amassed no fewer than 28 individual winners. His very first winner was Mac Love – now a multiple Group winner aged 11 and still racing.

Since then, Cape Cross has sired 52 Stakes winners from his European crops – 16 of whom have won at G1 or G2 level, headed up by the outstanding duo Sea The Stars and Ouija Board. A further 44 of his runners have gained Black type.

Worldwide, he has sired five horses who have earned more than a million Euros, including multiple G1 winner Able One (who was bred in New Zealand and is another magnificent campaigner for his sire), the aforementioned Sea The Stars and Ouija Board, plus G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Behkabad and Khawlah, who successfully took on the colts to land the UAE Derby last year.

Another of Cape Cross’ talents is his ability to upgrade his mares, with his offspring on average rated four pounds better than their dam’s other runners. He has 11 runners to date rated 120 or above by Timeform, with Sea The Stars’ rating of 140 the ninth highest in history.

Cape Cross has also been consistently successful at the sales. Last year he averaged €118,000 at the yearling sales.

His yearlings of 2012 are his first post-Sea The Stars crop, and include the offspring of 41 Group horses and 35 Group producers. These individuals are bound to make an impression both in the ring and on the racecourse next year, meaning hopes at Darley are high that the best could be yet to come for this exceptional sire.