Just minutes after Usherette swept to victory in the G2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket, Shamardal continued his outstanding Sunday afternoon when he recorded his 12th individual European-bred G1 winner (and 17th worldwide) when his four-year-old son Dariyan flew to victory in the Prix Ganay at Saint-Cloud.
Settled toward the rear under Christophe Soumillon, Dariyan looked to be slightly short of racing room as the field began to quicken for home but once the gap appeared, he put the race to bed in a matter of strides, running on superbly to win by a length. Dariyan won last year’s G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Maisons-Laffitte and was also third in the G1 Hong Kong Vase.
Owned and bred by HH The Aga Khan, Dariyan is out of G1 winner Daryakana, who is herself a daughter of G1 Prix Diane Hermes and G1 Prix Vermeille winner Daryaba.
Later in the afternoon, Shamardal added a remarkable third Stakes winner of the day when his four-year-old daughter Royal Solitaire took the Grosser Preis von Rossman, run over ten furlongs at Hannover.
Royal Solitaire was bred by Janus Bloodstock Inc and Stilvi Compania Financiera Sa and is out of the Stakes-winning Nashwan mare Reverie Solitaire, herself a daughter of multiple G1 winner Cloud Castle.
Shamardal has now sired two G1 winners so far this year, following Tryster’s victory in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan. He is also sire of 2016 G2 winner Bow Creek and G1-placed colt Dibiyani.
