The G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes is Europe’s premier juvenile contest and the Darley stallions have a rich history over Newmarket’s fabled contest over a straight seven furlongs. Timeform assess that five of the best six victors this century have either stood, stand, or will stand, under the Darley’s European stallion banner.
The great Shamardal, winner of the 2004 renewal, sadly passed away this year but his legacy will continue for generations to come. He sired the winner last season, the peerless European Champion Pinatubo, and when he joins the Darley stallion ranks, he will stand alongside Shamardal’s grandson Belardo, who was victorious for Roger Varian in 2014.
Belardo’s first runners have hit the track in 2020, and with three Stakes-winning fillies and four Black type performers by the start of October, he is outperforming his own sire Lope de Vega, Shamardal himself, and also his great-grandsire Giant’s Causeway at the same point in time in their illustrious careers.
Teofilo and New Approach, both sons of Galileo, won the race in 2006 and 2007 respectively, on their way to being crowned European Champion juveniles. Each would go onto sire a winner of the race; with Teofilo having the 2011 hero Parish Hall, and New Approach getting fellow European Champion Dawn Approach in 2012.
Dubawi is the best stallion to ever stand in Great Britain, and in 2018 his Champion son Too Darn Hot thrilled the crowds when to recording a near three-length triumph. In beating a future Commonwealth Cup winner and a future Derby hero into second and third that day, Timeform gave him a 127 race rating, the best of any winner this century.
