Darley’s 2021 roster features Europe’s best juvenile for 25 years, the best racehorse in the world this year and fees designed to support the breeder.
Liam O’Rourke, Director of Stud, Stallions & Breeding, said, “We know that breeders are facing unpredictable times and have reflected this in our fees, in Europe and the United States.”
Darley stallions in Europe were responsible for the winners of 107 individual Stakes races including 16 at the highest level in 2020. They include many top races: the QEII, the Prince Of Wales’s, the Juddmonte International, the Eclipse and the Coronation Cup. Just a few weeks ago, Darley stallions were responsible for the first two home in two juvenile G1 contests – within the space of just five minutes.
O’Rourke added: “We’ve aimed to be supportive in our approach for 2021 and we trust breeders can take advantage of what we believe is our strongest roster ever – yet one that is keenly priced.
“We are thankful to all the breeders who have used our stallions in the past and we look forward to offering them the best opportunities for the future.
“We have three very exciting new stallions joining the ranks, giving us every confidence that 2021 and beyond will see more success.”
Darley has reduced fees for most stallions, with over a third having fees trimmed by 25% or more.
Dubawi again heads the roster after another superb year. He sired four G1 winners in 2020, plus a further 16 horses who have been victorious at Pattern level.
His top performer, and the best racehorse in the world this year, is Ghaiyyath, who will stand his first season at Kildangan Stud at €30,000. Ghaiyyath added three top-flight victories to his record in 2020, winning the Coronation Cup, the Eclipse and the Juddmonte International – all in scintillating fashion.
Also new to Kildangan is Champion juvenile Earthlight, with the son of Shamardal standing his first season at €20,000. Earthlight was unbeaten at two, notching five straight victories including the G1 Darley Prix Morny and the G1 Middle Park, the latter in record time.
Another outstanding Champion bidding to continue Shamardal’s superb legacy is Pinatubo, who will stand at Dalham Hall at £35,000. He was assessed as Europe’s best juvenile for 25 years, following a perfect six-from-six two-year-old campaign in which he recorded a nine-length victory in the G1 National Stakes before taking the G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes. This year, he added a third victory at the highest level when flying home in the Prix Jean Prat.
Night Of Thunder, whose first crop are three, has made the best start at stud since the Pattern began. By early July, he had sired no fewer than 12 Black Type winners, a record for a European first-season sire. This year, he has been responsible for the winners of the Dante and the Jersey Stakes, plus the Italian Oaks heroine, while several of his current two-year-old crop have already gained Black Type. His 2021 fee has been revised to reflect demand and he will stand at €75,000.
Kildangan stablemate Teofilo has enjoyed a sensational year, siring six individual G1 winners, including a brace of G1-winning juveniles. This figure that can only be bettered by his own sire, Galileo. Teofilo will stand at €30,000.
Sam Bullard, Director of Stallions, said, “It is a source of great pride that the best horse in the world this year and the best two-year-old for a generation are not just retiring to Darley having raced for Godolphin, but are themselves the sons of Darley stallions. That, and the value we are offering to breeders, makes us very optimistic about the future.
“While 2020 has undoubtedly been a challenge, there has been remarkable resilience in parts of the yearling market, and buyers have shown great confidence in the product of European breeders' labours.
“We are confident that, with the support of our breeders and their mares, the Darley stallions will continue to breed the star horses of the future.”
For the full list of fees, please click here.
