New Darley stallion Pinatubo | Scoop Dyga

The Darley Europe roster, featuring new stallions Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}-Nightime {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal-Lava Flow {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) and Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal-Winters Moon {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}), has been announced. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most fees have been reduced, some by 25% or more.

Leading the overall roster is veteran Dubawi (Ire) (Dubai Millennium {GB}), who will stand for £250,000 at Dalham Hall Stud. The sire of four Group 1 winners this year along, including the brilliant MG1SW Ghaiyyath, his progeny have struck an additional 17 times at black-type level in 2020.

The aforementioned Ghaiyyath is priced at €30,000 at Kildangan Stud in Ireland. The four-time Group 1 winner struck three times at the highest level this term, collecting scintillating victories in the G1 Coronation Cup, G1 Eclipse S., and the G1 Juddmonte International.

Outstanding juvenile Pinatubo’s fee £35,000 at Dalham Hall. Rated the best juvenile in Europe in the past 25 years, the 2019 English/Irish highweight’s undefeated 2-year-old season included victories in the G1 National S., and G1 Dewhurst S. At three, he added the G1 Prix Jean Prat, ran second in the G1 Prix du Moulin and G1 St. James’s Palace S. and was Classic placed with a third in the G1 2000 Guineas.

French champion juvenile Earthlight will also hold court at Kildangan. Undefeated at two, the 2019 G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. hero’s fee has been set at €20,000.

“We know that breeders are facing unpredictable times and have reflected this in our fees, in Europe and the United States,” said Liam O’Rourke, Director of Stud, Stallions & Breeding at Darley. 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.”

Of the established stallions, Night of Thunder (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), whose oldest foals are three, has continued to enhance his reputation, with 10 black-type winners on the year, half of them at the group level. His fee has been increased at Kildangan to €70,000.

Kildangan veteran Teofilo (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has enjoyed a brilliant year at stud, his 12 stakes winners featuring six Group 1 winners alone ranging from G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud victor Gear Up (Ire), to G1 Prix Royal Oak hero Subjectivist (GB) and G1 Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment (Ire). He is priced at €30,000.

Added Darley Director of Stallions Sam Bullard, “It is a source of great pride that the best horse in the world this year and the best 2-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 complete Darley Europe roster, please go to www.darleyeurope.com.