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Fees set for 28 European-based stallions with most reduced to reflect current economic circumstances
Darley on Monday announced fees for 28 of their European-based stallions with Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) heading the roster at an unchanged fee of £250,000, whilst new additions Pinatubo (Shamardal), Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) and Earthlight (Shamardal) will stand for £35,000, €30,000 and €20,000 respectively.
Darley has reduced fees for most stallions, with over a third having fees trimmed by 25 per cent or more.
“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.
“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.”
Dubawi, who will stand again at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, has sired four Group 1 winners in 2020 including Ghaiyyath who will stand his first season at Kildangan Stud. He added three top-flight victories to his record in 2020, winning the Coronation Cup (Gr 1, 1m), the Eclipse (Gr 1, 1m2f) and the Juddmonte International (Gr 1, 1m2f).
Also new to Kildangan is champion juvenile Earthlight (Shamardal) who was unbeaten at two, notching five straight victories including the Prix Morny (Gr 1, 1200m) and the Middle Park (Gr 1, 6f) in record time.
Another outstanding champion bidding to continue Shamardal’s (Giant’s Causeway) superb legacy is Pinatubo who will stand at Dalham Hall for £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 National Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) before taking the Dewhurst Stakes (Gr 1, 7f). This year, he added a third victory at the highest level when flying home in the Prix Jean Prat (Gr 1, 1400m).
Former shuttler Night Of Thunder (Dubawi), whose first European-bred crop are three, has made a fantastic start to his stud career and his 2021 fee has been revised to reflect demand and he will stand at €75,000, up from €25,000 in 2020.
Teofilo (Galileo) meanwhile has enjoyed a sensational year, siring six individual Group 1 winners, including a brace of Group 1-winning juveniles. This figure that can only be bettered by his own sire, Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) and Teofilo will stand at €30,000, down from €40,000 this year.
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.”