Darley Stud’s Australian operation has become one of the most successful in history. The world wide racing and breeding empire, which is owned by Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, took its foothold in Australia when it purchased from the Ingham’s their show piece property Woodlands Stud, in the Hunter Valley and their racing stables in Sydney.
Their dominance has been confirmed by the outstanding results they have enjoyed in the now completed 2012-13 racing year, one in which it appears, they have become the first stud in Australian history to supply three of the top four sires on earnings.
On their roster they have produced:
EXCEED AND EXCEL
Exceed and Excel, the superstar sire of the year, the Champion Australian Sire of the Year and Leading Juvenile Sire;
COMMANDS
Commands (Danehill), third (3rd) top sire,
LONHRO
Lonhro (Octagonal) fourth (4th) top sire.
Exceed and Excel and Commands are only separated by
Fastnet Rock (Danehill),
FASTNET ROCK
the
Coolmore Stud Champion Australian Sire of 2011-12.
Redoute’s Choice (also by Danehill) who stands at Arrowfield Stud, finished fifth.
Also interesting to observe that:
* Nine of the top ten sires are Australian bred
* Four have just returned from northern hemisphere season. They are:
* Exceed and Excel (England),
* Fastnet Rock( Ireland),
* Lonhro (Kentucky),
* Redoute’s Choice (France),
whilst
* Commands didn’t travel this season but had visited Japan in 2009, 10 and 11.
These stallions dual hemisphere use should see in the next few years Australia starting to dominate Northern Hemisphere racing.