Still basking in the glory of a first Melbourne Cup win for Teofilo and Godolphin, a closer analysis of the results from Melbourne Cup week at Flemington demonstrates just what a fantastic carnival it has been for the Darley stallions.
Of the 26 Stakes races run at Flemington over the four days of the Cup meeting, 10, or 38%, were won by Darley-sired runners.
Leading the way was Lonhro, one of the star assets acquired by Sheikh Mohammed when he purchased Woodlands Stud in 2008.
Lonhro sired the winners of three Stakes races during the week, including Aristia, the only horse to win two Group races.
Aristia won the G2 Wakeful Stakes on the opening day and followed up with a superb victory in the G1 VRC Oaks just five days later to give Lonhro his 11th G1 winner.
Lonhro’s other Black Type winner was the Godolphin-owned colt Ranier, who took out the G3 Carbine Club Stakes. His dam Kanzan is by late Darley stallion Commands.
At the top of the Cup week list, naturally, is Cross Counter, a British-bred son of Teofilo who was a regular shuttler to Darley’s Kelvinside Stud in NSW.
The other Darley-sired Stakes winners for the week were:
Trap for Fools (Poet's Voice) – G1 Mackinnon Stakes
Osborne Bulls (Street Cry) – G2 Linlithgow Stakes
Divine Quality (Sepoy) – G3 Begonia Belle Stakes
Jaameh (IRE) (Iffraaj) - G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes
Pohukutawa (Medaglia d'Oro (USA) – Listed Desirable Stakes
Thermal Current (Exceed And Excel) – Listed Century Stakes
The Melbourne Cup week results followed another fantastic G1 Cox Plate, where the Darley stallions sired the first three finishers for the second year in a row.
Vin Cox , Godolphin Managing Director in Australia, described how the result demonstrated the breadth of the Godolphin and Darley operations, and reflected the racing ambitions of Sheikh Mohammed.
“On every level it has been a fantastic spring for the organisation and for Sheikh Mohammed,” Cox said.
“For a second year the Darley stallions have sired the first three home in the Cox Plate and followed up with the strongest results of any Australian breeding operation at Flemington.
“It’s hugely pleasing for everyone concerned and a tribute to Sheikh Mohammed’s vision and commitment.”
