4 April 2023

IN THE NEWS: Darley first-season shuttlers at home in Easter sale

Trevor Marshallsea | ANZ Bloodstock News

Darley were last night feeling a deep sense of justification over their daring move to shuttle two British shorter-course stallions into the heart of the Australian speed scene, with Blue Point (Shamardal) and Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) emerging from Inglis Easter with first–season honours.

Blue Point could claim the first-season sires title by averages. Admittedly, he only had two lots, who yielded $800,000, but they continued his strong results from this southern sales season.

And Too Darn Hot streeted home with the debut honours by aggregate, and was second-best by averages. His ten sold yearlings netted $3.03 million, at $252,500.

Both shuttlers shared the same peak, at $600,000. Blue Point’s was paid by Ciaron Maher and Bahen Bloodstock for a colt from Milburn Creek’s draft who’s a half-brother, out of Molto Allegro (Fast ’N’ Famous), to the stakes-winning Beethoven (Helmet).

Too Darn Hot’s was for the colt first foal from Magic Night Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Willow Creek (Tale Of The Cat), sold from Widden Stud’s draft to Hong Kong’s Asian Bloodstock Services.

The former John Gosden-trained sire, Europe’s Champion two-year-old and three-year-old colt in 2018 and 2019, also had a $550,000 lot in Anthony Cummings’ new filly out of Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Catchy (Fastnet Rock), and a $500,000 sale in a colt from another Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare, Majesty, bought by a group including Lindsay Park.

Darley took something of a gamble in shuttling the pair, given Britain’s reputation for staying power against Australia’s sprinting prowess. Blue Point was Europe’s Champion sprinter of 2019, with his 12 career wins coming at 1000 metres-to-1200 metres, while Too Darn Hot’s six victories came from 1400 metres-to-1600 metres.

But the pair have enjoyed not only strong southern patronage from breeders, but also sales’ success.

This year, the 48 yearlings sold from Blue Point’s first southern crop, including two at Karaka, have netted $10.3 million at an average of $214,635. That’s from a service fee of $44,000 (inc. GST) at Darley’s Northwood, Victoria farm.

Kelvinside’s Too Darn Hot has had 51 lots sold, including five at Karaka, for $10.2 million at $201,215, off the same service fee.

“We’re delighted with the way the market’s accepted these horses,” Godolphin Australia’s managing director Vin Cox said of the pair, who’ve both served capped books of around 130 mares through their first three southern springs.

“It’s very hard to introduce shuttle horses into the market, but across the sales season they’ve been very well accepted. It tells us the breeders have had a great result, which we’re really delighted with, but it also tells us the buyers have learnt the quality of these horses.

“All in all, it augurs well for the future in terms of trying to get these horses to the races and win races.”

Cox said there were factors, and steps taken, to address potential wariness from Australian breeders in relation to the pair.

“Blue Point won three Group 1s at Royal Ascot,” he said. “If there’s any part of international racing the Australian market knows about, it’s Royal Ascot. For him to have won three races like the likes of Black Caviar and Merchant Navy and Nature Strip have won, it gives it real relevance here.

“So from that point of view, and with the type of horse Blue Point gets, he’s very much in the right mould for Australian buyers.”

Too Darn Hot was, Cox said, an elite performer with a “red–hot pedigree” by one of the world’s best stallions in Dubawi (Dubai Millennium). For extra insurance, Darley brought master trainer Gosden to the Magic Millions Gold Coast sales in 2019 and 2020 to help spread the word.

“John was able to tell our market what this horse really was,” Cox said. “He met a bunch of breeders, got a feel for what the Australian market likes, and saw what happens and what sells in our part of the world. He was able to translate the form and the pedigree of Too Darn Hot to our market, and said he was very much in the style of what turns on the Australian market.”

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