Darley's 2018 fees for the 28 stallions standing on its roster in New South Wales, Victoria and New Zealand have been announced and offer breeders outstanding value across a superb range of sires.
Vin Cox, Managing Director of Godolphin in Australia said, 'It has been a tremendous year for the Australian breeding and racing industry. The yearling market is up, prize money is at record levels and foreign investment continues to grow. Breeders are now deservedly reaping those rewards.
'We are proud of Darley’s reputation for looking after our breeders and this is something we wish to continue to build on. We have already strongly signalled our intention to support breeders at the sales and look forward to these yearlings running in the Godolphin blue silks – and hopefully further enhancing the value of their dams.
'This support is a commitment we intend to maintain, and as you will see from this year’s fees, we are here to do business with you.'
Exceed And Excel once again heads the line-up and will stand at a fee of $82,500 inc GST. He added an eleventh G1 winner to his record late last year, when his Australian-bred son Mr Stunning took the valuable Hong Kong Sprint. Another of his sons made headlines on Dubai World Cup night, with Heavy Metal winning the G2 Godolphin Mile, his third Group win of 2018.
Lonhro – like Exceed And Excel a former Champion sire – continues to make an impact with star three-year-old, the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Kementari, flying his flag high this season. In spite of a great run of form which includes the emergence of his son Pierro as a significant sire, Lonhro’s 2018 fee has been reduced to $55,000 inc GST. Lonhro will be joined on the roster by his G1-winning son Impending, who became the first three-year-old in 10 years to win the G1 Stradbroke. Impending will stand at Northwood Park in Victoria at a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
Also new to the Darley team is dual European Champion miler and four-time G1 winner, Ribchester. A son of Darley's Iffraaj – who stands in New Zealand at an unchanged NZ$25,000 (plus GST). Ribchester broke the track record when landing the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last year having been Champion miler at three in 2016, too. He will stand at Kelvinside, New South Wales at $24,750 inc GST.
One of Darley's rising stars is the homebred multiple G1 winner Epaulette, who has made a huge impact with his first Australian two-year-olds. He has already sired two Group-winning juveniles, more than any other first-season sire this season. Of all the stallions from the Danehill line – including Danehill himself – only Exceed And Excel on three has ever sired more juvenile Group winners. Epaulette's 2018 fee will be $27,500 inc GST.
On the move to Victoria is Sepoy, whose previous visits to the State resulted in victories in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and G1 Manikato – wins that saw him named World Champion sprinter. Sepoy’s best performer to date is G1 Flight Stakes heroine Alizee, and he is sire of a further five Black Type performers so far this season. He will stand at $11,000 inc GST.
The Darley stallions have also enjoyed another successful year in the sales ring, with yearlings by Dawn Approach, Exceed And Excel and Sepoy proving popular with buyers that this year included Godolphin, while Shooting To Win and Brazen Beau have enjoyed results that place them among the leading first-crop stallions in the country.
For the full Darley roster and fees, click here.
