Sea The Stars (by Cape Cross) got a pattern winner among his first juveniles, King’s Best (by Kingmambo) was represented by the dual Group 1 star Sajjhaa, Black Sam Bellamy (by Sadler’s Wells) had the Group 1 scorer Earl Of Tinsdal, while Tamayuz (by Nayef) and Anabaa Blue (by Anabaa) had pattern winners.
Each of these stallions is related, as they are all descendents of Allegretta (by Lombard) and so too is Darley’s new recruit Masterstroke (by Monsun), the horse who finished third behind Solemia and Orfevre in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2012.
By the sire of the German champion sire Samum, of the classic sire Manduro, and of the successful blacktype stallions Gentlewave and Shirocco, Masterstroke is out of Melikah, the filly who can claim to be the best daughter of the unbeaten Derby and Arc hero Lammtarra (by Nijinsky).
She won the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes, she was third in the Group 1 Oaks at Epsom and runner-up in the Group 1 Irish Oaks, and she is the grandam of the Group 2 winners Vancouverite (by Dansili) and Khawlah (by Cape Cross).
Melikah is out of the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Urban Sea (by Miswaki) and so she is a half-sister to the Group/Grade 1 stars Galileo, Sea The Stars, Black Sam Bellamy and My Typhoon (by Giant’s Causeway).
She is also a half-sister to the classic-placed pair All Too Beautiful (by Sadler’s Wells) and Born To Sea (by Invincible Spirit).
The latter stands at Rathasker Stud, and has his first foals this year, while All Too Beautiful is the dam of the dual classic-placed stakes winner Wonder Of Wonders (by Kingmambo).
Urban Sea was out of Allegretta and she was a half-sister to the Group 1 2000 Guineas winner King’s Best, a stallion whose other offspring include the Derby and Arc hero Workforce.
She was also a half-sister to Allez Les Trois (by Riverman), who is the pattern-winning dam of the Group 1 Prix du Jockey-Club winner Anabaa Blue and grandam of the Group 1-winning miler Tamayuz.
Her other half-sisters include the dams of the Group 1 scorer Anzillero (by Law Society) and Tertullian (by Miswaki), the latter a multiple pattern scorer who has sired blacktype winners at stud.
Masterstroke won over a mile at Saint-Cloud on his only start as a juvenile and then made a winning return to action over 11 furlongs at Longchamp, before chasing home Top Trip in the Group 2 Prix Hocquart at the same venue.
He was then beaten a neck by Remus De La Tour in the Group 3 Prix du Lys at Chantilly before going on to listed success at Vichy and then victory in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville before his fine effort in the Arc.
His short four-year-old campaign was disappointing but as a three-year-old, Masterstroke was among the best of his age in Europe and his talent and his famous relations should ensure that he attracts a lot of attention at stud.
MASTERSTROKE (USA)
Race record: Winner of 4 races, over 8-12.5 furlongs, from 2-4 years inc Grand Prix de Deauville, Gr.2, Prix Frederic de Lagrange, Listed, 2nd Prix Hocquart, Gr.2, Prix du Lys, Gr.3, 3rd Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Gr.1, etc.
Stud record: Retires to stud in 2014.
Stands at: Haras du Logis, Louvieres en Auge, 61160 Trun, France. Contact: Julian on +33(0)2 23 36 21 20, Anthony on +33(0)6 16 87 35 84 or Sebastien on +44(0)1638 730070
Website: www.darleystallions.com
Fee: €3,000 Oct 1st, SLF