BELARDO was the champion two-year-old in Europe when he won the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, and he trained on to add the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes over a mile as a four-year-old. He is great value at only €10,000, as he has sired 18 individual winners from his first crop, who were two-year-olds in 2020.

Belardo’s daughter Isabella Giles won the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket and the Group 3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood, while Elysium scored in the Group 3 Park Stakes at the Curragh and Lullaby Moon took the Group 3 Prix Miesque at Chantilly and the Listed Redcar 2YO Trophy.

Also very popular in New Zealand, Belardo is sire there of Avonallo, winner of the Listed Welcome Stakes at Riccarton, while a yearling colt by him sold for NZ$380,000 at a sale there last month.

Trained by Roger Varian, Belardo won three of his five starts in his first season, starting at Yarmouth, where he strolled home over two lengths clear. In the Group 3 July Stakes at Newmarket he was a close fourth behind Ivawood, but then in the Listed Washington Singer Stakes at Newbury he romped home almost four lengths clear.

Although only fourth in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, Belardo was back to his best form in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October and he finished very strongly to win impressively by two lengths from Kodi Bear.

Purchased by Godolphin after the Dewhurst, Belardo was assessed as the best two-year-old in Europe in the International Rankings for 2014 on 119, a pound above Group 1 Middle Park Stakes winner Charming Thought, with Gleneagles on 116. Timeform rated him on 126.

In 2015 Belardo was fourth to Gleneagles in the Irish 2000 Guineas, second in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes and then a close second in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, clear of Integral and Gleneagles. Starting his four-year-old campaign by winning the Listed Doncaster Mile, Belardo then added the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, defeating three Group 1 stars.

In his final race, the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, he was a close second. In the World Rankings for 2016, Belardo was rated one of the four best older milers in Europe.

Belardo is by Shamardal’s son Lope De Vega, winner of the French Derby who has already sired 77 blacktype winners. His dam Danaskaya, by Danehill, was the champion two-year-old filly in Ireland and she is also dam of group winner Berling. This is the family of Cornwallis Stakes scorer Mujadil, a prolific sire of two-year-old winners.

BELARDO (IRE), Bay 2012. Champion 2yr old colt in Europe in 2014. Won five races, £901,643, from 6 furlongs to 1 mile, 2 to 4 years including, Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, Newbury, Gr.1, Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.1, Betway Doncaster Mile Stakes, Doncaster, L, Denford Stud Washington Singer Stakes, Newbury, L, also placed second in Qipco Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, Queen Anne Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, and third in Dubai Challenge Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.2.

Retired to Stud in 2017, and sire of the winners of 26 races, and over £444,017, including ISABELLA GILES (IRE), ELYSIUM (IRE), LULLABY MOON (GB), AVONALLO (NZ),

BELLOCCIO (FR), Fonsalette (NZ), Bell I Am (IRE)

Stands at: Kildangan Stud, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Contact: Eamon Moloney, Anthony O’Donnell or Caoimhe Doherty

Telephone: +353 (0) 45 527600

Email: enquiries@darleyireland.com.

Web: www.darleystallions.com

Fee: €10,000