BRILLIANT Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) and Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe hero Dalakhani (by Darshaan), whose only defeat in a nine-race career was when losing out narrowly to Alamshar in the Group 1 Irish Derby, is just about to start his first season at Haras de Bonneval having spent the rest of his career at his owner-breeder’s Gilltown Stud in Co Kildare.

His eight Group 1 stars include Conduit, Reliable Man, Integral, Moonstone, Chinese White and last year’s new addition Second Step, and they are backed up by 36 others who have won at least once in listed or pattern company.