Godolphin add Group 1 winners Tentyris and Observer to 2026 roster
Darley Australia has made the surprise announcement that two of the country’s best horses, Tentyris (Street Boss) and Observer (Ghaiyyath), will head to the breeding barn this spring.
Tentyris, a brilliant winner of last year’s stallion-making Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), will commence stud duties at Darley’s Kelvinside Stud for a fee of $88,000 (inc GST); while in a boost for Victoria’s breeding industry, Observer will take up residence at Northwood Park for a service fee of $33,000 (inc GST).
It had been anticipated that the prized colts might race on as four-year-olds, but the team at Darley have instead chosen to call time on their respective careers, which have yielded a combined four Group 1 wins and more than $5 million in prize-money.
Tentyris broke the race record when he romped to victory for co-trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman in the Coolmore last spring, no mean feat considering the calibre of previous winners, which include; Encosta De Lago (Fairy King), Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago), Zoustar (Northern Meteor), Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) and Home Affairs (I Am Invincible), all of whom are making their mark at stud.
Blistering speed is one attribute breeders admire, consistency is another and Tentyris promptly picked up where he left off this autumn with another Group 1 victory at Flemington in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m). In doing so, he became only the fourth three-year-old colt to win the Lightning Stakes in the past 25 years.
“Tentyris was a top class two-year-old, a multiple stakes-winning two-year-old. After a narrow defeat in the Blue Diamond and a brilliant win in the Todman he unfortunately missed his opportunity in the Slipper,” Godolphin Australia managing director, Andy Makiv, told ANZ News.
“As a three-year-old, his stunning win in the Coolmore was breathtaking and his win in the Lightning, spinetingling.
“The honour roll in the Lightning is the best of the best. At a stallion level you see the likes of Fastnet Rock, Testa Rossa, Home Affairs and General Nediym. They don’t miss.”
Similarly, Observer’s career highlight also came at Flemington where he won this year’s Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m). An exceptionally talented and versatile galloper, Observer proved one of the best three-year-old milers in the country, placing in the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1 1600m) last spring before making a clean sweep of the Moonee Valley Vase (Gr 2, 2040m) and Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m).
“Observer was a metropolitan-winning two-year-old, a multiple Group 1-winning three-year-old, by a champion and out of a sister to a champion,” Makiv said.
From a full-sister to Pierro (Lonhro), Observer’s pedigree needs little introduction to the Australian breeder, whilst his sire Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) is an emerging star at stud.
“Tentyris and Observer are two of the best from our amazing three-year-old crop,” Makiv said.
Makiv also noted that the results reflected the people behind the horses.
“This season is a credit to everyone involved, from those on the farms to our people in the office, right through to the trainers and their staff,” he added.
“To be so competitive on the racetrack this season and win races like the Coolmore, Lightning, Guineas and Derby is something everyone at Godolphin should be very proud of.”
Darley will reveal its full stallion roster and fees for the 2026 breeding season this Thursday.