Exceed And Excel (Danehill), Darley’s long-standing global star stallion, has been retired from covering duties, it was announced yesterday.  After a career at stud spanning almost two decades, the 23-year-old stallion’s exploits in the breeding barn, which followed a hugely successful racetrack career, place him amongst some of the truly great sires. “I can’t overstate... Read More

Connections mull the future of the sire of Blue Diamond contender Hayasugi Emerging Victorian sire Royal Meeting (Invincible Spirit) could be acquired by rival studs but Leneva Park, his home for the past three seasons, is making a strong case to retain the European Group 1 winner on its select stallion roster for 2024. With... Read More

Highly talented sprinter Lofty Strike (Snitzel), who was narrowly denied in some of Melbourne’s signature Group 1s, will stand at Victoria’s Swettenham Stud in 2024. The Julius Sandhu-trained Group 2-winning two- and three-year-old – a son of Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m)-winning filly Overreach (Exceed And Excel) – will not race again after studmaster Adam... Read More

Modest purchase Bella Carolina (O’Reilly) has proved herself to be an exceptional investment for Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison. Her value has skyrocketed since she was secured for just $6,000 out of Little Avondale Stud’s draft at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock Broodmare Sale with the bargain buy producing three stakes winners. “She was a... Read More

Star Western Australian stallion delivers on Perth racing’s biggest day When Gray Williamson handed over the stud duties of Playing God (Blackfriars) to fellow Western Australian farm Darling View Thoroughbreds, he told Brent Atwell that the horse would set him up. In the almost four years since that conversation in the winter of 2020, Playing... Read More