Darley is HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s global thoroughbred breeding operation which currently stands stallions in six countries around the world.
Darley’s stud farm in America is based at the historic Jonabell Farm, located in the bluegrass state of Kentucky and was purchased in 2001.
Jonabell was founded in 1946 by renowned breeder John A. Bell III and has occupied its present location on Bowman Mill Road since 1954.
In 2014, the roster of thoroughbred stallions at Darley in America will grow to 15 with the addition of the world-class racehorse Animal Kingdom, the talented Kentucky Derby winner who also won the Dubai World Cup. He will be joined by G1 Forego Handicap winner, Emcee, as well as Darley Australia shuttle stallion Denman, Lonhro's G1-winning son and a freshman sire sensation.
This trio of thoroughbred stallions will join three of North America's most exciting sires – Street Cry, Bernardini and Medaglia d’Oro – who are consistently among the leading sires year after year. Street Cry was represented by his second Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner in New Year's Day, and all three saw strong demand once more in the sales ring in 2013. Standing alongside them is Street Sense, who returns from Japan as North America's leading third-crop sire, and who was represented by two G1 winners in 2013. Another leading third-crop sire, Discreet Cat, also had a banner year in 2013 with two G1 winners. Street Cry’s dual G1-winning son Street Boss picked up quite a bit of momentum during 2013, siring more winners than any other second-crop sire, including his three-year-old son Capo Bastone, who captured the G1 King's Bishop.
Australian Champion and leading thoroughbred sire Lonhro will stand his third season at Darley America’s stud farm next year and has already proven to be very popular with breeders. In fact, he was North America's leading sire of weanlings by sales average for 2013. Perennial leading stallion Elusive Quality continues to sire high-class runners year after year including Elusive Kate, who added a third G1 victory to her record in 2013.
Street Cry’s multiple Group winner and $2million two-year-old Desert Party, along with G1 winner Midshipman, were very well received at the sales with their first yearlings in 2013. Desert Party will once again stand at Sequel Stallions in New York for the 2014 season.
A.P. Indy's G1-winning son, Girolamo, returns to Darley in America from Sequel next year and is one of three stallions at Jonabell represented by his first weanlings in 2013; together with the aforementioned Lonhro plus multiple Graded winner Regal Ransom.
In addition to standing thoroughbred stallions, Darley also manages the racing interests of Sheikh Mohammed and various members of the Maktoum family, and has racehorses with various trainers in the UK, Ireland, France, the United States, Australia and Japan. The best of these horses will transfer to Godolphin, to race in the famous blue silks that have been carried to victory in numerous G1 races across the globe.
