Darley announces fees for flagship Australian shuttle stallions

Darley has announced the fees for the 2021 first-season shuttlers Pinatubo, Ghaiyyath and Earthlight, who will join Saturday’s leading TJ Smith Stakes contender Bivouac on the operation's roster.

Pinatubo, undefeated in his six-start season at two, including wins in the Dewhurst and Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, headlines the trio and will stand at Kelvinside, New South Wales for a fee of A$44,000 (£24,000).

“As an individual, he was a horse who had a great constitution,” trainer Charlie Appleby said.

“He was mentally very laid-back but physically very strong. I can see how Pinatubo will fit into the Australian industry. He had an abundance of natural speed, as well as the strength to be a precocious two-year-old."

Pinatubo’s former stablemate Ghaiyyath, who was named the world's best racehorse after a stellar 2020 campaign which saw him win three Group 1s and achieve an official rating of 130, will stand at Northwood Park, Victoria for a fee of A$27,500 (£15,000).

Ghaiyyath’s remarkable European season kicked off when he defeated Investec Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck in the Coronation Stakes. He then produced a remarkable effort to see off wondermare Enable in the Eclipse, before landing the Juddmonte International. He finished his race career with a narrow second to Magical in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Ghaiyyath: world champion of 2020 and exciting sire prospectCredit: Edward Whitaker

“He was just a horse who, as he got older and stronger, he really showed his natural pace, but he could also stay, which is a great attribute," Appleby said.

"The exciting thing about him was the pace that he could put into a race – and I’ve always put him and Blue Point under the same banner in that they were two very exciting horses to watch in the morning, but also they delivered in the afternoon."

Earthlight, who won the Middle Park Stakes in course record time during an undefeated five-start juvenile campaign, will stand at Northwood Park in Victoria at a fee of A$22,000 (£12,000).

The son of Shamardal won seven of his nine races, including the Prix Morny at two. He finished his career with a neck defeat to One Master in the Qatar Prix de la Foret at Longchamp in October.

Bivouac’s fee will not be announced until he has finished his racing career.

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