Masar and Too Darn Hot join Dalham Hall roster for 2020 season

Masar and Too Darn Hot will stand their first seasons at Dalham Hall Stud in 2020, with their fees to be announced at a later date.

The pair will join their respective sires New Approach and Dubawi at Darley's Newmarket premises.

It is no surprise that last year's Investec Derby hero Masar heads to Dalham Hall, having been a Godolphin home-bred hero in the Epsom Classic out of the UAE Oaks and Derby winner Khawlah.

The chestnut won the Solario Stakes as a juvenile and placed in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere as well as landing the Craven Stakes and finishing third to Saxon Warrior in the Guineas at three.

Off for more than a year after the Derby, he could not recapture that form in two more starts for Charlie Appleby and was retired in the summer along with star sprinter stablemate Blue Point.

Sam Bullard, director of stallions, said: "It is an honour to stand a horse of the quality of Masar. He won the race we all strive to win but had the speed to beat a Group 2-winning sprinter (Invincible Army) on his six-furlong debut before going on to win the Group 3 Solario Stakes.

"He became the first Derby winner to wear the Godolphin blue and beat champion Roaring Lion all three times they met. From one of the best families in the studbook, he had a higher juvenile rating than his illustrious relatives Galileo and Sea The Stars. Prudent breeders will have him on their list."

Too Darn Hot was last seen winning the Sussex StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Too Darn Hot was last year's champion two-year-old, winning the Solario, the Champagne at Doncaster and later beating a high-class field in the Dewhurst Stakes.

The Watership Down Stud-bred colt then placed in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes before getting back on the Group 1-winning spree in the Jean Prat and Sussex Stakes.

Out of the redoubtable Dar Re Mi and a full brother to St Leger second Lah Ti Dar and multiple stakes winner So Mi Dar, Too Darn Hot was retired owing to a hairline fracture of a hind cannonbone a few days after his Goodwood triumph.

Simon Marsh, racing manager for Watership Down Stud, said: "When we set out to create Watership Down Stud with the purchase of Darara, we wanted to breed the best.

"Too Darn Hot comprises everything the Lloyd Webbers set out to achieve. He has taken us all on an incredible journey and has everything you want in a stallion - talent, precocity, pedigree and looks."

If you liked this, you should read:

Breeder Fergus Anstock gains belated reward for keeping Faith

New Approach colt Flop Shot tops trade at Arc Sale at €850,000

Galileo filly out of Green Room snapped up by MV Magnier for €3m