Stallion prospects in short supply as Lord North wins Prince Of Wales's Stakes

There are few better stages for sires of the future to advertise their credentials than at Royal Ascot, but there will have been a collective wince among stallion masters following the Prince Of Wales's Stakes on Wednesday as Lord North led home a one-two-three for geldings.

The son of Dubawi became his sire's 42nd Group/Grade 1 winner as he surged three and three-quarter lengths clear of runner-up Addeybb, by Pivotal, who in turn came home a length and a quarter ahead of Excelebration's Barney Roy, who spent a brief spell as a stallion at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud but was gelded and returned to training after he proved subfertile.

Last year's Juddmonte International and Grand Prix de Paris winner Japan, a son of Galileo, was sent off the 6-4 favourite but could finish only fourth.

Trainer John Gosden, who took the decision to geld Lord North after his third start, said he would have been most unlikely to reach such illustrious heights had he remained an entire.

On the decision to geld Lord North, the champion trainer said: "I didn't have much choice, testosterone is the most dangerous drug in the world and it was certainly driving him completely mad."

Lord North became the second Group 1-winning gelding at this year's Royal Ascot after Battaash claimed the King's Stand Stakes.

Lord North races in the colours of Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed and was bred by Godolphin from Najoum, a daughter of Giant's Causeway who won twice at two for Saeed bin Suroor.

Dubawi: Dalham Hall Stud kingpin is the source of 42 Group/Grade 1 winnersCredit: Edward Whitaker

Najoum entered the Godolphin fold in 2008 when Sheikh Mohammed acquired the 2,000-acre Stonerside Stable and its stock - including 80 racehorses and 170 broodmares, yearlings and weanlings - from Bob McNair, owner of the NFL team the Houston Texans.

The Sheikh's purchase has been a rich source of top-level success for Godolphin, with Lord North the latest Group/Grade 1-winning name among a growing roll of honour.

The deal was finalised in October 2008, and just a matter of weeks later, the Stonerside-bred pair Midshipman and Raven's Pass struck at the Breeders' Cup for their new owner, with the former claiming the Juvenile and latter winning the Classic.

Other names to have carried the Godolphin blue to top-flight success after the Stonerside deal include Filles' Mile heroine White Moonstone, dual Grade 1 scorer Wedding Toast and Frosted, a three-time Grade 1-winning son of Tapit who now stands at Darley's Jonabell Farm.

Sheikh Mohammed: bought Stonerside Stable in 2008Credit: Edward Whitaker

Najoum is a half-sister to Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes winner Bandini and the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakesscorer Discourse, while further back this is the family of Stormy Atlantic, who stands at Hill 'N Dale Farms from where he has sired the likes of Stormy Liberal and Stormy Antarctic.

The dam also has an unraced Teofilo three-year-old filly named Divine Blessing and in training with Charlie Appleby, a yearling colt by Postponed and a filly foal by New Approach.

Lord North becomes the first Group 1 winner to be bred on the Dubawi-Giant's Causeway cross, a nick that has also produced Group 2 Premio Carlo Vittadini scorer Principe Adepto and Princess of Wales's Stakes victor Universal.

Giant's Causeway is now the broodmare sire of 23 Group/Grade 1 winners around the world, with Lord North joining the likes of Beauty Parlour, Gun Runner, Hawkbill and Verrazano in being produced by a daughter of the late Ashford Stud sire.

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