Dark Angel to remain at €85,000 as Camacho's fee soars to €12,000

Yeomanstown Stud-based stallion Dark Angel will stand his second consecutive season at a fee of €85,000, the County Kildare operation confirmed on Thursday.

The 13-year-old enjoyed another stellar year with his progeny spearheaded domestically by the likes of Battaash and Harry Angel, with the latter due to take up stallion duties at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud next season.

The son of Acclamation was also provided with a new Grade 1 winner in 2018 in the shape of the Philip D'Amato-trained Hunt, who ran out a gallant winner of the Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita back in May.

“Dark Angel has had another sensational year at stud, proving himself once again as an established Group 1 producer,” said Yeomanstown’s Gay O’Callaghan.

“Battaash and Harry Angel showcased their scintillating speed and durability this season, competing at the highest level. There was also the emergence of Raging Bull, who is among the top rated three-year-old milers in America having won listed, Group 3 and Group 2 contests - he looks set to be a future star.

“Dark Angel’s influence as a broodmare sire was also seen in the top-class performers Havana Grey and Rumble Inthejungle.”

Following a year in which he was represented on the track by classic heroine Teppal and Royal Ascot winner Signora Cabello, while also having his first representation in Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Camacho has seen his fee increase markedly to €12,000 for the 2019 breeding season.

The son of Danehill has stood the previous three seasons at Yeomanstown for a fee of €7,500.

Gutaifan, who saw his yearlings sell for up to €360,000 this year, will remain at a fee of €10,000, while the Yeomanstown roster is completed by El Kabeir, a US Grade 2-winning son of Scat Daddy who will stand his second season at an unchanged fee of €8,000.

O’Callaghan added: “It’s been with great excitement that we’ve watched Gutaifan’s yearlings sell this autumn.

“The record-breaking dual Group 2 winner and son of Dark Angel was very well supported in the sales ring by trainers, agents and owners alike who were impressed by the excellent quality of his stock which share his attributes of strength and class.”

“We look forward to the first foals of El Kabeir to be born this spring. As a son of the hugely influential Scat Daddy, he is a really exciting prospect and a wonderful looking individual who showed both a very high level of ability and toughness on the track.

“He was a multiple Graded Stakes winner at 2 and 3 from five furlongs to a mile and sixteenth and will continue to give European breeders the opportunity to avail of precocious and speedy bloodlines.”

If you are interested in this, you should also read:

European Horse Of The Year Roaring Lion introduced at £40,000