Birchwood becomes first son of Dark Angel to stand in France

Birchwood will become the first son of the irrepressible Dark Angel at stud in France when he commences covering duty at Haras de la Huderie in Normandy next year.

The four-year-old is being introduced to breeders at a fee of €5,000 and is in the process of being syndicated, with 22 out of 50 shares in him still available to purchase.

Birchwood, a 77,000gns Tattersalls Book 2 yearling purchase by Highfield Farm, was trained by Richard Fahey throughout his career, originally for David Armstrong, whose colours he carried to victory on his first two starts at Doncaster and Newbury.

Subsequently sold to Godolphin, the colt won the Superlative Stakes and finished third to Air Force Blue in the National Stakes and filled the same position behind Hit It A Bomb in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at two.

Birchwood's best effort at three was a success in the Listed City Plate at Chester, while this year at four he was a close third to Master The World in the ultra-competitive Betfred Mile Handicap at Glorious Goodwood.

Marathon Bloodstock bred Birchwood out of the winning Exceed And Excel mare Layla Jamil, a relation to Group-winning two-year-olds and sires Abou Zouz and Prince Sabo.

Dark Angel - on the mark with three new Group 1 winners in 2017 in Battaash, Harry Angel and Persuasive - is up to a fee of €85,000 at Yeomanstown Stud next year and has a growing number of sons at stud with the likes of Estidhkaar, Gutaifan, Heeraat, Lethal Force, Markaz and now Birchwood in France.

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