Momentum for Ghaiyyath continues with The Padre's Grade 2 victory at Del Mar

The momentum for Darley's exciting young sire Ghaiyyath continued when his son The Padre landed a Grade 2 at Del Mar on Sunday. 

Already one of five black-type winners for the sire when landing the Listed La Jolla Handicap at the same track in August, the colt is familiar to racing fans on these shores too. A 60,000gns vendor buy-back from Galbertstown Stables at Tattersalls Book 2 in 2023, the three-year-old landed his only start for Josh Halley at Dundalk in January. 

Duly switching to the yard of Philip D'Amato, The Padre gained his second black-type victory when defeating Freedom's Not Free by a length in the Del Mar Derby.

D'Amato told Bloodhorse: "He was up against it last time with no pace, and it kind of looked like a murkier scenario this time. But I just think it shows how tremendous a turn of foot this horse has, to overcome fractions this slow two times in a row and outkick them all like he does. That's a real racehorse."

Jockey Umberto Rispoli added: "The pace was slow — I could tell that. But I was sitting with a handful of horse. I wasn't concerned."

The Padre was bred by Halley out of the Lomitas mare Shalanaya, a winner of the 2009 Prix de l'Opera for the Aga Khan. The mare is a half-sister to Group 2 Prix Chaudenay winner and Prix Royal-Oak third Shankardeh.

The Padre was continuing a fine run of form for the Kildangan Stud resident, with his first crop of runners also including Group 3 Prix Vanteaux scorer and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches third Mandanaba, as well as exciting dual Listed winner Opera Ballo and French stakes scorer Al Uqda.

His second crop is headed by recent Group 2 Prix du Calvados winner My Highness, the winner of three of her four starts for Andre Fabre and Godolphin. 

A Group 3-winning juvenile when landing the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket for Charlie Appleby, Ghaiyyath went on to Group 1 victories at four and five. They included a 14-length romp in the Grosser Preis von Baden at four, while at five he struck in the Coronation Cup, Eclipse and Juddmonte International. 

The son of Dubawi retired to Kildangan for an opening fee of €30,000 in 2021 and stood the 2025 season for a fee of €20,000.

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