Rolling out the blue carpet: a day at the Darley stallion parade

Darley and Godolphin – the twinned breeding and racing operations of Sheikh Mohammed – don't do things by halves.

That much is obvious when you look at the scale and success of the racing arm, the expenditure at bloodstock sales around the globe and the strength in depth across their worldwide stallion roster, which encompasses studs in Australia, Britain, Ireland, France, Japan and the US.

So, when Darley host their annual stallion parade at Dalham Hall in Newmarket during the week of the July meeting, it comes close to being the hottest ticket in town.

Darley roll out the blue carpet for guests, who are ushered in to the perfectly manicured stallion yard, where they are handed a glass of something cold, sparkling and alcoholic.

Other options are available, of course, and I'm reliably informed they are equally pleasant.

Cracksman takes a keen interest as guests arriveCredit: Edward Whitaker

Besides the army of waiters serving the drinks, there is also an unofficial welcoming party awaiting guests, as stallions young and not so young gaze over their stable doors.

There are the recent retirees to stud such as Cracksman and Harry Angel, who have developed into imposing physical specimens during their debut season on covering duty. Both take a keen interest in what is their first July parade.

To their right is the 23-year-old Fantastic Light. It has been 18 years since he brought the curtain down on a brilliant racing career by overhauling no less an adversary than Galileo in an unforgettable Irish Champion Stakes, before a successful swansong in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

His presence in pedigrees may be somewhat on the wane, but he looks in absolutely immaculate condition nonetheless. As something of a veteran of these events, Fantastic Light seems more blasé than his neighbours as he lets out a yawn.

The scene before the stallion parade beginsCredit: Edward Whitaker

There are other treats to take in before the parade begins too, such as a serving of caviar with a lemon liquor chaser.

"Place the caviar on your tongue, and, once it starts to melt, slowly move your tongue around the roof of your mouth to form a smooth paste," instructs the waitress, having produced the salt-cured roe from what can only be described as a specially made caviar bum bag. "Then wash it all down with the lemon liquor."

I'm no caviar connoisseur, and seem unlikely to become one any time soon following this experience.

There's more to the stallion parade than caviar-related frivolity, however, and at around 11.15am guests take their seats – small blue folding camping stools emblazoned with the Darley logo, naturally – by the roped off rectangle (blue rope, naturally) around which the stallions parade.

Guests take their Darley branded seats on the Dalham Hall lawnCredit: Edward Whitaker

Sam Bullard, Darley's director of stallions, tees the parade up with a succinct run through of Sheikh Mohammed's most cherished and important stallions, from Dubai Millennium and his all-conquering son Dubawi, to Shamardal and his exciting offspring Blue Point.

"Since we stood on this lawn last year, the European Darley stallion roster has been responsible for siring the winners of 214 stakes races, 26 of which were at Group 1 level," Bullard announces from the rostrum.

Those are punchy numbers, whichever way you divide them up, and should have given the breeders present plenty of food for thought ahead of next year's matings.

The show begins in earnest when compere Nick Luck takes to the microphone. There are 17 currently active stallions on show, and each take two laps of the Dalham Hall lawn as Luck talks through their respective stallion careers – and the achievements of their sons and daughters at the sales and on the racecourse – with his customary blend of elan and easy wit.

Younger recruits Postponed and Hawkbill kick things off before Luck introduces "a horse who's got more air miles than almost any other stallion in the business".

He is, of course, referring to the mighty Exceed And Excel, who looked in fine fettle having just completed his 15th northern hemisphere breeding season. He will soon board a plane to Australia, where he will stand his 16th southern hemisphere campaign and 31st consecutive season overall.

Save for the odd bit of playful exuberance (I'm looking at you, Farhh and Cloth Of Stars), the likes of Dawn Approach, Brazen Beau, Territories and Fast Company march in front of the assembled crowd like absolute professionals.

An honourable mention must go to Night Of Thunder, whose first crop have already earned their sire plenty of fans by virtue of containing 11 European winners, who have struck at an impressive clip of 58 per cent winners to runners.

Dubawi parades for the crowd at Darley's Dalham Hall StudCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I better get a move on, as two laps of the Dalham Hall lawn is not enough time to do this next horse justice," says Luck as Dubawi, who was represented by a landmark 40th Group/Grade 1 winner when Coronet made a deserved top-flight breakthrough in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, strides purposefully into view.

The crowd – which contains plenty of breeders, trainers, owners and bloodstock agents responsible for propelling Dubawi to such lofty heights – is rightfully transfixed by the high-achieving son of Dubai Millennium.

Dubawi is followed by Golden Horn in "all his magnificent, dappled glory". This is the first time the Derby-winning son of Cape Cross has graced the parade with his presence since his first two-year-olds hit the track.

At 16.2 hands high, Golden Horn is arguably the most imposing physical specimen on show. Given his sizeable frame, and not to mention that he didn't debut until late-October of his own two-year-old campaign, it is a positive sign that he has already opened his account at stud, courtesy of decisive Haydock debut scorer West End Girl.

Golden Horn in 'all his dappled glory'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Dubawi has been the headline act at recent editions of the stallion parade, but on this occasion the last horse on show is Blue Point. The most recent addition to the stallion ranks, he still looks race-fit having recorded a scintillating Royal Ascot double in the King's Stand Stakes and Diamond Jubilee, a feat Luck reminds us has been achieved only twice in 100 years.

The son of Shamardal drew plenty of admiring looks, including from Sheikh Mohammed himself, who stood alongside the man who so skilfully prepared Blue Point for his famous Royal Ascot brace, Charlie Appleby.

It may be only a minor detail among all the pomp and ceremony of the parade, but it is a nice touch that Luck namechecks each and every stallion handler involved, as it is no exaggeration to say the horses all looked thoroughly resplendent.

Without the hard work of the team behind the scenes throughout the year, none of the achievements of the stallions, nor the breeders who use them, would be possible.

Dalham Hall: Sheikh Mohammed's stud hosted the three-day forum to promote racing worldwideCredit: Edward Whitaker

Once Blue Point has returned to his stable, followed by a crowd of breeders keen to get a closer look, guests make their way into the marquee for lunch.

It is hard not to marvel at the sheer scale of the fare on offer, or the gusto with which some guests load up their plates.

Fans of lobster are well catered for, as are those with a penchant for a chocolate fountain, though the racing and breeding nerds among the crowd will have particularly enjoyed the Darley-branded M&Ms.

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