Sheikh Mohammed's investment in Stonerside Stable paying off

It is almost ten years since stock belonging to Stonerside Stable was added to the Darley portfolio.

At that stage, Stonerside was at the height of its powers for Robert and Janice McNair. A select string in Europe included Raven’s Pass, then in the midst of his powerful three-year-old season for John Gosden, as well as fellow homebred Michita, who had struck in that summer’s Ribblesdale Stakes. Significantly greater numbers in the US were led by the Starlet Stakes heroine Country Star and Grade 1 performing three-year-old Cowboy Cal.

Stonerside wasn’t one of those iconic American stables whose affiliation to the sport was based on a wealth of history. But the McNairs, assisted by manager John Adger, achieved a remarkable range of success during their 14 years in the game, notably as the breeders of Raven’s Pass, Van Nistelrooy, Congaree, Karen’s Caper and Fusaichi Pegasus (bred in partnership with Seth Hancock of Claiborne Farm), and when the time came for them to shift out of the sport - Robert McNair cited his commitment to his National Football League Houston Texans team as the primary reason - their racing assets were vast, comprising approximately 250 horses in addition to their 2,000-acre Kentucky farm and a training centre in Aiken, South Carolina.