By Richard Edmunds
A week after a successful parade at Darley’s Northwood Park in Victoria, the focus switched to New South Wales with an outstanding turnout for Saturday’s parade at Kelvinside.
It was a chance for Darley to shine the spotlight on its quality and varied 12-horse Kelvinside roster, which featured proven stars Exceed and Excel and Lonhro, along with up-and-comers such as Astern, Exosphere, Kermadec and Shooting to Win, and exciting rookies Harry Angel, Kementari and Ribchester.
Exceed and Excel and Lonhro will stand for $88,000 and $77,000 respectively in the 2019 breeding season, while the younger talent on the roster is available for fees ranging from $11,000 for Hallowed Crown to $33,000 for Astern and Kementari.
“The day went extremely well,” said Barley Ward-Thomas, the stud manager at Kelvinside. “The weather was beautiful, the grounds looked great and the team did a tremendous job."
“It was just a spectacular afternoon, and we’d estimate that around 800 people were here. It went about as well as it possibly could have, and we hope that everyone who came really enjoyed the experience."
“It was just a spectacular afternoon, and we’d estimate that around 800 people were here. It went about as well as it possibly could have, and we hope that everyone who came really enjoyed the experience." - Barley Ward-Thomas
“We had a safari, where the crowds were able to get up close and personal with their heroes, like Exceed and Excel and Lonhro. People seemed to particularly enjoy that opportunity."
“And then, on the main parade lawn, we showed everyone our new kids on the block, such as Harry Angel, Kementari, Ribchester and Territories. They looked great and were really well received.”
Gallery: The Darley Stallion Safari
Harry Angel is the newest shuttle stallion on the Darley line-up. A multiple Group 1-winning son of Dark Angel (Ire), he will stand his first season in Australia this spring for a fee of $22,000. He also featured in the Victorian parade last weekend.
Kementari is also embarking on his first season at stud, with an introductory fee of $33,000. The son of Lonhro won four races, headed by the G1 Randwick Guineas, and placed a string of feature races including the G1 Caulfield Guineas, Memsie S., C F Orr S., George Ryder S. and Manikato S.
The first Southern Hemisphere foals of multiple Group 1-winning shuttle stallion Ribchester will arrive this spring, while Astern and Territories will have their first yearlings through the ring in the coming season.
Exosphere and Kermadec will be represented by their first 2-year-olds during the 2019-20 season.
