Darley stallions on top of the world

The year may just be over two months old but the Darley stallions have been setting the standard the world over.

With nine worldwide Stakes winners so far on the year, including five at Group level, Medaglia d'Oro has set a ferocious pace. In the US, Mshawish has won two Graded contests including the G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Club Handicap, with both Lochte and Valid adding G3s to their résumé. Two of Medaglia d'Oro's nine Stakes winners have come from his Australian crops and they include the G3 winning juvenile Vancouver, a leading market fancy for the G1 Golden Slipper next month.

Dubawi has been flying recently with five of his six Stakes winners adding valuable successes over the past fortnight. Heading the pack is Australian sprinter Shamal Wind who gained her first top-flight victory last weekend in the Oakleigh Plate, whilst star sprinting mare Catkins gained her eighth Group victory in the G2 Millie Fox Stakes the previous week. His European-bred runners have been on target as well, with Safety Check winning his second G2 of the year in the Zabeel Mile last week, Dubday remaining unbeaten in Qatar when taking their most prodigious contest for the second year running, and G1w Hunter's Light bouncing back to form to win the Dubai Millennium Stakes at Meydan.

Veteran US stallion Elusive Quality is still proving he can mix it at the top level, with his six Stakes winners including a pair of US three-year-olds, headed by the colt Eh Cumpari, winner of the G3 Palm Beach Stakes on March 7, and Seduire, winner of the G2 Santa Ynez Stakes in January.

Exceed And Excel is enjoying an exceptional time with his Australian juveniles, with three of his six Stakes winners saluting the judge in 2015. They are headed by G2 Silver Slipper winner Headwater, the current favourite for the Golden Slipper, and the high-earning Gold Coast hero Le Chef. Exceed And Excel also has another high-earner in Hong Kong in the European-bred Rewarding Hero. Winner of a Listed race on New Year's Day, he then ran third behind Able Friend (Shamardal) in the G1 Steward's Cup.

Amongst Street Sense's six Stakes winners are the top US filly Callback, heroine of the G1 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita and top Australian runner Hallowed Crown. A G1 winner in 2014, Hallowed Crown has only been beaten once in his life and triumphed on his first start back after a break in the G2 Hobartville Stakes on February 21.