At Tattersalls in 2008 Darley sold the unraced two-year-old Kingmambo filly Angel Falls for 80,000 guineas, a decision they no doubt pondered on eight years later when her 2yo son by Invincible Spirit named National Defense (GB) romped to a four and half length victory in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in the colours of Sun Bloodstock.
Darley would no doubt be buoyed by the fact that they still had plenty of the family including an unraced daughter of Singspiel who would prove to be a cornerstone of their operation in Australia.
Angel Falls is a half to the Group III Prix de la Grotte winner and Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Anna Salai (Dubawi), as well as Godolphin’s multiple stakes-winners Iguazu Falls (Pivotal) and Advice (Seeking the Gold), out of the group III winning Caerleon mare Anna Palariva.
The dam of Anna Palariva is the Group II Park Hill Stakes winner Anna Of Saxony (Ela-Mana_Mou) who is a half-sister to the unraced Singspiel mare Accessories (GB) who stands tall among the elite mares housed at Darley Stud’s Hunter Valley showpiece.
Very few mares have made such an immediate impact in Australia than Accessories (GB).
Her first foal was the Group III C.S. Hayes Stakes winner and Group 1 Australian Guineas second Bullbars (Elusive Quality).
Next came the triple Group 1 winner Helmet (Exceed And Excel) and he was followed by the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes and Group 1 Doomben 10 000 winner Epaulette (Commands).
The chain was broken with Accessories’ first filly, a daughter of Street Cry (IRE) named Brilliance who retired to the broodmare paddocks unraced.
But it was back to business with the fifth foal, the Exceed And Excel filly Pearls.
After mixing it with the best fillies around with a win in the Group II ATC Tea Rose Stakes and a defeat if Dixie Blossoms in the Group III ATC Toy Show Quality Handicap, Pearls tragically lost her life when she fell in the Group III Triscay Stakes.
Since Accessories (GB) worked so well with Exceed And Excel, the son of Danehill was a natural fit for Brilliance.
She visited Darley Stud’s foundation stallion in the first two seasons producing two colts neither of which has created much excitement although the second is the lightly raced 3yo Acumen who has notched wins at Gosford and Wyong in five starts and is back in training with James Cummings.
Back in 2017 Godolphin made a rare foray outside their home stallions when Brilliance visited Snitzel.
The result of that was the now gelded Tolkowsky who made a winning debut with a workman-like performance over 1120m at Sale on June 10.
The James Cummings-trainee is rated a $12 chance in what looks to be an even field in Saturday’s opener over 1100 metres at Caulfield.
Tolkowsky has not been given any favours in the barrier draw starting from the outside stall.
Accessories has since had two more daughters retire to the breeding shed. Maquilla (Lonhro) has a weanling colt by Lonhro and Accoutrements (Exceed And Excel) visited Lonhro at her first season at stud last spring.
Having not had a live foal in three years, Accessories foaled a Street Boss (USA) colt last spring.
Snitzel has enjoyed another fabulous season, which has to a large extent been built on the back on his two-year-olds, which includes his higher earner, the filly Away Game who has banked $2.3 million.
Without the benefit of two-time The Everest winner Redzel inflating his earnings, season 2018-19 may not match Snitzel’s total in the previous two seasons, however he leads the competition in number of stakes-winners and stakes wins although he had just one Group 1 winner, I Am Excited.
In that category he had to bow to his pensioned stablemate Not A Single Doubt who had four inners at the highest level led by Golden Slipper hero Farnan, Memsie Stakes winner Scales of Justice, Winx Stakes winner Samadoubt, and Vinery Stud Stakes winner Shout The Bar.
Not a Single Doubt also had a Group 1 winner in Hong Kong when Southern Legend downed Beauty Generation in the Champion Mile at Sha Tin in April. He will be missed.
