Darley's World Strategy Leaves No Prisoners

Hard on the heels of their purchases of the breeding rights to the first Street Sense (by STREET CRY) and second home Hard Spun (by DANZIG) in America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, Sheikh Mohammad has left little to the imagination as far as his global strategy is concerned, with the announcement of the acquisition of AUTHORISED, last weeks runaway winner of the English version, The Derby.

Street SenseDomination of the world stallion scene is a topic which has received a good deal of attention in this column in recent weeks, and it is quite obvious that the Darley boys (Sheikh Mohammad in their corner) are intent on going the full fifteen rounds with John Magnier’s team at Coolmore.

This is developing into a world class battle, with Coolmore having held the upper hand for decades now, largely through a combination of spectacular horsemanship and the resources to back it, and it will take a man of at least the Sheikh’s unlimited cash to upset the balance even marginally.

Yet there are signs, in America at least, that the “impossible” might just be on the verge of happening, with Darley now standing three stallions commanding fees of six figures and beyond – STREET CRY, ELUSIVE QUALITY and BERNADINI, and so dominance in the USA is no foregone conclusion.

Authorised (Getty Images)It seems these latest acquisitions, no doubt for money we cant even begin to contemplate, are just another little tightening of the screws.

Tighten your seatbelts – we’re in for one helluva ride!