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34.
Fantastic Light To Stand In Australia
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16/04/2002 |
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Darley Stud has further shown its commitment to the Australian industry by sending international champion Fantastic Light to Darley's Collingrove Stud base in New South Wales this year. The five-time Group 1 winner and dual Emirates World Champion is currently standing his first season at stud at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket.
The son of Rahy, homebred by Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum, bloomed into an exceptional international campaigner. Winner of his first two starts at two, he opened his three-year-old season with a victory in the Group 3 Thresher Classic Trial over 2,000m. At three, he also took the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes, and defeated Derby-winner High-Rise over 2,200m in the inaugural Dubai Arc Trial. At four, wins in the now-Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic (over 2,400m) and the Grade 1 Man O'War Stakes at Belmont (2,200m) were capped by a Group 1 victory in the Hong Kong Cup, over 2,000m. These triumphs, and placings in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1), the Japan Cup (Group 1) and the Coronation Cup (Group 1), established his status as one of the world's very best racehorses.
In 2001, however, his form was better still. Group 1 victories over 2,000m in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Prince of Wales's Stakes - the latter, with an especially decisive burst of tactical speed, over top performers Observatory and Kalanisi - preceded his two duels with Galileo. Beaten into second in the 2,400m King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, he exacted revenge in the Group 1 2,000m Irish Champion Stakes with a devastating blend of finishing speed and raw tenacity. The race has been acclaimed as one of the most exciting of recent years. Fantastic Light earned his second Emirates World Series, plus an Eclipse Award, when establishing a race-record time in his last race, the Breeders' Cup Turf (Group 1).
Fantastic Light's pedigree more than hinted at international success: he is by Rahy, the Blushing Groom half-brother to globetrotter Singspiel - also a Darley stallion in Australia - and he comes from the immediate family of Swain. His grandam, Kamar, was Broodmare of the Year in the US.
Oliver Tait, manager of Darley Australia, said, 'He's an outstanding international Champion, world class, and he's a great looking horse. Finishing speed, bravery and durability were his hallmarks on the racecourse, which make him just the type to impress Australasian breeders. What's more, he's got a great pedigree. He's the best-performed Blushing Groom line stallion in Australia, and that's a sireline that has been very effective and influential here.'
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