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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Jimmy Hyland, the new CEO of Godolphin Ireland, speaks about champion sire Night Of Thunder, new addition Shadow Of Light and more Sweeping statements about the future are usually best left to Nostradamus and the like but Jimmy Hyland, the new man at the helm at Kildangan Stud, has more than one good reason to look out over the horizon and smile. We say new, but Hyland put down 38 good years working for the Maktoum family before taking over as CEO from the outgoing Joe Osborne back in October. Hyland has taken over at a time when Kildangan Stud is abuzz; Night Of Thunder was just crowned the champion sire in Britain and Ireland, Blue Point is threatening to break into that upper echelon – and might just do so in 2026 – while many shrewd judges believe that Ghaiyyath could be on the cusp of something big. When you add that to the fact that dual Group 1-winning juvenile Shadow Of Light has joined the roster for the upcoming breeding season, it's easy to see why Hyland speaks with infectious optimism about what might be in store. “I am heading into my 39th year with the Maktoum family,” he says from his base at Kildangan Stud. “I say the Maktoum family because I worked for the late Sheikh Maktoum at Gainsborough Stud in Kentucky. I also spent some time in Japan – I went there in 1992 with Dancing Brave, so I was probably one of the first Darley employees to have worked in Japan back then. After that, I had the opportunity to manage Thornton Stud (pls add in North Yorkshire, which was leased by Sheikh Mohammed in 1995 and 1996. I came back to Kildangan Stud in 1996 to take over the management of Kildangan Stud and, working closely with Joe Osborne, my role grew from there. With Joe's departure, it's definitely a change as we met every day to discuss and plan things. It worked very well down through the years but I have to embrace change now and I think the future is very bright here at Kildangan Stud.” He added, “With stallions like Night Of Thunder, the champion sire in Britain and Ireland, and Blue Point, who could be in for a huge year, along with Ghaiyyath, a stallion we feel is only going to go from strength to strength, we're in a very good position. On top of that, you have Space Blues, very much the forgotten stallion, first-season sire Naval Crown, who is a fast, sharp horse by Dubawi and Native Trail, whose first foals sold very well last year. “Then we have the older horses, like Teofilo and Raven's Pass, who are doing well in the background and, of course, Shadow Of Light, who is new to the roster here this year. So it's a very strong stallion roster. There's lots to look forward to on the track with potential stallions in Ombudsman, Notable Speech, Opera Ballo and Wise Approach so I think we could be in for a big year.” It is a lazy assumption that an outfit as big as Darley is guaranteed any amount of success by virtue of the fact it plays home to some of the best bloodlines in the business. There is no reliable guide as to what way the pendulum can swing in this great game. Therefore, there is a genuine appreciation when the extensive work that goes on behind the scenes pays off. “The Godolphin operation in Ireland comprises eight farms and 4,700 acres,” Hyland explains. “We've 200 staff members depending on the time of year and we've about 500 horses under our care at any given time. So there's plenty going on here all year round and there's no downtime. It's challenging, but I love the challenge and this is a really exciting time of year because, in January, you have the newborn foals and every newborn foal is a blank canvas. When they are born, you are thinking, 'this could be the next big one.' That's the exciting part of this job; watching those young foals develop on the farms here, then going through the yearling prep and on to their trainers before, one day, possibly returning here to either stand as a stallion or join the broodmare band. We get great satisfaction out of that. Like, that big weekend in May, when we had the four Group 1 winners – Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby winners Good Cheer and Sovereignty along with 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas winners Desert Flower and Ruling Court – was just amazing. Desert Flower was born and raised here on the Irish studs so that was particularly special. Godolphin is a global team, but the Irish operation plays a huge role in that success and it's amazing to be a part of that winning team with Desert Flower along with Trawlerman and Rebel's Romance as well. We set the bar very high for ourselves every year and if we don't get four or five Group 1-winning graduates, we're disappointed.” Jimmy Hyland | Tattersalls He added, “As you walk through the entrance of the office here, you will see on either side of the walls that we have 102 brass name plates dedicated to all of the Group 1-winning graduates that the Irish farms have produced. I have been here so long at Kildangan Stud, that I can remember practically all of them, including Dubawi's mother, Zomaradah (Deploy), along with Dubawi himself and his own sire, Dubai Millennium. So we've had generations of the Dubai Millennium sire line), along with Dubawi, Night Of Thunder and all of the sons coming through. Obviously you have the influence of Shamardal as well. To have Dubawi and Shamardal racing in the same year as three-year-olds and then to have both of them join our European roster, it's a bit like buses; you wait for one to come along and then two arrive. To get two of that standard, we were just very fortunate because they have been breed-shapers. Even Cape Cross, who is also on that wall, left a massive legacy through Sea The Stars and Golden Horn and he is proving influential as a broodmare sire as well. So I have been very fortunate to have worked and been associated with some amazing horses. It's been a fantastic journey so far.” There are, of course, headaches and teething problems when anyone assumes a new role. For Hyland, his biggest headache has been bittersweet in that the popularity of champion sire Night Of Thunder, who will stand for €200,000 in 2026, means that Darley have been forced to turn a lot of good breeders away. Hyland explained, “Night Of Thunder is obviously hugely popular. Unfortunately, with the demise of Wootton Bassett, it added to our headache here with more people wanting to use Night Of Thunder. We are using him quite extensively ourselves, which meant there were less slots available to the public market, so it has been a balancing act trying to look after the people who have been good to the horse and trying to secure the best mares for the stallion. Some people normally got two but then two became one and, in some cases, one didn't become any and a lot of people are on a waiting list. It has been a huge challenge and, if, say, Notable Speech had retired, it would have been a huge help to have another option with that Dubawi bloodline. Obviously, we have Shadow Of Light, which has been helpful, but the decision was made to keep Notable Speech and Ombudsman in training this year, and it was probably the right decision because both of them probably have unfinished business. That's what His Highness Sheikh Mohammed enjoys, watching those high-class horses competing. We can look forward to them retiring at the end of this year. But as I said earlier, the Night Of Thunders of this world don't come along very often. He's an extraordinary stallion.” What's most exciting for Hyland, who very evidently treats his role here as much more than just a job, is that the best is yet to come. He admits that, while his day-to-day role hasn't changed drastically since he stepped in as CEO, he shared that has had to learn to delegate more. He still spends his mornings inspecting stock on any one of the eight different farms. The philosophy there, according to Hyland, is that he would rather spot a problem – be that making changes to body condition, feed, farriery or exercise – before it arises. He quantifies that hands-on approach by stating the team has “one shot” at producing potential champions. He is also big on land management and speaks passionately about adopting a sustainable approach to how Godolphin runs its farms. Be that the introduction of solar panels, their extensive composting system, rainwater harvesting and even the creation of their own beehives as well as extensive rewilding projects, it's an admirable and responsible approach. Hyland grew up within walking distance of Kildangan Stud. A nephew of the late Pat and Hugh Hyland of Oghill House Stud, he spent many summers and weekends cutting his teeth at that famous nursery. This is a passion project as much as anything else for a man who says “it was in the blood” when asked about how he first got into the industry. “It's a way of life,” he elaborates about his career path. “The days are long and there are plenty of disappointments but, when you produce that big horse, the likes of Desert Flower last year, that's the reward. In actual fact, the past three 1,000 Guineas winners – Desert Flower, Elmalka and Mawj – were all raised here. That gives us a great boost. Winning a Group 1 is great but, winning a Classic, that's the icing on the cake. Our goals haven't really changed down through the years. Our main goal is to produce high-class racehorses for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and his family, but with regards to our stallion operation, the aim is to stand top-class stallions. That's our business. All of our young stock here are so well-bred, they all have the potential to be champions.” He added, “The game has been good to me. I grew up locally and Oghill House Stud would have been the home place. My late uncles Pat and Hugh Hyland, I learned a lot from them and spent a lot of my weekends and summers there when I was growing up. My cousin, Royston Murphy, spent a lot of time there as well and, along with his wife Catriona, they own and run Sledmere Stud in Australia. My brother Ray works for Godolphin Ireland and he manages three of the farms in Kildare while our other cousin Johnny [Hyland] has taken over the reins at Oghill and is doing a great job. So it's in the blood. I have two sons working in the industry. Conor is working for the Irish National Stud and he is very happy there – he loves his job and they have been very good to him. Then we have Eoin, who works with Richard Pugh and the race planning team at Horse Racing Ireland and he is really enjoying his role there as well. Thankfully, my youngest son Lorcan is in his last year in college where he is studying computer science. Otherwise, the conversation at the dinner table would have been very equine-focused! My poor wife, Esther, who is a qualified nurse, already puts up with enough equine talk as it is! But on a serious note, I am very proud of them all and it's great to see them enjoying what they are doing.” Kildangan Stud is something of an extended family of Hyland's and he speaks passionately about opening its doors to the public during the ITM Stallion Trail, an initiative that this outfit has backed from the get-go, on Friday and Saturday. Shadow Of Light: new for 2026 | Racingfotos.com He said, “I think the Stallion Trail has multiple functions. A lot of clients come through our doors during the Stallion Trail because they are able to make a weekend of it and that's when some people are making their final decisions with regards to breeding plans. We also get some foreign visitors, the majority of which comes from the UK and France, as well as general racing fans, so it's something we have always put a huge emphasis into and we like to get behind it. We always do a good bit of business over the course of the two days and we find it is an excellent way to showcase multiple stallions in a short space of time.” Champion juvenile Shadow Of Light, who has been introduced to the roster at €17,500, is sure to command plenty of attention over the course of the two days. He is understood to have a solid booking of mares to date and Hyland is confident that he will receive a strong opening book this year. He concluded, “The Night Of Thunders and the Blue Points of this world are the easiest to fill. They are the most popular, the most successful and the most expensive. They fill on their own. The stallion that you are trying to make, from the middle to lower end of the market, is very competitive. Fortunately for us, Shadow Of Light was a great racehorse. To win the Middle Park and the Dewhurst, he's only the third horse in over a century to do that. The pedigree that he has, it's what the Irish breeder loves as it's full of precocity. He's a very good-looking horse to go with his race record and he is probably a little bit more leg for that family. He is very well made and very athletic. Anyone who has seen him, likes him and his bookings have been very positive over the last number of weeks. Our nominations team – Eamon Moloney, Anthony O'Donnell and Tom Fogarty – are doing a great job and we have had a good flow of people coming to see him.” The new dawn is an exciting one. The post Jimmy Hyland: ‘The Future Is Very Bright At Kildangan Stud’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Jockey Frankie Dettori has been unable to pay his £765,000 tax debt after his various companies were liquidated, according to a report on msn.com. The legendary jockey declared bankruptcy last March. Companies House published an update to the liquidation of Frankie Dettori Limited and Newmarket Activities Limited, which showed there were no funds to repay the debt. Dettori owes £765,000 to HMRC as of last October and an additional £6,391 to a car leasing company. Once the costs to liquidate his businesses are added in, the debt total is £888,799. The latest report read, “Assuming that realisations and expenses are as anticipated, it is not expected that there will be a return to unsecured creditors due to insufficient funds. This is subject to change based on the final outcome of our investigations.” Dettori will be released from his bankruptcy on March 17, 2026. His name first came up in a legal battle with HMRC over his anonymity after using a “tax avoidance scheme” in December of 2024. His career voluntarily ended in Britain in October of 2023 and, instead of retiring, he moved to California to continue riding. Dettori, who is currently riding in South America after retiring from U.S. racing after the Breeders' Cup, will become the new Amo Racing global brand ambassador in the coming days. The post Dettori Unable To Pay £765k In Taxes After Asset Liquidation appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
The first reported foal for four-time Group 1 winner Luxembourg is a colt born at Cleaboy Stud and Coppice Farm. Out of Raffles Monte (Martaline), the bay was bred by Sean Gorman. The dam is a half-sister to Grade 3-winning hurdler Raffles Sainte (Saint Des Saint), out of listed-winning chaser Loxlade (Sholokhov) and from the family of French Champion Hurdle winner Vaporetto (Lear Fan). “Right colour, right physical, we couldn't be happier with him,” said Gorman. Luxembourg, by Camelot, was a Group 1 winner every year from two through five, taking the Futurity Trophy Stakes, the Irish Champion Stakes, the Tattersalls Gold Cup and the Coronation Cup. He stands at The Beeches Stud for €6,000 this season under the Coolmore National Hunt banner. The post Luxembourg Sires First Reported Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Juan Hernandez earns Jockey of the Week after winning three stakes at Santa Anita Park.View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
With Horse of the Year candidate Sovereignty (Into Mischief) recently returned to Bill Mott's winter base at Payson Park in preparation for a 4-year-old campaign, breeders eager to support the three-time Grade I winner will have to wait at least another year. In the meantime, the Darley America stallion team is still plenty occupied with two other millionaire homebreds new to Jonabell Farm for 2026. Sales Manager Darren Fox said that the farm has carved out a competitive position in the market with 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' First Mission (Street Sense) and Grade I winner Highland Falls (Curlin). “Both horses represent tremendous value,” he said. “We priced them both at $10,000 to make them a no-brainer for breeders. Really top horsemen who have been out to see them have really loved them. They're both very strong physicals with a lot of sire power to boot.” HIGHLAND FALLS (Curlin — Round Pond, by Awesome Again). Standing for $10,000 Highland Falls joins the roster with the distinction of being the only Grade I-winning son of Curlin at stud out of a multiple Grade I-winning mare. Godolphin secured Round Pond (Awesome Again), winner of the GI Acorn Stakes and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, for $5.75 million in 2007 and the champion mare has proven to be a foundation producer for the operation. Her first foal Long River (A.P. Indy) was a Grade I winner and her daughter Tyburn Brook (Bernardini) has extended the line as the dam of Grade I winner and Darley sire Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) as well as recent GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes winner Knightsbridge (Nyquist). “Knightsbridge has oodles of talent and we're very excited about his campaign this year,” said Fox. “It's an immensely deep female family and you couldn't really ask for better in a young stallion.” Sara Gordon Trained by Brad Cox, Highland Falls was a winner on debut at three and developed into top form the following season. His 4-year-old campaign was highlighted by top-level scores in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes and GIII Blame Stakes, as well as runner-up finishes in the GII Oaklawn Handicap and GIII Monmouth Cup Stakes. In the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Highland Falls defeated three Grade I winners including GI Whitney Stakes victor Arthur's Ride (Tapit). “He got bumped from both sides pretty hard at the start and it didn't faze him a bit,” recalled Fox. “He's a two-turn horse, but he had speed and he put the race to Arthur's Ride. Turning for home, he pulled away and drew off impressively to win by four.” Highland Falls placed third in the same Saratoga race in 2025 and also finished second to champion Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the GI Whitney Stakes, earning a 107 Beyer Speed Figure. “That race was absolutely loaded with the likes of Sierra Leone, White Abarrio (Race Day) and Fierceness (City of Light),” recalled Fox. “For about three strides I thought he was going to win, but was ultimately collared late by Sierra Leone and was only beaten by a length by a very good racehorse. That race really showed what he could do over nine furlongs.” Due to an ill-timed minor injury, Highland Falls was not able to make the Breeders' Cup Classic for his final career start. He retired with six wins and finished out of the money only twice in 13 career starts. Fox noted that the chestnut has taken well to his new surroundings at Jonabell, adding that breeder interest has been high since the new stallion's arrival. “Highland Falls is an absolutely gorgeous horse physically,” he noted. “He's got a lovely shape to him, very racey with an attractive profile. What I love about him is the length of his hip. When he walks away from you he has that lovely, square hip. For a two-turn horse to have that shape of hip, I think it's going to prove very commercial. Pedigree-wise, he's an easy horse to breed to and physically he will fit most mares.” FIRST MISSION (Street Sense — Elude, by Medaglia d'Oro). Standing for $10,000. Sara Gordon First Mission becomes the third son of Street Sense to join the Darley America roster, following in the footsteps of Maxfield, whose fee has climbed to $50,000 following a breakout season with his first 2-year-olds in 2025, and Speaker's Corner, whose first juveniles will hit the track in 2026. Street Sense's fourth son at stud in Kentucky is Gainesway's McKinzie. “When I look at First Mission, he is all class and that is something that is synonymous with the Streets Sense sireline,” said Fox. “They love to eat and train. They're so easy to be around and this horse exudes that class.” Another standout for the Cox stable, First Mission finished a narrow second to future MGSW Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) on debut in February of his 3-year-old season. He returned a month later to break his maiden by over six lengths going a mile and a sixteenth, earning the 'Rising Star' nod. Also during his 3-year-old campaign, he claimed the GIII Lexington Stakes, defeating future Grade I winner Arabian Lion (Justify), and was second in the GII Clark Stakes. Returning to the racetrack at four and five, career highlights included wins in the GII Essex Handicap, GII Alysheba Stakes and GII Oaklawn Handicap. “He earned a 109 Beyer Speed Figure in the Oaklawn Handicap, which makes him the fastest sire to retire in Kentucky at $10,000 and under in the last five years,” noted Fox. “He followed that win with an excellent third in the GI Stephen Foster behind top horses Mindframe (Constitution) and Sierra Leone.” First Mission retired to stud with over $2.2 million in career earnings. “Like Maxfield, he was a typical two-turn Street Sense, but he had front-end speed and could carry it,” said Fox. “He is his own brand of Street Sense physically. He's got great movement and just walks like a cat.” First Mission's dam Elude is a daughter of Forty Marchanta (Arg) (Roar), a champion 3-year-old in Argentina. “He's out of a Medaglia d'Oro mare who is bred on the same cross as Rachel Alexandra, which I love,” Fox noted. “He has that lovely blend of Medaglia d'Oro coming through and that's probably one of the areas that he has an edge over his paternal barnmates Maxfield and Speaker's Corner in that First Mission is free of A.P. Indy, which is Street Sense's best cross. So bring on all the A.P. Indy and Bernardini you like, because he's going to love it.” The post Darren Fox: New Darley Sires “A No-Brainer for Breeders” appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article
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