DANBIRD GOES ROYAL AS DELZAO EXULTS

Danehill’s Group winning 2YO, DANBIRD, has launched his stud career in telling fashion with juvenile flyer Royal Dalton racing away with his maiden at Cranbourne yesterday (5 April).

And to sweeten the pie, stablemate and fellow first season sire, DELZAO, went within a whisker of snaring a winner with his runner when Exulting ran a mighty second over 1100m at Wangaratta.

Danbird, a winner of the Pago Pago Stakes-G2 at two before going on to multiple stakes success at four, has always been considered one of the most promising sires in Victoria – and being a full brother to the ill-fated but highly successful Catbird (13 SWs) hasn’t hurt.

Covering books of 105 and 85 in his first two seasons, Danbird served a reduced book of 33 in 2007 when released late from quarantine due to the EI outbreak. But, back on home turf last spring, Danbird was more popular than ever, serving 126 mares: one of only seven stallions in Victoria to cover over 125 mares.

A glaring example of that initial book is the Robert Smerdon trained Royal Dalton. Syndicated privately by breeder Noel Paton, Royal Dalton finished well back on debut at Bendigo in March, but didn’t put a hoof wrong at Cranbourne winning by four lengths.

Out of the 5-time winning Western Symphony mare, Siobhan, Royal Dalton is a half brother to city winner Eliza Dream, while this is also the immediate family of Group One winning 2YO Select Prince.

Meanwhile, Delzao’s 2YO Exulting might not have saluted at Wangaratta, but was very impressive in the way he worked home, beaten a lip on the wire.

A son of Encosta de Lago, Delzao was an outstanding racehorse whose John F Feehan Stakes-G2 win highlighted a career which included victories over 50 Group One winners, including Makybe Diva.

Exulting is out of the El Moxie mare, Sea Conquest, and was snapped up by John Ledger at last year’s Adelaide Magic Millions for just $18,000. Exulting hails from the immediate family of brilliant Hong Kong performer Indigenous (15 wins) and is also related to Water Boatman and Sea Anchor.

Click here for a replay of Royal Dalton's win at Cranbourne