Derrinstown

Derrinstown Stud have announced that Classic winning miler Awtaad (Cape Cross) and multiple Group winning sprinter Markaz (Dark Angel) will both retire to the farm to take up stud duties in 2017.

Homebred by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, Awtaad had two starts at two, finishing third to the Stakes winner Black Sea on his debut at the Curragh, before winning over seven furlongs at Leopardstown. 

His career has continued on an upward curve this season. After scoring by five lengths on his seasonal debut, he collected the Listed Tetrarch Stakes as a prelude to recording an emphatic victory over the multiple Group 1 winner Galileo Gold in the Gr.1 Irish 2,000 Guineas, covering the Curragh mile in a faster time than Kingman, Mastercraftsman and Rock Of Gibraltar. This success prompted his trained Kevin Prendergast to declare: “He’s as good a horse as I’ve had.”

A pedestrian early pace didn’t suit him when third in the Gr.1 St.James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, but it wasn’t long before he returned to winning form with a commanding victory in the Gr.2 Boomerang Stakes, thereby confirming his status as one of Europe’s leading milers in 2016. 

By Cape Cross, sire of 11 Group 1 winners, including Golden Horn and Sea the Stars, Awtaad is the first foal of Asheerah, a Stakes placed winner over 7-10 furlongs. From the family of Seattle Slew, she is by Shamardal, sire of 18 Group 1 winners, including Lope De Vega, Able Friend and Mukhadram.

Markaz, by leading sprint sire Dark Angel, has proved himself to be a tough and consistent multiple Group winning sprinter.

A winner at Ascot and Group-placed at 2, he has gone on to win or placed in nine other Group/Listed races, including the Group 3 Criterion Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket and the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle. He has only once finished more than four lengths behind the winner in eighteen career starts since his debut in May 2014 and has taken the scalps of many of Europe’s top sprinters, including Breton Rock, Cable Bay and Birchwood.

By proven Group 1 sire Dark Angel, he is a full-brother to dual Gr.1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner Mecca’s Angel out of Stakes placed, 6-time winner Folga. His full-sister sold for 825,000gns as a yearling at the 2015 Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale to Oliver St. Lawrence Bloodstock.

Fees will be announced at a later date.