Turning off Duchess Drive in Newmarket and up towards Dalham Hall Stud’s gates, one is immediately aware that what you are about to experience is special.

From there the drive to the front desk goes past acres of manicured paddocks and up towards an impressive office building. Trophies adorning sections of the reception area immediately tell you that success is never in short supply at this operation.

Darley, the breeding arm of Godolphin has a reputation for producing winners and they have an impressive roster of stallions with which to try and breed the next generation of champions. You could fill pages of the exploits of some of their current residents, spread out in all parts of the world. For now though, we’re focusing on three.

Dubawi

Dubai Millenium x Zomaradah

Arguably the jewel in the Darley crown, Dubawi holds a special place in the hearts for this operation. For those wanting to send their mare to this champion, they’d have to part with a cool £250 000.

Looking at the list of progeny that have gone on to achieve success on the racetrack one might say that it’s well worth it. Not only is Dubawi a  consistent producer of winners, he’s also something of a stallion maker with several of his sons having taken up stud duties in all corners of the globe, some alongside their sire at Dalham Hall.

His greatest moment on the racecourse came in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at The Curragh in May 2005 when he powered to a two-length victory over Oratorio. He followed that up with a  third place finish in the Derby at Epsom that year. Dubawi ended his career with three Group One victories to his name having bagged the National Stakes, also at The Curragh, as a two-year-old before a major win in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard-Jacques le Marois at Deauville in the. His final start was in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Newmarket on the 24th September 2005.

This brilliant video by Godolphin will give you a bit more insight into this legendary stallion:

Golden Horn

Cape Cross x Fleche D’ Or

There are two great moments to relive when one thinks about Golden Horn and his exploits on the racecourse. The first is his victory in the Derby at Epsom when he put three and a half lengths between himself and the field and the second was the impressive manner of his victory in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in the penultimate race of his career.

There were, of course, others with successes in the Coral-Eclipse, the Irish Champion Stakes and the Dante. In a career that spanned nine runs he managed seven victories and two seconds, both defeats coming at the highest level.

It is then, a case of natural progression as he moves to establishing himself as a major player in the stallion ranks. In the time he has been at Dalham Hall Stud he has let down into a magnificent specimen.

Relive Golden Horn’s epic victory in the Derby at Epsom on the 6th June 2015 by watching this video: 

New Approach

Galileo x Park Express

We have this legend to thank for producing the 2018 winner of the Epsom Derby in the form of Masar and in this instance it was a clear case of ‘like father, like son’ with New Approach having won this same race a decade ago.

When he started his career back in 2007, he made it known that he was more than above average when winning his maiden and a Group Three in the space of a fortnight. In fact, he went through his two-year-old season unbeaten, topping it by winning the National Stakes at the Curragh before claiming the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket towards the end of October.  With Group One credentials added to his name, racing fans waited in anticipation for the following season.

The 2,000 Guineas  on the 3rd of May 2008 was a thriller with New Approach beaten a nose. He also had to settle for second when contesting the Irish equivalent a few weeks later.

But it was in the Derby where he displayed his dominance when having to switch – New Approach also pulled hard in the early stages of the race – to claim the glory by half a length. The margin does not seem much but the result was never in doubt.

He was seen three more times on the racecourse, all at the highest level and he managed to claim both the Irish Champion and Champion Stakes to take his Group One winning haul to five.

In total New Approach had 11 starts, and registered eight victories, two second and a third.

As a Stallion, he’s given horseracing fans three Classic winners with Masar (Derby), Talent (Oaks) and  Dawn Approach (2,000 Guineas) among other Group One winners and performers.

Take some time out and watch this brilliant behind-the-scenes clip pot together by At The Races: 

Opportunities to visit these legendary stallions do not come around too often. With Discover Newmarket you can get exclusive access into Dalham Hall Stud. To book one of our tours click here