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Behind-the-scenes With Darley
In the lead-up to this year’s BOYLE Sports Lockinge Stakes, we turned our attention to the stallions the race has helped shape
Six of the last ten winners of the Group 1 BOYLE Sports Lockinge Stakes – including Modern Games (2023) and Palace Pier (2021) – have gone on to stand at stud, underpinning the race’s reputation as a defining moment in the careers of elite milers, and cementing its status as the stallion-making race.
As we look ahead to the 2026’s renewal on 16th May, we’ve partnered with the European Breeders’ Fund (EBF) to explore life beyond the track – following these exceptional horses in their routine at stud. Funded through contributions from stallions via their covering fees, the EBF is one of the most influential initiatives in racing, reinvesting directly into the sport via prize money subsidies.
Sam Bullard, Director of Stallions at Darley and EBF Representative, explains: “The EBF now puts over £1.9 million into British racing every year. It’s the most effective self-help sponsorship scheme the industry has ever come up with.”
Both Palace Pier and Modern Games, who stand at Darley, are part of the EBF programme, meaning their progeny are eligible to run in EBF-funded races – directly linking their success on the track with the next generation.
Darley’s impact on both breeding and racing has been nothing short of remarkable. At the heart of the operation lies Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket – home to some of the world’s most influential stallions, including Dubawi. In recent years, Palace Pier and Modern Games have added their names to the illustrious Lockinge Stakes roll of honour, further strengthening the race’s connections to renowned bloodlines.
In 2021, Palace Pier landed Frankie Dettori his fifth and final Lockinge victory – one of five Group 1 wins across a career that saw him dominate the mile division. He now stands at Dalham Hall Stud, where he continues to produce Group-winning progeny.
Dawn Laidlaw, Head of Nominations at Darley, reflects on the race’s lasting influence: “We’ve been lucky enough to have a number of Lockinge winners over the years – right back to Cape Cross and then through his son, Sea The Stars, who sired Baaeed. We’ve got Dubawi here, and there are now three sons of Dubawi who have won the Lockinge all standing at stud. It’s been a hugely influential race for our stallions.”
Two years on from Palace Pier’s success, Modern Games returned the crown to Darley and Godolphin – further strengthening their remarkable record as the most successful ownership group in the race’s rich history.
A true global performer, Modern Games secured top-level victories across Europe and North America, including both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and Breeders’ Cup Mile. His Lockinge Stakes triumph marked his fifth Group 1 victory. Now retired to stud, Modern Games begins the next chapter – one that promises to extend his impact far beyond his own career on the track.
Bullard adds: “Darley and Godolphin are quite simply one of the biggest owner breeder operations, and we are very fortunate to have the stallions that we do standing around the world.”
