Outstanding mare Darara has died aged 29 at Watership Down Stud in Berkshire.  Bred in Ireland in 1983, she had few peers as a broodmare foaling 10 winners including four at Group 1 level.

Darara (Top Ville – Delsy by Abdos) was an Aga Khan homebred and claimed the G1 Prix Vermeille at Longchamp in 1986.  Despite a blueblood pedigree – she was a half-sister to French Derby winner Darshaan and the dam of G1 winner Daliapour – the Aga Khan sold her to Andrew Lloyd-Webber for 470,000gns at the 1994 Goffs Sale.

Darara’s breeding career came to a halt in 2000.  She was barren for four years until a ground-breaking veterinary procedure allowed her to start producing again.

“Andrew and I feel grateful and honoured to have owned such a world class foundation mare in Darara,” Madeleine Lloyd Webber said on Tuesday.  “It is difficult to quantify how important her contribution has been to Watership Down Stud.

“Luckily we own her two daughters so that her outstanding bloodline will continue.  However, it’s a very sad day for Watership Down Stud.”

Darara’s winning foals over a 20 year career at stud were;

1988  DARIYOUN (Shahrastani)  LR Longchamp Prix Lord Seymour
1989  DARDISTAN (Alleged)  5 wins
1990  DARDJINI (Nijinsky)  7 wins
1991 DARARITA (Halo). Winner and dam of G2 Goodwood Cup winner DARASIM (Kahyasi)
1993  DARAZARI (Sadler’s Wells)  G1 Rosehill Ranvet Stakes, G2 Maisons-Laffitte Prix Maurice de Nieuil
1995  KILIMANJARO (Shirley Heights)  Winner, G2 placed and sire in New Zealand
1996  RHAGAAS (Sadler’s Wells)  Winner, G1 placed in French Derby
1999  RIVER DANCER  (Sadler’s Wells)  G1 HKJC Queen Elizabeth II Cup, G3 Chantilly Prix La Force
2005  DAR RE MI  (Singspiel) G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, G1 Yorkshire Oaks, G1 Curragh Pretty Polly Stakes
2007  REWILDING  (Tiger Hill)  G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, G1 Royal Ascot Prince of Wales’s Stakes