Darley’s European operation has announced the 2013 UK-Ireland destinations of incoming stallions Sepoy and Helmet.

Sepoy (Elusive Quality) will stand at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket while Helmet (Exceed And Excel) will take up residence at Kildangan Stud in Ireland.

Both horses are currently standing their first seasons in Australia.  Sepoy is based at Darley’s NSW base at Kelvinside for $66,000 and Helmet stands at Northwood Park in Victoria for $33,000.

Sepoy ended his juvenile year as the highest-rated Australian two-year-old colt in 35 years thanks to a glittering season for Peter Snowden in which he landed a G1 double in the Blue Diamond & Golden Slipper.  He returned at three to claim champion sprinter status after G1 triumphs in the Manikato Stakes and Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Bred by Sheikh Mohammed, Sepoy is out of Watchful (Danehill) who is a sister to G1 winner and producer Camarena.  Further back, it’s the family of successful Australian sire Canny Lad.

“Sepoy was the best two-year-old Australia had seen for twenty years and he was the world champion three-year-old sprinter,” Darley’s director Sam Bullard said.  “He is the most popular stallion on our roster in Australia this year and the Elusive Quality sireline is excelling in Europe.”

Helmet was also a dual Group 1 juvenile winner in the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.  The Exceed And Excel colt trained on take the G1 Caulfield Guineas in record time.

Helmet boasts a fine European pedigree.  He is from Irish-bred Singspiel mare Accessories and hails from the notable Anna Paola family which is responsible for G1 performers such as Anna Salai, Ave and Annus Mirabilis.

Accessories is also the dam of recent Australian Group 1 winner Epaulette.  “Exceed And Excel has been a great success reverse shuttling to Europe,” Bullard said.  “We are very fortunate to be able to offer Australia’s elite sires to our clients in the northern hemisphere.”

SEPOY