Darley sire Ad Valorem was represented by his first stakes winner when Samaden scored a narrow victory in the Listed Premio Alessandro Perrone (1100m) at Rome’s Cappanelle racecourse on Wednesday.

Always prominent, the two-year-old filly quickened well on the inside rail once past the 200m marker and battled impressively close to home to win by a head from Malikayah (Fasliyev) and Oeuvre D’art (Marju).

Samaden (2f Ad Valorem – Salpiglossis by Monsun) turned the tables on the runner-up who had beaten her a length on debut in Rome on May 1.  She followed up with a six length victory in the Premio Rosananti (1200m) in Rome on May 11 before stepping up to a black-type victory yesterday.

Samaden is a younger half-sister to Samaranpur (Starborough) and Sweet Tradition (Traditionally) who have both won at distances longer than a mile.  Their dam is a German bred half-sister to G2 Italian 1000 Guineas winner Sadowa (Lomitas).

Ad Valorem (USA) is by Danzig and he was a G1 winner of the Middle Park Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old.  He was placed in two of Europe’s premier mile contests – the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes (where he was second behind Shamardal) and the G1 Sussex Stakes – at three before returning at four with an outstanding victory in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Ad Valorem has sired three winners to date.  Revine (2f  Ad Valorem – Regal Dynasty by Royal Academy) scored by three lengths at Siracusa on May 22 and Una Vita Difficile (2f  Ad Valorem – Matadora by Kris) was successful in Florence on May 26.

Ad Valorem shuttles to Darley Australia and has averaged 80 mares in his first three seasons at Kelvinside.  His 2010 service fee has been set at $11,000 (inc gst).

Ad Valorem stands at Coolmore in Ireland and Darley in Australia.  Coolmore originally stood the son of Danzig in partnership with Woodlands Stud in Australia.  When Bob Ingham sold up to Sheikh Mohammed, his share of Ad Valorem was absorbed by Darley.