Darley sire Bernardini launched his stud career with a Group double in Italy and the United States on Saturday.

Biondetti maintained his unbeaten record when landing the G1 Gran Criterium (1600m) in Milan and just a few hours later A Z Warrior was most impressive winning the G1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park.

Biondetti (2c Bernardini – Lyphard’s Delta by Lyphard) is raced by Sheikh Mohammed and is a three-quarter brother to the A P Indy stakes winners Indy Five Hundred (G1 Belmont Garden City Hcp) and Delta Princess (G3 Aqueduct Beaugay Hcp).

Bred in America by Palides Investments, Biondetti cost $350,000 at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale.  He won first time out at Newmarket in August and doubled up at Kempton Park last month.

A Z Warrior (2f Bernardini –Carson Jen by Carson City) is a homebred for Zayat Stables and is trained by Bob Baffert.  She stalked the Frizette front-runners and then sprinted to the lead at the top of the straight.  Jockey Alan Garcia eased her down in the final stage to win by two lengths.

A Z Warrior had won in California before travelling to the east coast last week.  She is a half-sister to G3 Hollywood Juvenile Stakes winner E Z Warrior (Exploit) and Listed Belmont House Party Stakes winner J Z Warrior (Harlan’s Holiday).

Bernardini has so far sired six individual winners from his first crop.  Theyskens’ Theory opened his black-type account when she won the G3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood in August.  His other English winner Treasury Devil has been successful at Sandown and Newbury.

In the United States, Bernardini colt Stay Thirsty won his maiden at Saratoga and was then runner-up in the G1 Hopeful Stakes at the Spa.  The latest Bernardini to break through is Honor and Serve who scored at Belmont Park on October 2.

Bernardini was rated the best three-year-old in the world in 2006 when he became the first horse since Damascus to win the Preakness Stakes, Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup.  He is currently covering a third southern book of mares at Darley Kelvinside for a fee of $38,500 (inc gst).