Darley shuttler Hard Spun will be crowned North America’s leading first-season stallion for 2011 on Sunday.

The Danzig freshman has sired 28 individual Kentucky bred winners of $1.70 million so far this year in six countries.  He leads Ashford Stud’s Scat Daddy by $118,500.

His divisional leader Red Duke won the G2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket in July and his Canadian based filly was a Listed winner of the Cup And Saucer Stakes at Woodbine.

Scat Daddy made a late bid to wrest the title but will come up short even if he sires the winners of the final two juvenile features of the year at Santa Anita.  His filly Lady of Shamrock will be one of the favourites for the $75,000 Blue Norther Stakes on Friday and his colt Daddy Nose Best is also among the main chances for the $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes on Saturday.

Hard Spun was undefeated as a juvenile and returned at three for placings in the G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Preakness Stakes.  He followed up with a G1 victory in the King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga and bowed out with a game second to Curlin in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Hard Spun has just finished covering his fourth book at Darley’s Northwood Park base for a $16,500 (inc gst) service fee.  His first Victorian bred runners include Darley’s homebred filly Coins who was an unlucky fourth on debut in the LR Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown last month.