Shamardal will remain at Darley’s Irish base after completing his current book of northern mares at Kildangan Stud.  

Shamardal’s last two southern seasons have been curtailed by injury.  He covered 34 mares in 2009 and approximately 80 mares last year before being forced out of service with an injury to his withers.  

The champion sire had been slated to cover his sixth Australian book this year.  His service fee had risen from $27,500 to $88,000 commensurate with his rapid rise up the ranks.

Shamaradal (Giant’s Causeway) served his first mares in the Hunter Valley in 2005 before covering his initial book in Ireland the following year where his fee has also increased from 20,000 pounds to 50,000 pounds.

His first winner arrived in October 2008 when Happy Hippy saluted at Taree in October 2008.  The Patinack filly went on to claim stakes races at Randwick and Sandown.

Shamardal’s Group 1 winners Lope De Vega (Patinack Farm) and Captain Sonador (Raheen Stud) will be his first sons to stand at stud in Australia this year.