Doug Watson saddled three of the five thoroughbred winners at Meydan on Friday afternoon as Al Sharood (3 f Shamardal - Massomah, by Seeking The Gold) made a winning debut in the UAE in the Ford taurus Trophy (1400m).

The three-year-old, who was the only filly in the race, was winning in her third different country having won in the UK for Godolphin and France for John Hammond.

She was ridden by Tadhg O’Shea who kicked her for home over two furlongs out in what proved a decisive move and the pair never looked likely to be caught. ”She is a filly we really like and hope will be very competitive at the carnival. The mile of the Cape Verdi, on turf, would look a great target for her.” O’Shea said.

O’Shea was also in the saddle on Mark To Market (4 g Clodovil - Genetta, by Green Desert), also trained by Watson, who prevailed by a nose in a thrilling conclusion to the 1400m Ford Fusion Trophy Handicap on the all-weather,

The only time the pair led was on the line and O’Shea said, “I knew it was close but was not sure if we had made it or not. To be honest I would probably have settled for a dead-heat!”

Former champion three-year-old Gingerbread Man (Shamardal - Quaffle, by Hurricane Sky) scored his first success as a four-year-old on Sunday at Kranji in Singapore, bringing up his score to 10 wins from 16 starts.

Having captured the imagination with his cleansweep of all three Legs of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge earlier in the year before losing narrowly at the hands of Always Certain in the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1800m), trainer Bruce Marsh then gave Gingerbread Man a well-deserved break only to bring him back two weeks ago when he ran a creditable fourth to Super Easy in a 1400m race despite not being 100% ready.

With that run under the belt, Gingerbread Man was expected to strip even fitter second-up, even if he was dropped back in distance in Sunday’s $125,000 Open Class race over 1200m.

Marsh said there is still some work to be put into the gelding ahead of a possible tilt at the Dubai riches next March. “The Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge is further down the road but before that, we are considering sending him to Dubai. This is why we are racing him now and we will look at some races in January for him. Ideally we will be looking at the 1800m race in Dubai (Dubai Duty Free) but nothing is for certain yet.”

With Sunday’s 10th win, Gingerbread Man has now racked up prizemoney close to $1.1 million for the Gingerbread Stable.

Darley-stallion Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway - Helsinki, by Machiavellian) sired his fifth Gr 1 winner at the weekend when Zazou won the Gr 1 Premio Roma (2000m) in Rome on Sunday.

Settled close to the moderate early pace by Derby winning jockey Mickael Barzalona, ran to the the front with 300m to go and then held off Godolphin’s Rio Del Plata (Rahy), who won this race in 2010, to score by a short-head.

Third in the Gr 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud as a juvenile, Zazou returned in 2010 to win the Gr 3 Dr Busch Memorial at Krefeld in April and the Gr 2 Oppenheim-Union-Rennen at Cologne two months later. Runner-up in the Gr 1 Deutsches Derby at Hamburg in July, the bay ran third in the Gr 1 Rheinland-Pokal back in Cologne the following month.

Shamardal’s other Gr 1 winners are Faint Perfume and Captain Sonador in Australia with Zazou, Lope de Vega and Casamento in Europe. Both Captain Sonador and Lope de Vega are covering their first books of mares in Australia this season.

A win to Cosmic Causeway (Shamardal - Cosmic Beam, by Geiger Counter) in the last race anywhere in Australia on Friday completed a double for Darley resident Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway - Helsinki, by Machiavellian).

Earlier in the day, the Nigel Blackiston-trained Auriegirl recorded her second straight win when the four-year-old mare won the Hoaks Racing Handicap (1424m) at Sale. Cosmic Causeway raced close to the pace before the gelding proved too strong in the Fields Of Omagh Marquee Handicap (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Cosmic Causeway is one of two winners from as many foals to race out of Cosmic Beam (Geiger Counter - Royal Filou, by Norfolk Air). Cosmic Beam is a half-sister to the stakes winner Egyptian Ibis (Straight Strike - Royal Filou, by Norfolk Air), who is the dam of the former Hong Kong Horse of the Year and Australian Group 1 winner Desert Eagle (Hurricane Sky - Egyptian Ibis, by Straight Strike).

Egyptian Ibis also produced the 2008 Champion Older Horse of Malaysia, the eight-time winner Mighty Chic (Langfuhr - Royal Filou, by Norfolk Air).

Auriegirl fetched $27,500 at the 2009 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale while Cosmic Causeway’s breeder, the Contract Racing Syndicate, retained the gelding to race.

Darlet shuttle stallion Shamardal sired a new Gr 1 winner overnight when his daughter Lyric Of Light (2 f Shamardal - Suez) won the Shadwell Fillies Mile at Newmarket.

Held up in last in the early part of the race by Frankie Dettori, Lyric Of Light came with a real charge to go past the entire field bar front-runner Samitar (Rock Of Gibraltar) but she kept coming to get up and score a thrilling head victory. Firdaws (Mr Greeley) was four lengths further back in third place.

Trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni said Lyric Of Light won the race despite not appreciating the good to firm ground at Newmarket. ”I don’t think she liked the ground - Frankie felt she wasn’t happy on it and it was only because she is a good filly that she won,” he said.

A trip to the Breeders’ Cup could be on the cards for Lyric Of Light, although Al Zarooni said the decision rests with Godolphin owner Sheikh Mohammed. ”I cannot say whether she’ll run again [this season]. She could go for races like the Breeders’ Cup but we will see what the Highness thinks.”

Shamardal is standing at Darley Kelvinside for $88,000 (inc GST) in 2011.

Godolphin’s Casamento registered a comfortable win in last Saturday’s Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange over 2000 metres at Longchamp. Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said later that Casamento has big plans later in the year. “We have no plans for the moment and want to see how the horse comes out of the race. We wanted first to see this confidence boosting race. He is entered up in all top races.”

Group 1 winner of the Racing Post Trophy at two, Casamento (3 c Shamardal – Wedding Gift, by Always Fair) has now won four races and earned €310,843.

Elusive Quality (Gone West - Touch Of Greatness, by Hero’s Honor) picked up his 15^th win of the season as part of a treble for Darley stallions on Sunday.

Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller prepared Nocturnelle (Elusive Quality - Dama De Noche, by Snippets) to claim the Ashcroft Handicap (1300m) at Warwick Farm. Nocturnelle’s dam Dama De Noche (Snippets - Daisy Bates, By Danehill) was a stakes winner in the Group 3 Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) in 2002.

The John McNair-trained Shamus (Shamardal - Denia, by Thunder Gulch) completed a double for Darley sires at Warwick Farm when the five-year-old took out the Camden Handicap (1000m). The Dean Lawson stable produced Darley’s third winner of the day when California Valley (Reset - Edna Valley, by Rubiton) won the James & Son Horse Feed Handicap (2200m) at Ballarat.

California Valley’s dam Edna Valley (Rubiton - Sleepy Seymour, by Lord Seymour) won three of 13 starts in her racing days but the breeding phase of the mare’s career has yielded two stakes winners, Chitabe (Perugino - Edna Valley, by Rubiton) and Cornelia Marie (Reset - Edna Valley, by Rubiton).

Dubai Prince (3 c Shamardal - Desert Frolic), made a winning return to action at Newbury in England on Friday and could head for the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 15.

A leading  fancy for this year’s colts’ Classics until suffering an injury in April, Dubai Prince was trained by Dermot Weld last season but was transferred to Mahmood Al Zarooni over the winter, but suffered a hairline fracture in the pelvic region.

However, he bounced back in fine style under Kieren Fallon on his belated first start of the season, travelling smoothly before scooting clear of Jet Away (Cape Cross) for a two-and-a-half length victory.

“He’s pretty exciting,” Fallon said. “Everything about him is so smooth and electric - he’s proper horse. The way he travels and moves excites you. He picked up and quickened away.”

Later in the day at Newbury Cavaleiro (2 c Sir Percy - Khibraat) proved too good for Harvard N Yale (Smart Strike) in the valuable Hayes, Hanson & Clark Stakes over one mile. Sir Percy, who shuttles to Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand, currently has nine winners from his first crop racing in Europe.

Amaron (2 c Amandalini) became Shamardal’s first juvenile European Group winner of 2011 when winning Tuesday’s Zukunfts-Rennen (Gr 3) over 1200m in Germany.

Having got the Derby Italiano (G2) victor Crackerjack King, the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial (G3) winner Dunboyne Express as well as the further German Group 3 winners Elle Shadow and Zazou earlier this season, Amaron is the first juvenile Group winner of the year for Shamardal who has four Group 1 winners - Racing Post Trophy winner Casamento, the dual Classic winner in France Lope De Vega who is standing at Patinack Farm in NSW and Faint Perfume and Captain Sonador in Australia. Captain Sonador is standing his first season at Raheen Stud in Queensland in 2011.

Apprentice Tim Bell and assistant trainer Brett Killion struck immediate success together when Shamardashing was successful at Doomben. The Patinack Farm-owned  Shamardashing (4 gShamardal - Beaux Art, by Nomrood), aided by a rails hugging ride from Bell, held off the fast finishing Marked to score by three-quarters of a length in the Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1640m) at Doomben on Wednesday.

Bell was appointed Patinack Farm’s Queensland rider two weeks ago and his only previous success for Sydney trainer John Thompson was aboard the Les Tinkler-owned Transporter at Caloundra last Sunday.

“This is the first time I’ve actually won a race in Patinack Farm’s colours,” Bell said. “I was a  bit worried coming to the turn when he was on the rails. He hadn’t spent a penny and I got a little nervou. Now that I’ve got my first win up hopefully we’ll get some more.”

Killion started duties as Thompson’s assistant at Wadham Park on the Gold Coast hinterland on Monday. He previously worked for almost 16 years as foreman for the Gai Waterhouse stable at Tulloch Lodge in Sydney.

“I had a great time working for Gai for all those years in Sydney but it’s exciting to win with my first runner in town,” Killion said.

The progeny of Darley’s prolific stallion Commands (Danehill - Cotehele House, by My Swanee) showed no signs of slowing down at the end of the season after another winning double at Randwick Kensington.

Commands broke the magical 150-winner barrier last Sunday. The stallion produced two more new winners at the Randwick Kensington meeting to move to 152 individual winners for the season.

The well-bred Eleuther (Commands - Mnemosyne, by Encosta De Lago) broke through for his maiden success in the Kingsford Handicap (1550m) at Randwick Kensington. Eleuther is the first foal to race out of the dual Group 1 winner Mnemosyne (Encosta De Lago - My Juliet, by Canny Lad).

The Guy Walter-trained Bidden (Commands - Maestro Miss, by Palace Music) earned her first win of the season when successful in the Bronte Handicap (1300m).

Darley sires also completed a double at Doomben on Wednesday. Exceed And Excel (Danehill - Patrona, by Lomond) produced his 22^nd individual two-year-old winner of the season when Availability (Exceed And Excel - Cosmic Strike, by Made Of Gold) took out the Hardy Brothers Jewellers Maiden Plate (1110m).

Availability is a three-quarter sister to the stakes-placed Luce Del Mare (Fastnet Rock - Cosmic Strike, by Made Of Gold). Shamardashing (Shamardal - Beaux Art, by Nomrood) completed Darley’s double at Doomben with a win in the Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1640m).

Apprentice Tim Bell and assistant trainer Brett Killion struck immediate success together when Shamardashing was successful at Doomben. The Patinack Farm-owned   Shamardashing (4 g Shamardal - Beaux Art, by Nomrood), aided by a rails hugging ride from Bell, held off the fast finishing Marked to score by three-quarters of a length in the Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1640m) at Doomben on Wednesday.

Bell was appointed Patinack Farm’s Queensland rider two weeks ago and his only previous success for Sydney trainer John Thompson was aboard the Les Tinkler-owned Transporter at Caloundra last Sunday.

“This is the first time I’ve actually won a race in Patinack Farm’s colours,” Bell said. “I was a  bit worried coming to the turn when he was on the rails. He hadn’t spent a penny and I got a little nervou. Now that I’ve got my first win up hopefully we’ll get some more.”

Killion started duties as Thompson’s assistant at Wadham Park on the Gold Coast hinterland on Monday. He previously worked for almost 16 years as foreman for the Gai Waterhouse stable at Tulloch Lodge in Sydney.

“I had a great time working for Gai for all those years in Sydney but it’s exciting to win with my first runner in town,” Killion said.

Ad Valorem’s (Danzig - Classy Women, by Relaunch) seventh two-year-old winner of the season began a four-win day for Darley stallions at Friday’s Geelong Synthetic meeting.

Darley’s main trainer Peter Snowden prepared Henshaw (Ad Valorem - Huit, by Octagonal) to post a first-up win in the Radioactive 2YO Maiden Plate (1000m). The Lee Freedman-trained Pecuniary (Elusive Quality - Monetary, by Diesis) made a Darley quinella when she chased the winner home.

Nasemah (Exceed And Excel - Za Tiara, by Zabeel) made it a running double for Darley stallions when the mare took out the Geelong 93.9FM Maiden Plate (1000m). Ladramahs (Shamardal - Tatham, by Kayhasi) claimed the Bay FM’s Morning Crew Maiden Plate before three-year-old gelding Lonhrotothetop (Lonhro - Princess Tinkabell, by Zeditave) prevailed in the K-Rock Departure Lounge Handicap (1300m).

Meanwhile, former Woodlands and Darley sire Viscount (Quest For Fame - Antwerp, by Sir Tristram) enjoyed a double juvenile success with wins at Geelong and Wyong on Friday.

The Snowden-trained Tunes  (Viscount - Tin Pan, by Commands) won the B-Team Maiden Plate (1300m) by an impressive 5-1/2 length margin at the Geelong Synthetic meeting before Anejo (Viscount - Cotija, by Covetous) scored in the Serendipity Spelling 2YO Maiden (1100m) at Wyong.

Viscount now stands at the Oakland Park operation in WA.

The 20^th juvenile win for the season for Exceed And Excel (Danehill - Patrona, by Lomond) has provided the highlight of Darley’s six-win Wednesday.

The Peter Snowden-trained Bello (Exceed And Excel - Cara Bella, by Seeking The Gold) brought up the figure for the sire when the gelding held off the fast-finishing Dynamic Honor (Dynaformer - Madcap, by Kingmambo) to win the Rosehill Gardens Event Centre Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury.

Exceed And Excel’s 2010 / 11 effort has been the most prolific of his four two-year-old crops to date, surpassing the stallion’s previous best juvenile tally of 19, achieved in the 2008/09 season. The sire’s best-performed son Helmet (Exceed And Excel - Accessories, by Singspiel) banked more than $600,000 for the stallion with wins in the Group 1 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and the Group 1 AJC Champagne Stakes (1600m).

Bello formed part of a treble for Darley sires at Canterbury. Lycra Lass (Shamardal - Leggings, by Tights) won the Bacardi Bar Handicap (1550m) while Kaypers (Cape Cross - Miss Electra, by Zeditave) claimed the Grand Pavilion Handicap (1550m).

Capecover (Cape Cross - Set Up, by Zabeel) was successful at Sandown as was the Lonhro (Octagonal - Shadea, by Straight Strike) gelding Summarise (Lonhro - Material Girl, by Flying Spur). Summarise became just the second of Lonhro’s 215 individual winners to score over 2400 metres.

Simply Smart (Lonhro - Specie, by Canny Lad) completed Lonhro’s double and Darley’s sextet with his win in the www.brc.com.au Maiden Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm.

Group winner Shamoline Warrior is the first son of Shamardal (USA) to stand at stud in New Zealand following his purchase by Bluegables Farm. Shamoline Warrior will stand at Bluegables Farm at Ohaupo at a fee of NZ $6500 plus GST.

The half-brother to VRC Derby winner Rebel Raider (Reset) won his first race at two and went on to win the UCI Stakes (Listed) and then the Norman Robinson Stakes (Gr 3) at Caulfield, an impressive victory there seeing him installed favourite for the VRC Derby.

A chest infection kept Shamoline Warrior out of the Derby and he retires the winner of three races and $203,625.

“Shamoline Warrior is an imposing individual with the outstanding temperament the Shamardal’s are renowned for. His racetrack ability, physical strength and outstanding bloodlines attracted me to him instantly.” says Monty Henderson from Bluegables Farm.

“Through injury I feel New Zealand has gained access to a first class son of Shamardal and I would like to thank Delbridge Racing for the opportunity to purchase him.”

A colt by leading international sire Shamardal (USA) topped the first session of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast yesterday when selling to Hong Kong based bloodstock agent George Moore for $180,000.

“Actually we have bought two other colts earlier (in 2011), by Shamardal that cost $410,000 here at the Premier sale in January and another for $550,000,” Moore said. “We are just trying to buy them as we are giving his stock a big chance this year.”

Shamardal - Running Jeans colt

“We have a couple of good ones in the stable, Leading City and Able Charm. They have great temperaments and they are doing well for us. So we are taking a couple of extra chances and, this colt, was a lot cheaper than the other ones.”

The Shamardal colt was one of 10 yearlings to sell for $100,000 or more during the opening session of the yearling component of the National Sale.

A colt by Fastnet Rock offered by Newhaven Park was snapped up the Lucky Racing Syndicate for $150,000, while Sydney based agent James Bester parted with $145,000 for the Redoute’s Choice colt out of Paraca colt for a South African client.

The top priced filly for the session was the Encosta de Lago half sister to Group One winner Aqua D’amore purchased by Andy Williams’ World Wide Bloodstock. Williams signed for nine youngsters during the day as he chases another champion. It was at the 2007 auction that he paid $60,000 for the international sprinting champion Rocket Man.

132 lots sold on a day of patchy trade that saw the clearance rate of  64 per-cent. $4.4 million was grossed at an average price of $33,771 - an increase on last year’s record breaking opening session.

“It’s what you’d call a sticky market,” Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said. “There are a lot of buyers here at the sale from around Australia and overseas.”

“A positive of the sale has been the significant buying bench that has participated so far and we’re hoping this continues tomorrow.”

Darley confirmed yesterday that Shamardal (USA) will not shuttle to Australia for the 2011 season. Not all is lost for Australian breeders however as his Group 1 winning sons Captain Sonador and Lope de Vega will be at stud this season.

Veterinary advice was that the nine-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway would required six months off to fully recover from an injury sustained in Australia last year.

“Shamardal had surgery late last year and then covered a full book of mares in the UK, but veterinary advice indicates the horse needs a good break to complete his rehabilitation and the horse’s long term future is always our main concern.” said Darley Nominations Manager Alistair Pulford.

“He was our most popular horse when fees were announced, so it’s disappointing not to have him coming, however the six months off is in his best interest and we look forward to him returning to Australia in the future.”

The oldest Australian progeny of Shamardal are four year-olds. He has no two year-olds here this season following the EI outbreak in 2007 and covered 79 mares last year at a fee of $66,000.

His best runners to date in Australia include the Group 1 winner Captain Sonador, scheduled to stand at Raheen Sud in 2011, Happy Hippy, Marquardt and No Evidence Needed. His dual French Group 1 winning son Lope de Vega will stand his first Australian season at Patinack Farm’s Hunter Valley base in 2011.

Darley has dominated Thursday’s racing with a sextet of successes on both sides of the Tasman Sea.

Sheik Mohammed’s worldwide breeding operation enjoyed its best results at the Ballarat meeting in Victoria. Darley sires also had wins at Newcastle, Goulburn and at Awapuni in New Zealand.

Reset (Zabeel - Assertive Lass, by Zeditave) picked up his 62^nd win of the season when Fawkner (Reset - Dane Belltar, by Danewin) won the Ballarat Equine University Maiden Plate (1600m). Earlier, Beseech (Lonhro - Dominions, by Canny Lad) opened Darley’s Ballarat account with his win in the Ballarat Come To Life 2YO Maiden (1100m).

The Steven Ramsay-trained five-year-old mare Santangelo (Lonhro - Lucky Be Lucky) completed Lonhro’s double in the Ovation Handicap (1200m) at Awapuni. Shamardal (Giant’s Causeway - Helsinki, by Machiavellian) got in on the act when Persian Storm took out the 105.3 NEWFM Class 1 Handicap (1300m).

Flitter Bye (Exceed And Excel - Upper Crust, by Octagonal) provided Exceed And Excel (Danehill - Patrona, by Lomond) with a win when the Kris Lees-trained filly won the Toronto Diggers Maiden Handicap (900m). Commands (Danehill - Cotehele House, by My Swanee) gelding In His Honour (Commands - Coronation Night, by Marauding) win the Posthouse Motor Lodge Maiden Plate (1200m).

A pair of Australian-bred sires provided the Darley operation with a double at Monday’s Windsor meeting in the UK.

Exceed And Excel (Danehill - Patrona, by Lomond) produced the first winner of Darley’s double when the Richard Hannon-trained Best Terms (Exceed And Excel - Sharp Terms, by Kris) won the Sportingbet Maiden Auction Fillies’ Stakes (5f) on debut. The undefeated racehorse Reset (Zabeel - Assertive Lass, by Zeditave) completed the stud’s success when New Code (Reset - Ileana, by Lomitas) took out the Play Mecca Bingo Handicap (1m3-1/2f).

Exceed And Excel was also on the winner’s list in Australia when Operatics (Exceed And Excel - Opera Queen, by Pleasant Colony) won the Racing Easter Saturday Maiden (1500m) at Port Macquarie.

Commands (Danehill - Cotehele House, by My Swanee) also produced a winner at Port Macquarie when Our Daughters (Commands - Clinging, by Brief Truce) claimed the D & M Hyde Tilers Benchmark 60 Handicap (2000m). Shamardal completed a trio of Darley successes at Port Macquarie after Galleriaborghese (Shamardal - Self Portrait, by Peintre Celebre) took out the Port Tyreworld Class 1 Handicap (1200m).

Darley yesterday announced the fees for 26 stallions it will stand in Australia for the 2011 breeding season, headed by Street Cry ($110,000 inc. GST), Shamardal ($88,000), Medaglia d’Oro ($77,000) and Commands ($66,000).

“The Darley stallions have enjoyed their best year yet. From our youngsters Nadeem and Ad Valorem who have had their first two-year-olds running this season, to our proven stallions such as Street Cry, Shamardal, Lonhro and Commands, we really have had a tremendous year,” Henry Plumptre, Darley’s Managing Director in Australia said.

“Looking forward, we are enthusiastic about our six stallion prospects with their first two-year-olds running later this year and are encouraged by the progeny of our even younger horses, some of which will feature at the forthcoming breeding stock sales. We look forward to offering breeders a roster of outstanding quality and talking to our clients in the coming months.”

Darley stallion fees 2011

Medaglia D'Oro

Standing at Kelvinside (NSW)

Street Cry $110,000

Shamardal $88,000

Lonhro $77,000

Medaglia d’Oro $77,000

Commands $66,000

Exceed And Excel $66,000

Bernardini $38,500

Denman $38,500

Street Sense $38,500

Authorized $22,000

Teofilo $22,000

Nadeem $22,000

Canny Lad $16,500

Henny Hughes $16,500

Time Thief $13,750

Ad Valorem $11,000

Shaft $7,700

Standing at Northwood Park (Vic)

New Approach $33,000

Domesday $22,000

Hard Spun $16,500

Reset $16,500

Von Costa de Hero $16,500

Any Given Saturday $13,750

Street Boss $13,750

Strategic $11,000

Gonski $6,600

Fees include GST and are payable on a live foal.