Silence as Denmam heads north

I haven’t heard the cries of ‘foul’ from the Sydney media following the announcement that we have seen the last of Denman on a racetrack in Australia, following Darley’s announcement that the colt was to join Sheikh Mohammed’s racing stable, Godolphin, in Europe.

Denman (br/blk c 2006, Lonhro–Peach, by Vain) has been set for a possible run at Royal Ascot in June, but his mission is the Group 1 July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket in July.

When Darley sent nine quality 3YOs and 4YOs to Dubai early last spring, some of the media, particularly Ken Callander, were scathing in their attack on the Sheikh’s decision. The Dubai-nine were Time Thief, Sousa, Fravashi, Aichi, El Cambio, Desuetude, Caymans, Imvula and Marching. So far, those who have raced have failed to run to their best form during the Dubai carnival

Callander, writing in his Daily Telegraph column last December, attacked Darley’s decision with these incredulous, emotive words: “(the decision is) raping our top-class horses for the pleasure of the sheiks (sic) on the other side of the world”.

Apart from the obvious – that it is the Sheikh’s money and his horses and he can do with them what he likes – we should embrace the fact that some of our best bred thoroughbreds are now racing on the world stage in the colours of the world’s most influential owner.

Denman, a handsome son of Lonhro (and his best runner to date) is an outstanding galloper, who may well prove to be a sensation in the northern hemisphere.

There is a two-pronged advantage for Sheikh Mohammed and his international racing and breeding operation – Denman can entrench himself as a shuttle stallion with a Group 1 win, and at the same time give Lonhro (also owned by Darley after the purchase of the Ingham brothers’ Woodlands Stud) a profile in Europe that could see him join the shuttle train.

I agree it would be terrific for Denman to compete in Australia in the 2010 spring and beyond, but I, like many others, will get a huge thrill out of watching him strutting on the world stage.

Footnote: It will be interesting if Denman will race under a new name or with a prefix or suffix to differentiate him from the champion UK jumper of the same name.

Photo: Denman (Kerrin McEvoy) cruises home to win the Group 2 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield.