CONSIDERING that he was the champion two-year-old in Europe in 2014 and that he trained on to win a Group 1 over a mile as a four-year-old, Belardo seems very generously priced at his introductory fee of only €15,000.

Trained by Roger Varian, Belardo won three of his five starts in his first season, starting with a maiden race at Yarmouth in which he strolled home over two lengths clear. In the Group 3 July Stakes at Newmarket he was a close fourth behind Ivawood, but then appreciated the extra furlong of the Listed Washington Singer Stakes at Newbury and romped home almost four lengths clear. Although only fourth in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, Belardo was back to his best form in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October and he finished very strongly to win impressively by two lengths from Kodi Bear.

Purchased afterwards by Godolphin, Belardo was rated the best two-year-old in Europe. He headed his age group on 119, a pound ahead of the Middle Park Stakes hero Charming Thought, and then came Elm Park and Ivawood, the fillies Found and Tiggy Wiggy, and then Gleneagles on 116. At three Belardo was a close fourth to Gleneagles in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas, was only half a length behind Cable Bay in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes and then a close second to the brilliant French miler Solow in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

Starting his four-year-old campaign with a win in the Listed Doncaster Mile, Belardo then added the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, in which he defeated Group 1 stars Euro Charline, Limato and Toormore. In his final race, the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, he was second to Tepin, beaten only half a length.

A €100,000 Deauville yearling, Belardo was bred by Ballylinch Stud who stand his sire Lope de Vega, winner of the French Derby and the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and the champion third crop-sire in Europe in 2016.

Belardo’s dam Danaskaya, a daughter of Danehill, was the champion two-year-old filly in Ireland and she is also dam of Berling who won two group races.

Danaskaya’s half-sister Modeeroch was a smart juvenile filly who won three listed races including the Tyros Stakes and their dam was the French filly Majinskaya, winner of the Listed Prix des Tuileries at Deauville. This is the family of Mujadil, a prolific sire of two-year-old winners.

Champion 2yr old colt in Europe in 2014. Won five races, £901,643, from 6 furlongs to 1 mile, 2 to 4 years including, Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, Newbury, Gr.1, Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.1, Betway Doncaster Mile Stakes, Doncaster, L, Denford Stud Washington Singer Stakes, Newbury, L, also placed second in Qipco Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, Queen Anne Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, and third in Dubai Challenge Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.2.

Retires to stud in 2017.

Stands at: Kildangan Stud, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, Ireland.

Contact: Gerry Duffy, Eamon Moloney or Anthony O’Donnell

Telephone: +353 (0) 45 527600

Email: enquiries@darleyireland.com.

Web: www.darleystallions.com

Fee: €15,000