WHAT a great achievement it is to hail the new champion sire, Dark Angel, and what a credit he is to the O’Callaghan family at Yeomanstown and Morristown Lattin Studs. When the good-looking son of the recently deceased Acclamation (Royal Applause) went to stud, some eyebrows were raised in the industry.

Here was something different, a colt going to stud at the age of three, largely due to a paucity of opportunities for him at that age in the racing calendar, and one with a pedigree that while it was not offering something that was unfamiliar, it was certainly a bit different.

One could know at the time how good the races were that Dark Angel won, but the venerable Timeform, along with the international handicappers, would have classed his Group 1 success as one of the weaker editions of the Middle Park Stakes.

If Dark Angel was not the most obvious candidate for sire stardom, for that is what he has attained through sheer hard work, Gay O’Callaghan gave breeders a different option, and he was one of the first to appreciate Acclamation as a horse who would have a strong influence on the breed.

What makes it even more special for the O’Callaghan family is the fact that they bred Dark Angel from the unraced Midnight Angel (Machiavellian), a mare they bought in 2003 for just €12,000. The following spring they sent her to the newly-retired Acclamation, resulting in the birth of Dark Angel, whom they sold at what was then called the Doncaster St Leger Sale for £61,000 to BBA Ireland. The colt then joined Barry Hills.

Raced by Chris Wright in partnership, Dark Angel found one too good for him on his Newmarket debut in mid-April, before dwelling at the start in a five-furlong maiden three weeks later at Chester, and then going on to win that five-runner event quite snugly. He lined up for the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot, and finished just outside the top 10, less than four lengths off the winner.

Fourth, beaten two lengths by Winker Watson, in the Group 2 July Stakes was a much-improved effort, and then in late August he showed that he thrived on racing, a trait he instils in his offspring, when beating 19 others to win the £300,000 St Leger Yearling Stakes over six furlongs at York. Three weeks later he was down the field in the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes, and many felt that he was an average juvenile whose ability was well exposed.

Not so, and Barry Hills knew better. Eight days after that disappointing run, Dark Angel was back on the racecourse, started favourite for the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes, and showed his battling qualities when holding off the late challenge of Strike The Deal.

The decision to run the colt again just a fortnight afterwards was thought by observers to be a step too far, the target chosen being the Group 1 Shadwell Middle Park Stakes.

Group 1 win

Once again. Dark Angel faced Strike The Deal, and once again he beat that colt, not helping his case by hanging right inside the final furlong. With a Group 1 in the bag, and eight starts under his belt, you would imagine that would be enough. Incredibly, one final start in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes was attempted, and he was down the field, his chances not helped when he didn’t have much room inside the last furlong.

Dark Angel began his career at a fee of €10,000, was busy from the outset, and his fee dropped to a low of €7,000 in his third and fourth years at stud. His success with his runners from early doors then saw it rise consistently, making a giant leap from €27,500 to €60,000 between 2015 and 2016. It peaked at €85,000 from 2018 to 2020, and has been, and will be for 2025, at €60,000 since.

Showcased

In 2017, two of the world’s best sprinters, Battaash and Harry Angel, truly showcased his merit, while the victory of Persuasive in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes proved his capability to get top-notch milers.

Since then, he has simply confirmed on an annual basis that he is one of the best stallions about. Even so, and with regular top-10 placings on the sires’ table, it was a remarkable achievement to finally claim the title of champion.

His roll of honour shows what a class act he has been, and continues to be with Charyn, bred by the O’Callaghan brothers Guy and David, lifting Dark Angel to his championship win.

Dark Angel regularly supplies leading two-year-olds, superstar sprinters and notable milers, and his daughters are now playing their part, giving us Havana Grey (Havana Gold) and the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks winner Content (Galileo).

This year Dark Angel had his 200th stakes performer on the flat, 65 of them being group or graded stakes winners, and 43 others winning blacktype contests. His stock continues to make headlines at the sales, making a high of 2,900,000gns this year for the yearling full-brother to Charyn.

The toast at Christmas this year at the O’Callaghan family gatherings will surely be to Dark Angel.