PURCHASED by The Irish Field’s correspondent Sean Clancy in association with Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for £28,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot November Sale in 2017, the seven-year-old Dalakhani (Darshaan) gelding Gibralfaro has well rewarded that investment and last weekend added the Grade 2 David L (Zeke) Ferguson Memorial Hurdle at Great Meadow to a victory in the spring in the Queen’s Cup Chase at Charlotte. His placed efforts include being runner-up in the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers Hurdle at Saratoga.

A four-time winner in France, Gibralfaro moved to Alan King at Barbury Castle and won twice over hurdles before being sold to race in the USA. He can now lay claim to being the best runner over jumps for his sire who was the champion European three-year-old in 2003 following his victories that year in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby, Prix Lupin and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Dalakhani is sire of 10 Group 1 winners on the flat.