GIVEN that Cloth Of Stars’ reputation grew as he aged, it can be expected that his runners too will benefit with age.

He had four juvenile winners in his first crop last year, including the promising André Fabre-trained Birr Castle and the William Haggas runner Laafi, and already two of that initial crop have won for the first time in 2023.

Considering that he was the champion older horse in France at four, when he won the Group 1 Prix Ganay, that he won five other group races and that he was twice placed in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the fee of €7,000 that Darley is asking for Cloth Of Stars still remains good value. He has an outstanding pedigree, is one of the best sons of champion Sea The Stars (Cape Cross), and he is very closely related to European champion Ulysses (Galileo), as they are by half-brothers out of own-sisters.

One of the best juveniles in France, Cloth Of Stars’ two wins included the Group 3 Prix des Chenes, as well as finishing second in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. At three he carried off the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe and Group 3 Prix La Force, both over 10 furlongs at Saint-Cloud, and was third in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris.

Improving all the time, Cloth Of Stars was assessed as the second best older horse in Europe on 125 at four, only 1lb below Ulysses, with Ribchester on 124 and Highland Reel on 123. That year he defeated Zarak in the Group 1 Prix Ganay, besides winning the Group 2 Prix d’Harcourt and the Group 3 Prix Exbury. He was second to Enable in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with Ulysses third.

Proving his soundness and durability by racing in the top tier for a fourth season in 2018, Cloth The Stars again found Enable too good for him in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, while he was third to Hawkbill in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic and to Cracksman in the Group 1 Prix Ganay. He ended his racing career with earnings of £2.525 million.

Sea The Stars, the sire of Cloth Of Stars, won six consecutive Group 1 races at three, including the 2000 Guineas, Derby and the Arc de Triomphe. He has gone on to become an equally successful sire, and his sons include Baaeed, Crystal Ocean, Zelzal, Sea The Moon (a Group 1 sire), and Harzand, who achieved the Epsom and Irish Derby double.

The dam of Cloth Of Stars is Strawberry Fledge, a daughter of Kingmambo (Mr Prospector), and own-sister to Epsom Oaks heroine Light Shift, the dam of Ulysses, and the champion older horse in Europe in 2017 after scoring in the Group 1 Juddmonte International and the Group 1 Coral Eclipse Stakes.

Last year’s yearlings by Cloth Of Stars included a trio of six-figure lots, and they averaged more than his first crop. Trainers are putting their faith in his stock.

CLOTH OF STARS (IRE). Champion older horse in Europe in 2017 (11-13f.). Champion older horse in France in 2017. Won seven races, £2,525,001, from 1 mile to 1 mile 2½ furlongs, 2 to 4 years including, Prix Ganay, Saint-Cloud, Gr.1, Prix Greffulhe, Saint-Cloud, Gr.2, Prix d’Harcourt, Chantilly, Gr.2, Prix Exbury, Saint-Cloud, Gr.3, Prix La Force - Figaroscope, Saint-Cloud, Gr.3, Prix des Chenes, Longchamp, Gr.3, also placed second in Criterium de Saint-Cloud, Saint-Cloud, Gr.1, Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Chantilly, Gr.1, Qatar Prix Foy, Chantilly, Gr.2, and third in Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, Saint-Cloud, Gr.1, Longines Dubai Sheema Classic, Meydan, Gr.1, P.Ganay L’Inauguration de Parislongchamp, Parislongchamp, Gr.1, Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Parislongchamp, Gr.1, Qatar Prix Foy, Parislongchamp, Gr.2, Prix de Conde, Chantilly, Gr.3.

Retired to Stud in 2019, and sire of the winners of 7 races, and £127,841.

Stands at: Haras du Logis, Louvieres en Auge, 61160 Trun, France.

Contact: Sam Bullard, Julian Ince or Antonin Pelsy

Telephone: +33 233 362120

Email: enquiries@godolphin.com

Web: www.darleystallions.com

Fee: €7,000