TWO multiple Group 1 winners are set to join Darley’s European roster next season in the top-class Australian colts Sepoy and Helmet.

Sepoy has been slated to stand at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket while Helmet will take up residence at Kildangan Stud in Ireland.

Both are currently standing their first seasons for Darley in Australia: Sepoy is based at Darley’s Kelvinside base and stands for A$66,000 (£42,435/€53,094) and Helmet stands for A$33,000 (£21,216/€26,547) at Northwood Park.

Sepoy ended his juvenile year as the highest-rated Australian two-year-old colt in 35 years thanks to a glittering season for Peter Snowden in which he landed the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes by four-and-a-quarter lengths in a quick time and the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes.

The son of Elusive Quality returned at three to become the first Golden Slipper winner in 30 years to defeat older rivals in a Group 1 sprint, the Manikato Stakes, and later sealed his position as a champion sprinter by taking the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. In all, he won ten of 14 starts.

Bred by Sheikh Mohammed, Sepoy is out of Watchful, a placed Danehill sister to the Group 1 winner and producer, Camarena. Further back, it is the family of successful Australian sire Canny Lad.

“Sepoy was the best two-year-old Australia had seen for twenty years and he was the world champion three-year-old sprinter,” said Sam Bullard, Darley’s director of stallions.

“He is the most popular stallion on our roster in Australia this year where he stands at a fee of AUD$66,000. We already stand Raven’s Pass, another son of Elusive Quality, and it’s a sireline that is excelling in Europe.”

On shuttling Australian-raced stallions to Europe, Bullard said: “Exceed And Excel has been a great success in Europe and standing Australia’s elite is an opportunity that we are very fortunate to be able to offer our clients in the northern hemisphere.”

Helmet, another Darley homebred, was also a top-class two-year-old, winning the Group 1 Sires’ Produce Stakes over 7f and Group 1 Champagne Stakes over a mile.

The son of Exceed And Excel trained on at three to take the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas in a new record time. He retired as the winner of six of 14 starts.

The best two-year-old by his sire, Helmet boasts a fine European pedigree. He is out of the Irish-bred Singspiel mare Accessories, also the dam of recent Group 1 winner Epaulette, and from the notable Anna Paola family which is responsible for Group 1 performers such as Anna Salai, Ave and Annus Mirabilis.

Mick Buckley, Darley’s Nominations Manager in Ireland said: “Had it not been for Sepoy, Helmet would have been the champion two-year-old. He won two Group One’s at two, was a Guineas winner at three, is gorgeous looking and will suit European breeders down to the ground.”

Fees for the pair will be set at a later date.

Racingpost