Darley gains interest in Animal Kingdom

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Lexington, KY (Sports Network) - A minority interest in Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom has been acquired by Darley Racing which will stand the 5-year-old at stud in the Northern Hemisphere at Darley's Jonabell Farm.

"Animal Kingdom is outstanding. Not only is he immensely talented," Darley's COO Oliver Tait said, "he has shown a rare ability to excel on turf, synthetic and dirt and win at a range of distances up to the mile and a quarter of the Kentucky Derby and the Dubai World Cup. His win at Meydan last Saturday was all class."

The 29 percent interest in the 2011 Kentucky Derby champ was acquired from the horse's current owners, Arrowfield Stud and Team Valor International. Animal Kingdom will stand as a stallion in the Southern Hemisphere at Arrowfield Stud in Australia.

"We are delighted to partner with Darley in the ownership of Animal Kingdom and management of his future international stud career," Arrowfield's Chairman John Messara said. "We have always had a great working relationship with Darley and have the utmost respect for HH Sheikh Mohammed and the Darley management team. With our unprecedented combined support Animal Kingdom will have every opportunity to develop from a champion racehorse into a champion sire."

Trained by Graham Motion, Animal Kingdom got a masterful ride by Joel Rosario in the 1 1/4-mile Dubai World Cup. The horse pressed the pace being set by champion mare Royal Delta and swept past her coming off the final turn and went on to post a two-length victory.

In 11 career starts Animal Kingdom has been first five times and second in an equal number of races for $8,387,500.

He is scheduled to race in England before retiring to stud.