The world’s best miler in 2024, glorious grey stallion Charyn (IRE) is bringing the Dark Angel sireline to New Zealand this spring and judging by the Australian experience with this bloodline Kiwi broodmare owners are entitled to be feeling more than a little excited.
When Darley elected to shuttle dual Group I winning Dark Angel stallion Harry Angel (IRE) to Australia for the first time in 2019 he arrived at a fee of $22,000.
Here we are seven years later and Harry Angel is back this spring at a fee of $88,000 having proven wildly successful in Australia where he has sired Group I winners Tom Kitten, War Machine and Private Harry, who is also now at stud.
All of the progeny to race so far for Harry Angel have been conceived at a very modest fee and that unique ability to upgrade mares is one of the hallmarks of Dark Angel and his sire in turn Acclamation, best known for giving us the highest earning racehorse the world has ever seen in Romantic Warrior (IRE).
The best breeders in New Zealand have been welcomed at Cambridge Stud in recent weeks to inspect Charyn, so what are they thinking?
Leon Casey, Pencarrow Stud - Sir Peter has already bred to Charyn in the Northern Hemisphere, so we were very pleased to hear he was coming to New Zealand. When I saw him myself, I could see why he was so popular in Europe. I think it also gives you confidence knowing you are breeding to a mature horse that is fertile.
Physically, he’s got great presence, good bone and is well muscled. I like that he is a close-coupled horse, and I think he will be a really good match for most New Zealand mares.
Mark Baker, Hallmark Stud - What struck me most was his walk; what a mover. He’s a lovely type and, physically, he’s going to be very easy to mate. He should suit a wide range of mares. And if he stamps his stock, just imagine presenting yearlings like him at the sales.
Gordon Cunningham, Curraghmore - As you’d expect of such an elite racehorse, it was no surprise to me that Charyn is a very good looking horse, with great strength and lovely movement. I sense he will stamp his progeny.
Being a son of Dark Angel and with his bloodlines appeal, we’re looking forward to breeding a number of mares at Curraghmore we feel will suit him.
Dean Hawkins, Wentwood Grange - Charyn made a really strong impression on us. He's a lovely type with a great walk, plenty of size and strength and huge depth through the girth. Physically, he has a lot of presence and looks every bit the high-class racehorse he was.
When you put that together with his race record and his pedigree, he's a very exciting addition to the New Zealand stallion ranks. We were particularly impressed seeing him in the flesh, and he's certainly a horse we'll be supporting this season.
A Group II winner at 1200m at two, Charyn improved again at three and peaked at four to win three of Europe’s best G1 mile events. He stands at a fee of $35,000.
