Daylami

One of the greatest British racehorses in recent years.In his 4th season in flat racing his exploits were truly phenomenal. Daylami is the best grey European racehorse in the last two decades.

His pedigree is Northern Dancer free.His sire is Doyoun by Mill Reef, also sire of Margarula (Irish Oaks Stakes -Gr.1), Kalanisi (Breeders' Cup Turf -Gr.1, Champion Stakes -Gr.1, second in the Coral Eclipse Stakes -Gr.1, Prince of Wales's Stakes -Gr.1 and Juddmonte International Stakes -Gr.1), Manndar (Manhattan Handicap -Gr.1, Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes -Gr.1, second in the Hollywood Derby -Gr.1 and Arlington Million -Gr.1), Manntari (National Stakes -Gr.1), Takarian ( twice American Handicap -Gr.2, Meld Stakes -Gr.3) , Dalara (Prix de Royallieu -Gr.2, third in the Royal Oak -Gr.1), etc...

His mother, Daltawa, won the Prix Ronde de Nuit (Listed) and finished second in the Prix Penelope (Gr.3).Dam of four winners including Daylami, Daymarti (Grand Prix Anjou Bretagne -Listed, second in the Prix Lupin -Gr.1, third in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud -Gr.1), and Dalakhani (Criterium International -Gr.1, Prix des Chenes -Gr.3, Prix du Pre d'Auge Inedits).

At 2 years, Daylami made his debut in the Prix de la Cascade in an 8 furlong race at Longchamp. He went on to Every and finished 2nd in a race at St.Cloud.

In 1997, in his 3-year-old career, he defeated Loup Sauvage in the Prix de Fontainbleue (Gr.3) by 2 legths, and three weeks later, Daylami repeated his performance in the Dubai Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Gr.1), the French 2000 Guineas again beating Loup Sauvage.

After the race, Maktoum purchased him.Saeed Bin Suroor now trained him and the colt ran 3rd to Starborough in the St.James's Palace Stakes (Gr.1). After of this race, he finished second to Spinning World in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard-Jacques Le Marois (Gr.1) and third in the Emirates Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Gr.1), race won by Spinning World, too.

In the next year, 1998, Daylami won his first race in the season, the Taterstalls Gold Cup (Gr.2) in most convincing fashion. Now his trainer felt he was good material for the Eclipse Stakes.

Subsequently, he was defeated in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (Gr.2), where he was beaten into third place by 2 necks by Faithful Son, however in the Coral Eclipse Stakes (Gr.1), he avenged his defeat, and he won by 1/2 length, then ran a disappointing 4th in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Gr.1), finishing 4th to Swain.

Daylami crossed the border to run in the Man O’War Stakes (Gr.1) on September 6th, at Belmont Park. Arrived in Newark Airport via Fedex flight from the Uk and he achieved a great win. Halfway down the straight, he exploded like a dynamite to score a spectacular victory. His final burst was simply electrifying, like a missile fired. Daylami returned to England to finish 3rd to Alborada in the Dubai Champion Stakes (Gr.1), Newmarket. He traveled to America for the Breeders Cup but was withdrawn as he had lost his condition because of the tiresome journey.

In 1999, Daylami had a disappointing start in the Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) where he finished unplaced behind Almutawakel. He returned to England for the Tatterstalls Gold Cup (Gr.1) but was beaten by Henry Cecil's Shiva, however Daylami avenged his defeats in the Vodafone Coronation Cup (Gr.1), Epsom. He out ran Royal Anthem giving a most gutsy display.Dream Well finished 3rd and Silver Patriarch finished 4th. The slow pace of the race played an invaluable role in Daylami's win. Early in the straight, Royal Anthem hit the front but in the final furlong, Daylami showing his vast reserves of energy swept away from Royal Anthem.

In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Gr.1), Ascot, Daylami gave a truly spectacular performance. A furlong and a half from home, he took the lead from Nedawi and cruised away like a missile to win by 5 lengths. Seven worthy opponents were simply devoured like enemy soldiers returning from a battlefield after facing a humiliating defeat in a battle. Daylami was a true king that day.

He went on to clinch the ESAT Digifone Irish Champion Stakes (Gr.1) displaying his usual electrifying turn of foot. In that race, Daylami romped home by 9 and a half-lengths from Dazzling Park and Dream Well.

In the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr.1), Daylami was simply not himself finishing 9th. Continuous rain had affected the ground making the going too heavy. The unfavourable, terrible racing conditions went against Daylami.

The grey colt ended his career in spectacular fashion in the Breeders Cup Turf (Gr.1) at Gulfstream Park, Florida. The memories of Swain's defeat a year before were erased.A couple of furlongs from home, the grey swooped away like an eagle to win the title. In a most emotional gesture, jockey Lanfranco Dettori stood up in the saddle and gave a victory salute. In perfect track conditions, he ended his career with a pinnacle of glory.

In direct contrast to the 1998 Classic, Dettori's ride was textbook.Saving ground after breaking from post 3 in the 1 1/2-mile Turf, Daylami raced in mid-pack before gradually improving his position. With a half-mile to run, he still had several lengths to make up on front-running Buck's Boy, but Dettori said he strongly felt that he was on the winner.

He could not have been more correct.Daylami angled out for the drive and powered to a 2 1/2-length score over Royal Anthem, who always had a good stalking position under Gary Stevens but could not match Daylami late.Buck's Boy, the 1998 Turf winner, finished third, another two lengths back in the field of 14, while Yagli was fourth.

Saeed bin Suroor, the private trainer for Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum's Godolphin, said the stable has been trying "for five years to win a Breeders' Cup race. This is like a dream."

He was so good in 1999 that he was named European Horse of the Year over the brilliant 3-year-old Montjeu. Then, he crossed the Atlantic and humbled all comers with a powerful victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf (Gr.1), leaving little doubt that he was the best turf runner in the world in 1999.

However, the Breeders' Cup Turf (Gr.1) was the only one race of Daylami in the United States, voters understandably tend to frown on a one race USA campaign, though he simply could not be ignored in what was otherwise a weak turf male division in 1999. To give Horse of the Year to a foreign-based horse after only one race in the United States - especially since that race was on grass- was too much to ask. Voters of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association did cast their support towards Daylami (Ire), but the voters from the Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers Association went with Charismatic. Daylami was named The Best Male on Turf of 1999.

Daylami was retired to the Gilltown Stud in Ireland. In 21 starts he had won 11 times, was 2nd three times and 3rd four times. Daylami was awarded a rating of 138 by Timeform (statistically on par with Alleged and Troy) and 137 by Racing Post.

He compared favourably with the greats of the 90’s like Montjeu, Generous, etc...In the decade of the 90's, he was the second best rated English Racehorse.Personally, I agree with his being placed in the club of truly great horses.

The spectacular turn of foot of this grey tornado displayed in the Champion Stakes, King George and Breeders Cup will be etched in the memories of racegoers. They were the performances of a true racing legend.

"Even more striking than his versatility were his toughness, consistency, enthusiasm and ultimately, his quality.Instead of the Emirates World Series finding a horse worthy of it, it is much nearer the truth to say that Daylami found a title which was worthy of him. Daylami was a racehorse who deserved almost any plaudit", Timeform Racehorses of 1999

Daylami 1994	Doyoun	Mill Reef	Never Bend
			Milan Mill
		Dumka	Kashmir II
			Faizebad
	Daltawa	Miswaki	Mr Prospector
			Hopespringseternal
		Damana	Crystal Palace
			Denia