Helmet's First Stakes Winner Completes Big Week for Darley New Boys

Back in 2011 Darley swept all five Group1 two-year-olds' races held in Australia.

The then retained trainer Peter Snowden and stable jockey Kerrin McEvoy teamed up with Sepoy the Blue Diamond and the Golden Slipper, Helmet took in the AJC Sires Produces and the Champagne Stakes and Benfica in the TJ Smith Stakes.

All three retired to stud in the same year and have their first crop racing this season.

All three made a slow start but what a week they have enjoyed.

Lonhro's Group I winning son Benfica broke the ice with the Cameron Crockett-trained Barbass in the $100,000 Scone Inglis 2YO Challenge then had his second winner on Thursday when Prince Mouritz won over 1200 metres won at Pinjarra.

That was just the appetizer for the champion Sepoy to claim his first Sydney metro winner on Saturday when Godolphin's Chipanda captured the Les Carlyon AC Plate 2YO (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens. (photo Steve Hart)

Making her first start since being stakes-placed in the Group III Widden Stakes back in January, the John O'Shea-trained filly did it in style under Brenton Avdulla to defeat the highly regarded Snitzel colt Legerity by a half-length with the filly Argie Bargie, also by Snitzel, two and a quarter lengths back in third.

Out of the Anabaa mare Lobola, Chipanda is a half-sister to stakes-winners Handfast (Street Cry) and Rusambo (Elusive Quality) and the stakes-placed Engagement (Street Cry).

It was a timely win for the Sepoy filly as Godolphin will consign a half-sister, the Sydney winning Commands mare Wedding, to the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. She was covered by Lonhro.

Not long after Chipanda's win, Godolphin struck again with the Helmet colt Archives in the $100,000 Listed Hampden Stakes (1200m) at Doomben.

It earned him the honour of becoming the first Australian winner and first stakes winner for Exceed And Excel's son Helmet.

Archives form has ties to that of Chipanda as the Helmet colt was an unlucky third behind Legerity when making his career debut at Rosehill on May 7.

Ridden by James McDonald, Archives defeated the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Jericho (Smart Missile) by a head with Hawkes Racing's Redouble (Redoute's Choice) was a further 1-1/2 lengths back in third.

Godolphin spokesman Henry Plumptre said the stable had a high opinion of Archives.

"He is a big horse who will be improved. He got into trouble at his first run and deserved to win today," Plumptre said.

"I think you will see a very good horse in the spring."

Trainer John O'Shea said he would consider putting in a late nomination for the Group I JJ Atkins on June 11 but another option was the Phoenix Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 4.

A three-quarter brother to Group III Kindergarten Stakes and Group III Vain Stakes winner Safeguard and a half-brother to the stakes-placed Shaumari (Medagia d'Oro), Archives is the ninth winner from as many to race out of the Group 1 VRC Sires Produce Stakes winner Preserve.

A sister to stakes-winner Rio Osa and a half-sister to Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes winner Denman, Preserve died last December but has one more foal, a colt by Exceed And Excel.