His son Conduit wins Eclipse Award for Best Turf Male. Conduit became a member of an elite band of European winners of a prestigious Eclipse Award earlier this week as voters from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and National Turf Writers Association chose the son of Dalakhani as the best male seen on American turf in 2008. The Breeders’ Cup Turf hero was an easy winner of this division, gaining 175 votes ahead of second-placed Einstein with 31.

Conduit’s accolade is all the more impressive as he only raced once on American soil, travelling to Santa Anita following his Classic domination of Doncaster’s St Leger. The colt remains in training in 2009 and his owner/breeders Ballymacoll Stud are already planning an even bigger Group 1 double with a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on the agenda before a defence of his Breeders’ Cup title.

This Eclipse Award caps an exceptional season for the Gilltown Stud sire Dalakhani. In addition to Conduit, his first crop of three-year-olds featured another Classic scorer in Irish Oaks winner Moonstone as well as Centennial, Démocrate, Shemima and Shreyas, all successful in Group contests. With a winners/runners strike rate of 49%, Dalakhani was the leading second crop stallion in Europe in 2008. The Arc-winning son of Darshaan already has a full book for the forthcoming season.

Updated on 02/02/2009