The rise of Dark Angel (by Acclamation) to become a leading European sire has been something of a surprise and he already has a string of sons who at stud. Those include Group 1 star Lethal Force, the pattern scorers Alhebayeb and Heeraat, and Group 1-placed Tough As Nails, each of whom has sired winners, although without getting anything of note, yet.

Markaz is among those at earlier stages of their career and the young Derrinstown Stud team member has 74 registered foals in his first crop. In addition to having the considerable attraction of being a full-brother to the Timeform 130-rated dual Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Mecca's Angel, he has the distinction of having been a notably talented performer in his own right, a dual Group 2-placed six and seven-furlong pattern winner.

He was a pattern-placed winner as a juvenile and at three he won the Group 3 Criterion Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket, was beaten by less than three lengths when fourth to Adaay in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock, and chased home Limato in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster.

At four, he won the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes over six furlongs on the tapeta at Newcastle, he was fourth to Richard Pankhurst in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes over seven at Newbury, and was a three-quarter length runner-up to Donnerschlag in the Group 2 Goldene Peitsche over six at Baden-Baden on what was to be his final start. He was awarded that race in the stewards' room, but that decision was later reversed on appeal.

A good-looking horse who made £200,000 in Doncaster as a yearling, Markaz is out of the prolific sprint winner Folga (by Atraf), a daughter of the pattern-winning sprinter Desert Dawn (by Belfort), whose offspring also include the listed scorer Desert Kaya (by Bikala). The next dam is a four-times winner called Cast Pearls (by Cutlass).​

This is a weak family for a prospective stallion, but his talent (Timeform-rated 121), and that of his brilliant sister, combined with being a son of the hugely popular Dark Angel and having got good-sized books in his first two seasons, make him an interesting member of the ranks. He looks like a potential source of sprinters and milers.

MARKAZ (IRE) – gr.2012 – Dark Angel – Folga, 3 wins inc Criterion Stakes (Gr3), Chipchase Stakes (Gr3), 2nd Goldene Peitsche (Gr2), Park Stakes (Gr2), Somerville Tattersall Stakes (Gr3), 3rd King Charles II Stakes (L), Spring Trophy Stakes (L). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018.

FOALS CATALOGUED:
Bf - All Fur Coat (by Multiplex)     Tattersalls     November     not sold
Grc - Am I (by Thunder Gulch)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Arianrhod (by Duke Of Marmalade)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Balladiene (by Noverre)     Tattersalls     November     25,000gns
Grf - Blue Ciel (by Oasis Dream)     Goffs     November     €11,000
Bf - Boston Ivy (by Mark Of Esteem)     Tatts IRE     November     not sold
Grc - Bunditten (by Soviet Star)     Tattersalls     November     60,000gns
Grc - Cape Joy (by Cape Cross)     Tattersalls     November     40,000gns
Bl/grf - Carsulae (by Marju)     Tattersalls     November     10,000gns
Grf - Cesca (by Fastnet Rock)     Tattersalls     December     not sold
Brf - Counter Ridge (by Tiger Ridge)     Goffs     November     €6,000 (p/s)
Grc - Elegant Peace (by Intense Focus)     Goffs     November     €6,000
Bf - Estonia (by Exceed And Excel)     Tattersalls     November     24,000gns
Grf - Flame Of Ireland (by Fasliyev)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bf - Goldthroat (by Zafonic)     Goffs     November     not sold
B/brc - Green Chorus (by Oratorio)     Tattersalls     November     25,000gns
Brc - Heartstrings (by Invincible Spirit)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Grc - Hollybrowne (by Holy Roman Emperor)     Goffs     November     €16,000
Grc - Hurricane Irene (by Green Desert)     Goffs     November     €6,000
Br/grc - Indian Belle (by Indian Ridge)     Goffs     November     €7,500
Bc - Isolde’s Return (by Avonbridge)     Goffs     November     not sold
Grc - Jealous Beauty (by Lawman)     Goffs     November     €11,000
Grf - Kristal Xenia (by Xaar)     Goffs     November     €17,000
Bf - Lucky Date (by Halling)     Goffs     November     €1,500
Grc - Luxuria (by Kheyelf)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Music Pearl (by Oratorio)     Tattersalls     November     14,000gns
Brc - On The Dark Side (by Kheleyf)     Tattersalls     December     6,000gns
Bf - Oriental Melody (by Sakhee)     Goffs     November     not sold
Grf - Perruche Grise (by Mark Of Esteem)     Goffs     November     not sold
Grf - Petite Cherie (by Fasliyev)     Goffs     November     not sold
Grf - Red Fuschia (by Polish Precedent)     Goffs     November     €3,500
Bf - Rien Ne Vas Plus (by Oasis Dream)     Goffs     November     €8,000 (p/s)
Grc - Rockabout (by Rock Of Gibraltar)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bf - Rockrunner (by Duke Of Marmalade)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bc - Saxum (by Whipper)     Tatts IRE     November     €10,000
Grc - Sayrah (by Sakhee)     Goffs     November     €4,800
Bf - Seeking Dubai (by Dubawi)     Goffs     November     €1,200
Bf - Spirit Of Alsace (by Invincible Spirit)     Tatts IRE     November     not sold
Grc - St Athan (by Authorized)     Tattersalls     November     not sold
Bf - Star Kodiak (by Kodiac)     Tattersalls     December     2,500gns
Bf - Sweet Sioux (by Halling)     Goffs     November     not sold
Grc - Tooley Woods (by Cape Cross)     Goffs     November     €26,000
Bf - Vera Lilley (by Verglas)     Goffs     November     not sold
Grc - Whisper Dance (by Stravinsky)     Goffs     November     ​€65,000

A late addition to the list of new sires for 2017, former leading juvenile Estidhkaar is to join the team at Tara Stud in Co Meath.

A high-class son of leading sire Dark Angel (by Acclamation), Estidhkaar stands at Tara Stud in Ireland and has 92 registered foals in his first crop – a striking contrast to the fortunes of his more talented half-brother, Toormore (by Arakan).

The Group 1-winning juvenile champion went on to become a Group 1-placed, Group 2-winning miler, he to retire to Dalham Hall Stud, but was withdrawn from the roster before the season began, reportedly through lack of interest. He returned to training last year, was later gelded, and died this year at the age of seven.

Estidhkaar, on the other hand,  won an extended six-furlong maiden at Newbury in mid-June of his two-year-old season, added the Group 2 Superlative Stakes over seven at Newmarket and the Group 2 Champagne Stakes over that trip at Doncaster, and then finished fourth to Belardo in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, beaten five lengths.

He was beaten by just a neck when runner-up to the subsequent sprint champion Muhaarar in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes on his seasonal reappearance at three but then ran unplaced behind Gleneagles in the Group 1 2000 Guineas and behind Esoterique in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois, before being off the track for 14 months.

When he returned, he ran just twice, finishing as runner-up to Crazy Horse in a seven furlong conditions event at Salisbury and then beating Kool Kompany by a neck in the Listed Ben Marshall Stakes over a mile on fast ground at Newmarket.

He is out of the unraced mare Danetime Out (by Danetime), who is a half-sister to the Group 3-placed Easaar (by Machiavellian), and their grandam, Matila (by Persian Bold), is a winning daughter of the Group 3 Curragh Stakes winner Peace Girl (by Dominion).

That mare, who was the joint champion juvenile filly in Ireland in 1987, is the grandam of the Group 3 Jockey Club Cup scorer Hawridge Prince (by Polar Falcon), of Listed Heron Stakes winner Hero's Journey (by Halling) and of several who have been blacktype placed, and she was a half-sister to the Group 3 Norfolk Stakes runner-up and prolific winner Runaway (by Godswalk).​

There are other talented horses to be found in the family, including the Group 2-placed stakes-winning juvenile Pool Music (by Forzando), Grade 2-winning miler Mr Napper Tandy (by Bahamian Bounty), Group 2 winner and Group 1 Champion Stakes runner-up Insatiable (by Don't Forget Me), and Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Seazun (by Zieten), but those horses are remotely connected to Estidhkaar.

This is a weak distaff line for a prospective stallion, but Estidkhaar has been popular and has 92 registered foals in his first crop. His best are likely to be effective at anywhere from five to 10 furlongs.

ESTIDHKAAR (IRE) – b.2012 – Dark Angel – Danetime Out, 4 wins inc Champagne Stakes (Gr2), Superlative Stakes (Gr2), Ben Marshall Stakes (L), 2nd Greenham Stakes (Gr3). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018.​

FOALS CATALOGUED:
Bc - Al Gharrafa (by Dutch Art)     Goffs     November     €8,500
Bc - Alnawiyah (by Dalakhani)     Goffs     November     €9,000
Bf - Bellacoola (by Lomitas)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Blue Marmalade (by Duke Of Marmalade)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Bobbie’s Girl (by Big Bad Bob)     Tattersalls     November     2,000gns
Bf - Bold Arial (by Authorized)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bf - Can Dance (by Manduro)     Tatts IRE     November     not sold
Bc - Carafe (by Selkirk)     Goffs     November     €5,500
Bc - Contemplate (by Compton Place)     Goffs     November     €3,500
Bc - Crystalline Stream (by Polish Precedent)     Tatts IRE     November     not sold
Bc - Cumbfree (by Footstepsinthesand)     Goffs     November     €32,000
Bc - Deal (by Invincible Spirit)     Goffs     November     €19,000
Bf - Deora De (by Night Shift)     Goffs     November     €7,000
Bf - Desert Riches (by Desert Style)     Goffs     November     €4,000
Bc - Eleganza (by Balmont)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Brf - Expedience (by With Approval)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bc - Generous Gesture (by Fasliyev)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Hallbeck (by Halling)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bc - Hot Property (by Thunder Gulch)     Tattersalls     November     not sold
Bf - How Sweet It Is (by Kodiac)     Tattersalls     November     1,000gns
Bc - Illuminise (by Grand Lodge)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Jayarbee (by Prince Sabo)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bf - Kerdana (by Sinndar)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Kill With A Smile (by Tiger Hill)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Like Me (by Duke Of Marmalade)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bf - Little Oz (by Red Ransom)     Tattersalls     November     4,000gns
Bc - Luvmedo (by One Cool Cat)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Maggie The Cat (by Fasliyev)     Goffs     November     €7,000
Bf - Mary Pekan (by Sri Pekan)     Tattersalls     December     not sold
Bf - Maughami (by Manduro)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Miss Odlum (by Mtoto)     Goffs     November     €2,200
Bc - Mokama (by Motivator)     Goffs     November     €10,000 (p/s)
Bc - Out Of Time (by Anabaa)     Goffs     November     €100,000
Bc - Pescia (by Darshaan)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Poker Hospital (by Rock Of Gibraltar)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bc - Primula (by Dansili)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bc - Quelle Histoire (by Whipper)     Goffs     November     €6,500
Bc - Rocking Horse (by Rock Of Gibraltar)     Goffs     November     €4,000 (p/s)
Bf - Sahaayef (by Mawatheeq)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bf - Shalabina (by Nayef)     Goffs     November     €3,800
Bf - Singitta (by Singspiel)     Tattersalls     November     11,000gns
Bc - Skeleton (by Tobougg)     Tattersalls     November     80,000gns
Bf - Surrey Pink (by Kyllachy)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Brf - Swordfishtrombones (by Jeremy)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Veladiya (by Zamindar)     Tatts IRE     November     withdrawn
Bc - Via Ballycroy (by Lawman)     Goffs     November     €64,000
Brc - Westerly Air (by Gone West)     Tattersalls     November     5,000gns
Bc - Yasmin Satine (by Key Of Luck)     Tatts IRE     November     €8,000
Bf - Zoola (by Iffraaj)     Goffs     November     ​withdrawn

Dark Angel (by Acclamation) has been a surprise hit at stud and there are already several stallion sons among his 34 individual stakes winners. Group 1 star Lethal Force and Group 1-placed Tough As Nails have yearlings, Group 2 winner Alhebayeb has foals, Gutaifan was one of the most popular new sires of 2016, and Markaz will begin his career at Derrinstown Stud in the spring.

The roll of honour also includes the pattern-winning sprinter Heeraat, a Mickley Stud stallion who covered 97 mares in his first season and has a selection of foals on offer in the coming weeks. He won once from three starts at two, two from eight at three, got his Group 3 win at four and earned a Timeform rating of 118.

Heeraat is a half-brother to the Listed Dragon Stakes winner and Group 3 Molecomb Stakes third Ambiance (by Camacho) and his dam, Thawrah (by Green Desert), is an unraced half-sister to the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Malhub (by Kingmambo), a blacktype sire in South Africa, and to the US Grade 3 scorer Dhaamer (by Dubai Destination).

Thawrah's siblings also include her full-sister Nebraas and what makes that one notable is that she is the dam of the dual Group 3 scorer Yellow Rosebud (by Jeremy), of pattern-placed stakes winner Seeharn (by Pivotal), and of this year's stakes-placed two-year-old Megan Lily (by Dragon Pulse).

Arjuzah (by Ahonoora), who won the Listed Sceptre Stakes and finished third in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes, is the grandam of Heeraat and this half-sister to listed scorer Ormsby (by Ela-Mana-Mou) was a full-sister to Missing You, the stakes-placed grandam of the juvenile stakes winners Dubai Dynamo (by Kyllachy) and Sadeek (by Kyllachy).

If you go back to the fourth generation of the family then you will find branches that lead to the Group/Grade 1 winners Mourjane (by Pitskelly), Anka Germania (by Malinowski), Deputy Commander (by Deputy Minister), and Sudirman (by Henrythenavigator), along with a string of other stakes and pattern winners who including the Group 1-placed sprinter and successful sire Dandy Man (by Mozart).

The relationship of those horses to Heeraat is remote, but as a talented Dark Angel horse who has Green Desert as a broodmare sire and a leading sprinter among his close relations, he has the potential to sire some talented sprinters and milers.

HEERAAT (IRE) – b.2009 – Dark Angel – Thawrah, 5 wins inc Hackwood Stakes (Gr3), 2nd Hackwood Stakes (Gr3), City Walls Stakes (L). Sire in England. First foals in 2016.

FOALS CATALOGUED (updated)
bf – Alucica (by Celtic Swing)     Goffs     Nov     €5,000
bf – Black Baccara (by Superior Premium)     Tattersalls     Nov     not sold
bc – Contenance (by Dansant)     Goffs     Nov     €11,500
bc – Emperatriz (by Holy Roman Emperor)     Tattersalls     Nov     withdrawn
bc – First Rains (by Green Desert)     Tattersalls IRE     Nov     withdrawn
bf – Fortunately (by Forzando)     Goffs     Nov     €5,000
bc – Future Regime (by Xaar)     Goffs     Nov     not sold
bc – Lady Caprice (by Kyllachy)     Goffs     Nov     €16,500
bc – Lexington Rose (by Captain Gerrard)     Tattersalls IRE     Nov     €25,000
bf – Matron (by Bahamian Bounty)     Tattersalls     Nov     3,000gns
bc – Mimi Mouse (by Diktat)     Tattersalls     Nov     8,000gns
bf – Molly Marie (by Fasliyev)     Tattersalls     Nov     not sold
bc – Nut (by Fasliyev)     Tattersalls     Nov     3,000gns
bc – Obsessive Secret (by Grand Lodge)     Tattersalls     Nov     20,000gns
bf – Otrooha (by Oasis Dream)     Goffs     Nov     €12,500
bc – Piranha (by Exceed And Excel)     Tattersalls     Nov     38,000gns
bc – Plead (by Bering)     Tattersalls     Nov     not sold
bc – Princess of Rock (by Rock of Gibraltar)     Goffs     Nov     €12,500
bf – Radio Gaga (by Multiplex)     Tattersalls     Nov     withdrawn
bc – Ringtail (by Street Cry)     Goffs     Nov     €17,000
bf – Saona Island (by Bahamian Bounty)     Tattersalls     Nov     not sold
bf – Sopran Cross (by Cape Cross)     Tattersalls IRE     Nov     €10,000
bc – Sound of Life (by Cape Cross)     Goffs     Nov     €6,500
bf – Spiritual Healing (by Invincible Spirit)     Tattersalls     Nov     not sold
b/brc – Tomintoul Magic (by Holy Roman Emperor)     Goffs     Nov     €20,000
bc – Virtuality (by Elusive Quality)     Tattersalls     Nov     30,000gns

A precocious and high-class juvenile who was stakes-placed over a mile at three and beaten by a neck in a handicap over that same trip at Meydan on his final outing at four, Alhebayeb is a son of leading sire Dark Angel (by Acclamation), he stands at Tara Stud in Co Meath, and he covered 161 mares in his first season.

He is one of seven winners out of a placed mare called Miss Indigo (by Indian Ridge), his siblings include the pattern-placed stakes-winning sprinter Humidor (by Camacho), and although this might create an impression that staying a mile may have been a little further than expected, that would not be the case.

His grandam, Monaiya, is a daughter of the Group 1 Irish Derby hero Shareef Dancer (by Northern Dancer) and her offspring feature Musetta (by Cadeaux Genereux), the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes winner who was Group 3-placed at 10 furlongs and third in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes. This always made it likely that the colt would get a mile.

Monaiya is a half-sister to the mile Grade 1-placed, seven-furlong Grade 2 scorer Vanderlin (by Halling) and her dam, Massorah (by Habitat), who won the Group 3 Premio Omenoni, was the top-rated three-year-old sprinter in Italy in 1983.​

There is nothing in the first few generations to give us any indication of how he might do as a stallion, but his pedigree and racing profile suggest that although some of his progeny may be precocious sorts, some will be improve with time, some will be milers, and given the broodmare sires of some of his initial crop, it is also possible that Alhebayeb will get some who stay 10 furlongs.
​
ALHEBAYEB (IRE) – gr.2010 – Dark Angel – Miss Indigo, 2 wins inc July Stakes (Gr2), 2nd Horris Hill Stakes (Gr3), Windsor Castle Stakes (L), 3rd Stubbs Stakes (L). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2016.

​FOALS CATALOGUED (updated)
grc – Abhasana (by Hawk Wing)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
bc – Al Amlah (by Riverman)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
grc – Alnawiyah (by Dalakhani)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
bc – America Alone (by Dalakhani)     Goffs     Nov    €43,000
bc – Azia (by Desert Story)     Goffs     Nov    withdrawn
grc – Beyond The Sea (by Fasliyev)     Goffs     Nov    €12,000
brf – Birthday (by Singspiel)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
roc – Caerella (by Alzao)     Goffs     Nov    €10,000
grc – Call This Cat (by One Cool Cat)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
bc – Cantaloupe (by Priolo)     Goffs     Nov    €16,000
bc – Caribbean Ace (by Red Clubs)     Goffs     Nov    €60,000
bc – Cheeky Weeky (by Cadeaux Genereux)     Tattersalls     Nov    not sold
bc – Cheerego (by Borrego)     Tattersalls     Nov    4,000gns
bc – Clodilla (by Clodovil)     Goffs     Nov    €20,000
b/grf – Comes A Time (by Arcano)     Goffs     Nov    €12,000
bc – Crown Light (by Zamindar)     Tattersalls     Nov    26,000gns
bc – Dalannda (by Hernando)     Goffs     Nov    €4,000
bc – Defensive Boast (by El Gran Senor)     Goffs     Nov    €17,000
bc – Exempt (by Exceed And Excel)     Goffs     Nov    €23,000
bc – Feeling Wonderful (by Fruits of Love)     Goffs     Nov    €10,000
bc – Fine Silk (by Rahy)     Goffs     Nov    €12,000
bc – Floatlikabutterfly (by Bernardini)     Goffs     Nov    withdrawn
bc – Glyndebourne (by Rahy)     Goffs     Nov    €8,500
bc – Gold Again (by Touch Gold)     Tattersalls     Nov    95,000gns
grf – Gold Queen (by Grand Lodge)     Goffs     Nov    €5,500
bf – Greenflash (by Green Desert)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
brc – Haleniya (by Azamour)     Goffs     Nov    withdrawn
bc – Hankering (by Missed Flight)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
bf – Hms Pinafore (by Singspiel)     Goffs     Nov    €9,000
bc – Hurricane Irene (by Green Desert)     Goffs     Nov    €5,000
bc – Intrepid Queen (by Theatrical)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
b/brf – Irish Design (by Alhaarth)     Goffs     Nov    withdrawn
brf – La Vita Bella (by Mtoto)     Goffs     Nov    €3,000
bc – Lady of Kildare (by Mujadil)     Goffs     Nov    €10,000
bc – Lady Pastrana (by Key of Luck)     Tattersalls     Nov    55,000gns
grc – Lawman's Lady (by Lawman)     Tattersalls IRE     Nov    €18,000
bf – Lucky Flirt (by Gulch)     Goffs     Nov    €4,000
bc – Manaka (by Falco)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
grf – Mary Pekan (by Sri Pekan)     Tattersalls     Nov    withdrawn
bf – Mayorstone (by Exceed And Excel)     Goffs     Nov    €5,000
bc – Mokama (by Motivator)     Goffs     Nov    €36,000
bf – Mount Lavinia (by Montjeu)     Goffs     Nov    €19,000
bf – Na Zdorovie (by Cockney Rebel)     Goffs     Nov    €16,000
bf – Nordkappe (by High Chaparral)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
b/brc – Nouvelle Nova (by Noverre)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
grc – Pitrizzia (by Lando)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
bf – Preferable (by Tiger Hill)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
bc – Rosa Clara (by Peintre Celebre)     Tattersalls     Nov    36,000gns
bc - Runaway Sparkle (by Green Desert)     Arqana     Dec     ​€18,000
bc – Sally Is The Boss (by Orpen)     Goffs     Nov    €2,000
bc – Serene Dream (by Oasis Dream)     Tattersalls     Nov    32,000gns
bf – Smokey Ryder (by Bertolini)     Goffs     Nov    €8,000
grc – Spicebird (by Ela-Mana-Mou)     Goffs     Nov    €6,000
bc – Telltime (by Danetime)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
brf – Twinberry (by Tagula)     Goffs     Nov    not sold
bc – Vampire Queen (by General Monash)     Goffs     Nov    €11,500
grc – Wild Ocean (by Pivotal)     Goffs     Nov    withdrawn
bc – Xema (by Danehill)     Tattersalls     Nov    25,000gns