Darara, whose five group I winners include four champions, died last week. The Irish-bred daughter of Top Ville out of French group stakes-placed Delsy (by Abdos) was 29.
Campaigned as a homebred by the Aga Khan, Darara was France’s second-highest-weighted filly at 3 in 1986. She won the Trusthouse Forte Prix Vermeille (Fr-I) and the Prix de Psyche (Fr-III). In that year's Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita, won by Manila, she finished ninth. Darara was retired with a record of 3-1-0 from six starts and earnings of $146,917.
Darara began her broodmare career in North America. Her first four foals were by Kentucky stallions. Her initial offspring, Dariyoun (by Shahrastani), was a champion and group I winner in Spain. Another offspring, Dararita (by Halo), became the dam of German champion Darasim.
Darara was returned to Ireland in 1991. Her first stakes winner following her return, Darazari, was an Australian group I winner and a French group II winner.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Watership Down Stud bought Darara at Goffs in 1994. Her offspring following the purchase included champion/group I winners Diaghilev, Dar Re Mi, and Rewilding. Diaghilev was a champion in Hong Kong; Dar Re Mi was an English champion; and Rewilding was a champion in Dubai.
Darara, who was pensioned after foaling Rewilding, produced 12 foals including group stakes-placed Kilimanjaro and Rhagaas.
Following her broodmare career, Darara was sent from Watership Down in Newbury, England, to live at the farm of Philip and Lucinda Freedman.
Darara was a half sister to French champion and classic winner Darshaan and European champion Dalara, dam of English group I winner Daliapour.