Arrowfield Stud, and Team Valor International, have announced that Darley has acquired a twenty nine per cent interest in the Grade 1 Dubai and Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom.

As a result Animal Kingdom will stand in the northern hemisphere season at Darley’s Jonabell Farm in Lexington Kentucky.

The son of Leroidesanimaux will stand in the southern hemisphere season at John Messara’s Arrowfield Stud, in the Hunter Valley at Scone.

Darley’s CEO Oliver Tait said “Animal Kingdom is outstanding, not only is he immensely talented, he has shown a rare ability to excel on turf, synthetic and dirt, and win at a range of distances up to the mile and a quarter of the Kentucky Derby and the Dubai World Cup, his win at Meydan last Saturday was all class”

Arrowfield’s Chairman, John Messara said, “we are delighted to partner with Darley in the ownership of Animal Kingdom and management of his future international stud career”

”We have always had a great working relationship with Darley and have the utmost respect for H H Sheikh Mohammed and the Darley management team”

“With our unprecedented support Animal Kingdom will have every opportunity to develop from a champion racehorse into a champion sire,” he added.

Animal Kingdom’s majestic two length victory in last Saturday’s Dubai World Cup G1, over 2000 metres, was the first US trained success in the race since it has held on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Meydan.

The win took his career earnings to $US 8.3 million, he was crowned US champion three year old of 2011, as a four year old, at his first start for almost nine months, he was an impressive second to US champion Horse of the Year, Wise Dan, in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Mile, on turf, at Santa Anita in course record time.

Current plans are for Animal Kingdom to compete in the Group1 Queen Anne Stakes, or the Group 1 Prince Of Wales Stakes, at Royal Ascot in June.

H H Sheikh Mohammed, John Messara, Barry Irwin with the Dubai World Cup Trophy