
Frankel colt Damysus delivers in Darley Stakes
John and Thady Gosden’s progressive three-year-old colt Damysus (Frankel) hinted at even better to come with an ultimately authoritative win in the nine furlong Gr.3 Darley Stakes at Newmarket yesterday.
Taken from the European Bloodstock News, 12th October 2025:
Always positioned within range of the leaders, he began to make good headway approaching the final three furlongs. Gladius took over in front from the early pacesetter Mister Rizz entering the final quarter of a mile, but he was immediately set upon by the Gosden colt. Driven to the front a furlong out, James Doyle had to get pretty serious with Damysus in the closing stages but he edged ahead late on to win by three quarters of a length. First Conquest ran on from the rear to take third.
This was a record sixth win in the Darley Stakes for John Gosden (and his third in association with his son Thady), with the previous winners to hail from his Clarehaven yard including the future Gr.1 heroes Mostahdaf (Frankel), now a sire at Shadwell, and Lead Artist (Dubawi), who retires to Banstead Manor Stud for next season.
John Gosden said: “He went over to France at the weekend to run in the [Gr.2] Prix Dollar, but with the rain it was too soft, so all he did was have his lunch and a good dinner in France and then came back on the train! So, he missed a piece of work while he was eating and sleeping in France, but he has gone and won nicely here today."
“We are very pleased with him. He won at Deauville over a similar trip. We will put him away now, as I can’t imagine there is much left for him in our season. I think ten furlongs is right up his alley and we’ll start him out in the [Gr.3] Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown next season. I can see the pattern of races now.”
Bred by Newsells Park Stud and Merry Fox Stud, Damysus was sourced for 460,000gns by Blandford Bloodstock at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and has carried the Wathnan Racing silks throughout his career. The winner of a 7f novice at Southwell on his only outing at two, he was placed in a pair of Classic trials this spring before finding it all too much when down the field in the Gr.1 Derby. Clearly better than that performance indicated, he was a comfortable winner of the Listed Prix Nureyev at Deauville in August on his return from a mid-season break and now looks a potentially top-drawer prospect for next year.