Oh Darling

Oh Darling is a beautifully bred 2-year-old chestnut filly, in training with Tom Clover at Kremlin House Stables in Newmarket.

Oh Darling went through the ring at the Tattersalls Book 2 Yearling sale, where she was bought back by her breeder, Ed Harper of Whitsbury Manor Stud. It is worth noting that Mr Harper bought her back despite there being a larger offer on the table. He has loved this filly from day one, so decided he would rather sell her at a lower price and keep ‘a leg’ for himself.

Her trainer, Tom Clover, has decided to purchase 25% of Oh Darling too. This is an especially good sign given that Mr Clover clearly has a great eye for talent. He recently sold Rogue Millennium (winner of Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot) and Rogue Lightning for an impressive £2.57M, despite paying less than 80,000 GNS for the two horses combined a year earlier.

This means that Old Gold Racing has the chance to syndicate 50% of a very exciting horse.

Oh Darling is by Showcasing, a high class sprinter who won the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at two years old ahead of placing in another Group 2 during his three-year-old campaign.

Showcasing currently stands at Whitsbury Manor Stud for £45,000. He is a leading European sire with seven sons now standing at stud themselves, including Mohaather, Advertise and Soldier’s Call. Since 2020 he has been responsible for an astounding 133 Stakes performers and 10 Group 1 horses.

Oh Darling’s dam, Dundunah was herself a winner, for trainer David O’Meara. She placed on a further eight occasions before being bought by connections at the Goffs UK Breeze Up 2016 for £150,000. As a broodmare she has one registered runner in Durham Castle, a 220,000 guineas purchase as a yearling.

Dundunah, is out of Sealedwithapproval, who won at three years old and is the dam of six winners including the Blacktype performer, Cuvee Uncorked.

Her trainer, Tom, has described her as “a good looking filly and she’s pretty uncomplicated. There is a little bit of spirit about her however, which I like to see - particularly in a filly. She’s very athletic and she’s just been very straightforward... a really fun, precocious filly.”

Oh Darling is being prepared for a race in the early part of the Flat racing season and her performance will determine the plan going forward. Everything she has done in training so far has been very encouraging, so we’re expecting a good first run.

Tom Clover started training in 2016 and has been hugely successful since, with results improving from year to year.

He has managed to increase the number of winners each season and last year saw him get over the £500,000 prize money threshold for the first time.

Included among these have been multiple stakes winners. Tom clearly has an eye for talent, having recently sold Rogue Millennium (winner of Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot) and Rogue Lightning for 1,650,000 GNS and £1,000,000 respectively, despite paying less than 80,000 GNS for the two horses combined a year earlier.

Tom is joined by wife Jackie, who helps with all aspects of the business at Kremlin House Stables. The historic yard is within walking distance of Newmarket’s famous gallops.