Top dam Darara dies

Leading dam Darara, who produced star performers in Dar Re Mi and Rewilding, has died at the age of 29.

Lloyd Webbers pay tribute to mare

Leading dam Darara, who produced star performers in Dar Re Mi and Rewilding, has died at the age of 29. Purchased by Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber's Watership Down Stud in 1994, Darara produced four Group One winners. Best known of those to British racegoers are Dar Re Mi and Rewilding, Darara's final foal who won last year's Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. Diaghilev, her colt by Sadler's Wells, sold for a record 3.4million guineas as a yearling while Dariyoun was a Group One winner in Spain. Madeleine Lloyd Webber said: "Andrew and I feel grateful and honoured to have owned such a world class foundation mare in Darara. "It is difficult to quantify how important her contribution has been to Watership Down Stud. "Luckily we own her two daughters so that her outstanding bloodline will continue. However, it was a very sad day."