The racetrack performances of Godolphin’s G1-winning colt Astern speak for themselves.

But in the wider Darley and Godolphin spectrum, Astern is also the result of a string of inspired bloodstock investments made by his owner His Highness Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum.

Sheikh Mohammed’s association with the family of Astern began a dozen years ago when he bought the filly Alizes in a private sale from her owners Gilbert and Barbara Donnay.

The transaction occurred after Alizes had won her third race on end in the G2 Magic Night Stakes, a victory which seemed set to make her one of the top chances in the 2004 G1 Golden Slipper.

Her trainer Tony McEvoy recalled a filly with outstanding ability: “Alizes was incredibly fast, a real natural runner.”

“After she won the Magic Night, Darren Beadman got off her and declared she would win the Golden Slipper – and he knew what it took to win a race like that.”

The Slipper dream ended prematurely, but Alizes’ influence within the Darley breeding world becomes greater every time her grandson Astern goes to the races.

“As well as being a very fast filly, she was from a fabulous family,” says Godolphin’s Australian managing director Henry Plumptre. 

“She was one of the earliest Australian broodmare investments made by Sheikh Mohammed and the wisdom of what was a substantial purchase is now being borne out.”

Alizes, who, incidentally, was ridden to her three wins by Godolphin’s current assistant trainer in Australia, Darren Beadman, is out of the G1-winning mare La Baraka, a daughter of the champion filly Triscay whose 13 stakes victories included the G1 quartet of the AJC Oaks, Queensland Oaks, VRC Australian Guineas, and AJC Flight Stakes.

Triscay was a daughter of the G1 Golden Slipper winner Marscay and her daughter Alizes is by another, Golden Slipper winner, Rory’s Jester.

Alizes’ first foal was Astern’s mother Essaouira, her only Australian-bred runner to date, and easily the best of her offspring so far.

Essaouria, who was trained by Lee Freedman, won by six lengths on debut at Moonee Valley, is by Exceed And Excel, another prudent investment by Sheikh Mohammed.

Astern is her third foal, the first two being the winners Marrakesh and Mogador.

He is by Medaglia d’Oro, Darley’s prime American shuttler and yet another important Sheikh Mohammed purchase.

Astern is Medaglia d’Oro’s 94th stakes winner and joins such illustrious names as Rachel Alexandra, the champion filly of her era, Songbird who is unbeaten in 10 starts and the G1 Golden Slipper Vancouver.

And all the signs are that he is more than entitled to be on the same list.