Darley has acquired a 29% interest in Animal Kingdom from Arrowfield Stud and Team Valor.

Last Saturday’s G1 Dubai World Cup winner will shuttle from Arrowfield to Darley’s Jonabell Farm in Kentucky.

Animal Kingdom’s majestic victory in the Dubai World Cup (2000m) took his career earnings to $8.30 million.  He won the 2011 Kentucky Derby and, after being sidelined for almost nine months, finished second to USA Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the 2011 G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile on turf at Santa Anita.

“He has shown a rare ability to excel on turf, synthetic and dirt and win at a range of distances,” Darley’s Oliver Tait said.  “His win at Meydan last Saturday was all class.”

Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux) will now travel to England for possible engagements in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes or G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“I have the utmost respect for Sheikh Mohammed and the Darley management team,” Arrowfield Chairman John Messara said.  “With our unprecedented combined support Animal Kingdom will have every opportunity to develop from a Champion racehorse into a Champion sire.”