Route Des Etalons Supplement

PULLOUT PREVIEW Thursday, January 16, 2020

JANUARY 18-19

ROUTE DES ETALONS Your essential guide to a wonderful weekend in Normandy

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Thursday, January 16, 2020 racingpost.com

BLOODSTOCK SPECIAL ROUTE DES ETALONS

Roll on the weekend for French road trip

T

his time last week it was the Irish Stallion Trail you were reading about in the Racing Post’s supplement. This time attention hops over the Channel with the Route Des Etalons taking place this weekend. Approximately 100 stallions are due to feature as part of the annual highlight, now in its 11th year, and standout names include Siyouni (Haras de Bonneval), Le Havre (Haras de Montfort), Wootton Bassett, Almanzor (both Haras d’Etreham) and our cover star Shalaa (Haras de Bouquetot).

Breeders and racing fans alike will have their own favourites, including from among the rank of stallions whose 2020 fee is not in a bracket in which the above quintet reside. Individual tastes will also govern attendance at each and every one of the 26 studs opening their doors this Saturday and Sunday. The vast majority are open both days, with only two – Bonneval and Chantemerle – opening on Saturday only. The nuts and bolts you need, including a handy map, are collated on pages 6-7. Studs on the programme this year who did not appear last time out are Chantemerle, Etincelles, Taillis and Vervent.

The Racing Post’s French correspondent Scott Burton really gets under the bonnet of Haras de Colleville (8-9) and Haras de Saint-Arnoult (10-11) for two cracking features, while on pages 4-5 Martin Stevens picks out some of the stars to include on your itinerary.

Scott, James Thomas and Sam Hanson of RPTV will be on the route for the Racing Post, and so our coverage of the French breeding industry’s annual showcase certainly doesn’t end here. Keep a close eye on racingpost.com/bloodstock and the newspaper.

ANDREW SCUTTS, BLOODSTOCK MANAGING EDITOR

Belgian Bill’s arrival at stud opens new chapter in remarkable story from seven furlongs to a mile and a quarter, and took prizes in the UAE and Turkey, the latter a Listed victory.

The UAE triumph came in the Dubai World Cup carnival at Meydan, while his domestic highlights were at Royal Ascot, where he won the Royal Hunt Cup in 2013, and at Glorious Goodwood with his Betfred Mile win two years later. He was just a short neck away from adding an important Group 3 strike to his laurels when just denied in the Prix Quincey at Deauville.

There are many horses at stud without a CV anywhere near as rich or eclectic and Belgian Bill is part of the Route

By Andrew Scutts ONE of the more cultish, as opposed to coltish, sights on the trail will be a well-travelled 12-year-old who is among the more unusual newcomers to stud for 2020 in France – or anywhere else for that matter.

Belgian Bill made his debut the evening before the 2010 Derby and the son of Exceed And Excel’s career lasted until December 2017 when age finally caught up with him after a 62-run career that garnered well over half a million pounds in prize-money.

His eight wins underlined his versatility, for he was successful on the all-weather and turf,

Wednesday, November 6, 2019 | Dedicated to the Australasian bloodstock industry - subscribe for free: Click here

INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR OF CUP LIKELY TO CONTINUE - PAGE 17

Vow And Declare takes out Melbourne Cup for Australia

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Les Young's Pedigree Page

When Vow and Declare was passed in at auction, Paul Lansky approached members of the group which race Lycurgus, Lycurgus, among them Corrigan, and a number of family members to form a new syndicate Geoff Corrigan,

Read Tomorrow's Issue For:

to race the son of Declaration of War (War Front) with Danny O’Brien.

They must now be thrilled they became involved with the winner of

Latest carnival news

Australia’s most coveted race and to be sharing in the $5,722,690 he has earned to date.

Lycurgus, Geblitz produced the placed filly Blitz’n’Magic (Magic After Lycurgus,

What's on

Albert) in 2014 before Vow and Declare was born the following year but the

Race meetings: Grafton (NSW), Kyneton

mare’s 2016 colt by Stratum (Redoute’s Choice) died. A sister to Lycurgus

by Star Witness (Starcraft) arrived in 2018 and she is to be offered as Lot

(VIC), (VIC), Port Lincoln (SA), (SA), Launceston (TAS),

Danny O’Brien-trained stayer holds off internationals in tight Flemington finish

329 at January’s Magic Millions Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast in the

Avondale (NZ)

Widden Stud consignment.

International meetings: Happy Valley (HK).

(Pioneer of the 7,Nile). |been 14 | bred back to American Pharoah Thursday, November 2019

This spring Geblitz has foaled a filly by Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) and

Barrier trials / Jump-outs: Warwick Farm

We wrote about Vow and Declare’s sire Declaration of War, a multiple Group 1 winner, winner, in yesterday’s ANZ Bloodstock News when profiling his

(NSW), Caulfield (VIC).

(NSW),

2019 Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 1, 2500m) winner Warning.The former Coolmore

Sales: Keeneland (USA) - November

shuttler, now standing in Japan, Japan, has some pretty impressive statistics with shuttler, five Group/Grade 1 winners among a total of 24 stakes winners from his

Breeding Stock Sale - Day 1

CHARLIE FELLOWES

early crops in Ireland Ireland,, the United States and Australia which have given him a high 7.4 per cent stakes winners-to-runners.

France, Declaration of War was Twice a winner as a two-year-old in France,

essentially bred for speed but was at his racing best at around 1600m to

Sunday, November 10, 2019 | Dedicated to the Australasian bloodstock industry - subscribe for free: Click here

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Nicconi gelding a freak of Nature

will be scratching their heads as to from where the gelding has derived his stamina. My guess is that the source may be via Old Vic (Sadler’s Wells),

The Week Ahead

W

International Sales News What's on

sire of his third dam Young Vic, a mare with little racing ability.

hat a day yesterday was –

As you will see from the catalogue pedigree printed here, Young

it was unbelievable. Most importantly Prince Of Arran

Vic is an excellent producer but while her superbly-bred sire was a

has come through the run

disappointment at stud stud,, he was outstanding as a racehorse racehorse,, winning in

perfectly.

HeWarren trotted up beautifully and polished Race meetings: Moree (NSW), offMoe all his feed feed,, which is a great sign that the (NSW), Ararat (VIC), (VIC), horse isn’t Townsville (QLD), Penola (SA),stressed.

York He had a lovely long pick of

Rejuvenated sprinter scores scintillating Darley Sprint Classic win

M

I am incredibly proud Prince OfoverArran, 2000mof though was never tried longer distances.

Vow and Declare comes from a family of high quality tracing back to fantastic race he ran another the famous “flying filly” Mumtaz Mahal (The Tetrarch) but breeding buffs

CHARLIE FELLOWES | @FELLOWESRACING

Read Tomorrow's Issue For:

1989 both the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr 1,1, 2400m) and the Irish Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f ), two stiff tests.

grass at Werribee this morning. Tash sent me a (WA), Hastings (NZ).

One of Young Vic’s daughters, Youthful Presence (Dehere) produced

International Group races:saying Kranjithat (SGP) message she got so distracted giving

- Singapore Gold Cup 2000m), ended up staying out there for an him(Listed, grass she elbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m)

ATC Epsom Handicap (Gr 11,, 1600m) winner Hauraki (Reset) and two

Saas Fee Stakes (Listed, hour 1200m). always, had the best and a half. So he’s, he’s, as always,

winners,, most notably Kidnapped (Viscount), (Viscount), winner of the other stakes winners

Taipa (MAC). winner Vow And Declare,

treatment since the run.

Sales: Keeneland (USA) - November

South Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2500m).

Breeding Stock Sale - Day 5

by American-bred stallion I never thought

It was totally different to last year – I really felt at one stage 12 months ago we were going to win the race. But this year I never ever felt, despite how close we were, that it was ours.

level in Europe, has delivered for Australia with a locally bred and trained victory in the

strength and depth.

They went a very steady peed machine Nature Strip (Nicconi) simply gave nothing else a chance in

his mark during his two-year stint Down Under,

1, 1200m) as he scorched to victory James McDonald was quick to

Nature Strip

Vow And Declare

GETTY IMAGES

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Time (Time Thief ) filling the minor placings. Hot favourite Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega) was uncharacteristically flat, finishing six lengths

Santa Ana Lane’s jockey Mark Zahra agreed the sprinter was ‘flat’, "He just went a bit tired today," Zahra said.

from Nature Strip in sixth.

“I’m thrilled for the horse and thrilled for the connections, he has gone to a

"When I got the gaps on the

But you also have to put Vow And Declare in

we just weren’t good enough on the day.

that bracket because it was a lovely story. It’s Australian-bred – just the right sort of horse you would want to win the ultimate Australian race.

complaining , questioning what could have complaining,

You got the feeling this year that Europeans

been, as everything went our way. I’m not even been,

coming over and constantly winning it wasn’t

just talking about Tuesday either, really since

really doing it any favours. But Tuesday showed that Australian horses can still be competitive and can still win this amazing race. It was won

that all along nothing went wrong. I was just

by a big syndicate of owners and it was just a

but it hasn’t. We have been so so,, so lucky and I

the horses to beat us I really didn’t begrudge

don’t underestimate how fortunate we have

him for it.

out so strongly.”

went like he's a tired horse."

been with him.

Passed in for $90,000 (reserve $120,000) at the 2016 Inglis

The result was exactly SPORTPIX what the race needed

Nature Strip

Trainer Chris Waller revealed plans of tackling Royal Ascot next year.

Melbourne

“All preparation he has shown how well he is going, he’s a very happy

Sale, Nature Strip (5 g Nicconi - Strikeline by DesertAlthough Sun) tookobviously his recordI would have loved to 11 wins and two placings from 18 starts for prize-money of $1,879,285.

Newmarket, I to have taken the Cup back to Newmarket, Nature Strip is one of three winners for the Group think the3-winning result wasmare very, very important for

horse and that takes them a long way,” he said.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to takeover a very fast horse and we’ve added a bit of our own fine tuning.

“I’m not to sure where he will have his next starts but I know the team are keen to take him to Royal Ascot in June but there will certainly be a few races before then.”

Sam Freedman said favourite Santa Ana Lane would enjoy an

Premier

Yearling

Strikeline (Desert Sun), making him a half-brother to Fernhill Handicap (Listed, 1600m) winner The Barrister (Star Witness), now racing as High Volatility in Hong Kong.

Strikeline is herself a half-sister to fellow Group 3 winner Bashful Girl (Perugino), with the pair being out of Listed winner Strike High (Pre Emptive Strike).

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Japan or Hong Kong in the pipeline

the perfect Australian story: Australian-trained,

nothing more you can ask from a horse. We head, so we can’t come away only got beaten a head,

Goodwood we could not have had a more perfect preparation into the race. I have said something,, even small small,, to go amiss waiting for something

the winner today - but he just

like I was six in front and he was still going through his gears and he ran it

extended spell after a hectic 2019.

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Brought to you by our way, the race played into our hands and

zoom - nothing would've beat

“He was airborne, floating across the ground, I slipped him a bit more

@GreatBritishRacingInternational

Brought to you by

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Wednesday, W November 6, 2019 outside fence I thought he'd

new levelthis preparation, he hashadonlyonereal disappointment and that was at his first start, apart from that he’s been faultless, he’s a star,” McDonald said.

rein at the 300m and I looked at the big screen and thought ‘oh no’, it felt

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BACKING BRITIAN’S TRAINERS ON THE WORLD STAGE

@GBRI_UK

Continued on page 2>> Follow us @anz_news: click here

But he ran his heart out and there really is

Brought to you by An emphatic three and a quarter

length win was the result, with Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) and In Her

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are also four

The bottom line is that everything went

more infusions of Northern Dancer (Nearctic) in the sixth and seventh

set an impossible task for the

YESTERDAY'S STAKES RESULTS | PAGE 16 Charlie Fellowes' Melbourne Diary

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Nicconi gelding a freak of Nature

<< Continued from page 1

Vow And Declare takes out Melbourne Cup for Australia

SPORTPIX

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in his fifth

generations of Vow and Declare’s genetic background.

the

pair sizzled home in 33.08 seconds which

MELBOURNE CUP STAKE RESULT AND BREEDING INFO - PAGE 22

Follow us @anz_news: click here

Race Record: 13 Starts 4-3-2 A$5,722,690.

4 wins from 1800m to 3200m, A$5,722,690, to 2019-20, VRC Melbourne Cup, Gr.1, Qld Tatt's RC Tattersall's Cup, Gr.3, VRC TCL TV S., L, 2d MRC Caulfield Cup, Gr.1, BRC Queensland Derby, Gr.1, 3d VRC Flt Lt Peter Armytage H., 4th VRC Turnbull S., Gr.1.

he’s ever given him, but although we didn’t win,

get some cover, cover, so although we wereplus fortunate he couldn't it any better. generation anotherandson in his have sixthridden generation.There run, we earned that with the way the race was run,

yesterday’s Darley Sprint Classic (Gr

find the outside rail on Nature Strip and

chasing pack.

3rd dam YOUNG VIC, by Old Vic. Raced once. Half-sister to NURYANA (dam of REBECCA SHARP, MYSTIC KNIGHT, HIDDEN HOPE HOPE), Digger's Rest, Cowley, Littlewick (dam of BORGHESE), Wild Pavane (dam of DUKE OF GREEN). Dam of 12 foals, FONTANELLA BORGHESE 11 to race, 7 winners, inc:WALKING OR DANCING (Falvelon). 8 wins-1 at 2-from 900m to 1600m, A$611,425, Newcastle JC Newmarket H H., Gr.3, GCTC Magic Millions Cup, AJC Octagonal H., STC Angostura Bitters H., 2d AJC Bill Ritchie H., Gr.3, 3d Newcastle JC Newmarket H., Gr.3, STC CCIA Supershow H., 4th STC Phar Lap S., Gr.2, QTC Brisbane P., L. Sire.

IRONGAIL (Canny Lad). 7 wins from 1200m to 1800m, A$322,950, MRC Summoned S., L, AJC Capital Finance H., Graysonline.com.au H., Wyong RC Mona Lisa P., 2d Wyong Cup, L, 3d STC Shannon H., Gr.2, VRC Maybe Mahal P., L. Producer.

Aim for Gold (End Sweep). Winner Winner. See above.

Youthful Presence. Unraced. Dam ofHAURAKI (Reset). 5 wins from 1400m to 2000m, A$2,546,660, ATC Epsom H., Gr.1, Tulloch S., Gr.2, NSW Tatt's RC Tramway S., Gr.2, ATC Membership on Sale H., 2d Australian Derby, Gr.1, VRC Emirates S., Gr.1, ATC Ranvet S., Gr.1, George Main S., Gr.1, BRC Doomben Cup, Gr.1, ATC Phar Lap S., Gr.2, GCTC AD Hollindale S., Gr.2, ATC Craven P., Gr.3, 3d ATC Chipping Norton S., Gr.1, Canterbury S., Gr.1, Apollo S., Gr.2.

KIDNAPPED (Viscount). 5 wins-1 at 2-from 1400m to 2500m, £187, A$715,427, 19,320Dhs, South Australian Derby, Gr.1, MRC Sandown Guineas, Gr.2, VRC Carbine Club S., Gr.3, MRC Gothic S., L, VRC Bruce Gadsden H., 2d Ballarat Cup, L, STC Theraces.com.au 2YO H., 3d SAJC Chairman's S., L, MRC Star Shower 2YO H. ACADEMUS (Lonhro). 4 wins at 1200m, 1600m, A$593,800, Western Australian Guineas, Gr.2, Gold Coast Guineas, Gr.3, BRC Daybreak Lover S., L, 2d BRC Sires' Produce S., Gr.2, Champagne Classic, Gr.2, MRC Heading Out Hair & Beauty S., L, Hawkesbury RC Inglis Bonus 2YO H., 3d BRC TJ Smith S., Gr.1, BTC Classic, Gr.3, 4th BRC Queensland Guineas, Gr.2, VRC Hilton Hotels S., L. DELEDIO (Testa Rossa). 6 wins wins-2 at 2-from 1400m to 1800m, A$143,375, SAJC Hill Smith S., L, Allan Scott Park Morphettville H., MRC Andelosia 2YO H., SAJC Irish Day H., Carlton Draught H.

of Danehill’s sire Danzig (Northern Dancer) while he carries two sons I think Tuesday’s was just as good. He had him

down the Flemington straight.

Cont. on pageeffectively 2>>

1st dam GEBLITZT, by Testa Rossa. 5 wins to 1400m, A$96,950, ATC Bowermans Furniture H., BRC Coca-Cola Amatil P., Leighton Contractors H., Brc.com.au H., 2d BRC Subiaco Hair P., Tim Ryan Go Hard or Go Home H., Ambassador Travel H., 3d ATC Central Coast Tourism H., 4th Qld Tatt's RC Falvelon H., L. Three-quarter-sister to DELEDIO, half-sister to Wealth. Dam of three named foals, all raced, two winnersMadibagold, Sudden Wealth VOW AND DECLARE (g. by Declaration of War). 4 wins. See below.

LYCURGUS (g. by Star Witness). 6 wins-1 at 2-from 1100m to 2500m, A$442,665, MRC Galilee Series Final H., L, L VRC High Country H., MRC Ladbrokes Odds Boost H.-twice, 2d VRC Trevor Clarke H., Happy Holidays H., ATC Tab.com.au H., MRC Ladbrokes Challenge H., 3d MRC Inglis Cup, VRC Banjo Paterson Series Final H., Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation H. Blitz 'n' Magic (f. by Magic Albert). Placed at 3 in Aust.

the Geelong Cup that was his best ride The pedigree of Vowsaid andafter Declare up close is dominated by a 3 x 4 cross

ride sort of horse which means that he really

want, whereas if you can sit wherever you want,

influence, speed , Mr. Prospector a Native), Native) have influence in such a good position the(Raise whole way through , have a horse that getsofa another bit lit up they to

really, really good story for the race and of all really,

But the love for Prince Of Arran has been lovely and it’s very touching - they seem to have taken him under their wing and clearly have a lot of affection for him. But that really

Japan Cup

JRA

So the immediate plan for Prince Of Arran is either the Japan Cup or the Hong Kong Vase.

We were invited to Japan immediately after the

is, he’s got a wonderful is the kind of horse he is,

race and then overnight were invited to Hong

personality. They also love the story of Tash and

Kong as well which is great. I feel like Japan

her affection for the horse and he’s become a

is unbelievably tough - the ground is always

Foaled in 2015 Northern Dancer Rubiano Blushing Groom Gone West Danzig Sir Dapper Forty Niner Old Vic

2nd dam Aim for Gold, by End Sweep. Winner at 1200m, A$203,750, STC Winning Edge Presentations P., 2d AJC Champagne S., Gr.1, 3d AJC Reginald Allen H., L, Heroic 2YO Championship S., Oz Eco Resorts 2YO H., 4th STC Magic Night S., Gr.2, AJC PJ Bell H., L. DANCING IRONGAIL, Youthful Presence (dam of Half-sister to WALKING OR DANCING, HAURAKI, KIDNAPPED, ACADEMUS ACADEMUS, DELEDIO). Dam of 8 named foals, 7 to race, 5 winners, inc:Sudden Wealth (Time Thief). 5 wins to 1400m, A$162,670, SAJC Holdfast Insurance H., Horsman's Plumbing & Gas H., Zonte's Z Force H., David Tootell 40yrs Anniversary H., 2d SAJC Manihi Classic, L L, Dennis & Janet Small H., 3d SAJC City of Marion S., L. Madibagold (Johannesburg). 5 wins to 1400m, A$299,750, AJC Coogee Welter H., Juggler H., STC Cadbury Bubbly H., Theslipper.com.au H., 2d ATC Civic S., L, AJC Centennial Park H., Filante H., STC Solo Strong H., 3d ATC Winter S., L, STC Civic S., L, ATC Sparkes H., Cleanevent a Spotless Company H., Bowermans Office Furniture H., Bridie Sp Blackwoods Gearwrench H., Blackwoods H., 4th STC Winter S., L. Geblitzt. 5 wins. See above.

Eighteen Carrot. Winner at 1300m in 2018-19, MRC Le Pine Funerals P., 2d ATC Star Turn at Vinery H.

fortune and luck with his versatility and the way

advantage. But the way run really Michael Walker’sHorn’s ride wasthird just dam. perfect. I it was (Gr Stakes 1, 1msuited 2f). Loralane is Golden relaxed, easy to Prince Of Arran – he is such a relaxed,

not least of which allows Australia to lay claimRider to

Testa Rossa Aim for Gold

DECLARATION OF WAR (USA) (Bay 2009-Stud 2014). 7 wins-2 at 2, Royal Ascot Queen Anne S., Gr.1. Half-brother to SW War Correspondent. Sire of 326 rnrs, 186 wnrs, 24 SW, inc. Vow and Declare (VRC Melbourne Cup, Gr.1), Warning, Olmedo, Winning Ways, Decorated Invader, Assiro, Actress, Peace Achieved, Valdermoro, Opry, Declarationofheart, Speed Franco, Vigor Winner, Mr. Hustle, Uncle Benny, Armistice Day, Lucky Stride, Agincourt, Bayshore Freeway, etc.

its most recent superstar being Golden Horn (Cape Cross) , whose seven Cross), SPORTPIX

close we actually were. I am incredibly proud of

Of War, now domiciled in Japan, certainly left

the second time in a decade.

'I’M THRILLED FOR THE HORSE AND THRILLED FOR THE CONNECTIONS'

Dam

Dam GEBLITZT (AUS) 2006

Danzig Starry Dreamer Rahy Tempo Perugino Bo Dapper End Sweep Young Vic

1, 2400m), 2400m), 1, 1m 2f) 2f ) and the Irish Champion 1, the Coral-Eclipse (Gr 1, he runsStakes his races. were massively at an meant those on the pace

him for running another fantastic race.

establishing an unchallenged lead, breeding the winner of the $8 million cup forafter just

WHAT THE JOCKEY'S SAID - PAGE 9

VOW AND DECLARE (AUS)

Sire War Front DECLARATION OF WAR (USA) 2009 Tempo West

wins included the Derby (Gr 1,1, 1m 4f ), the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 4f),

gallop and turned it into a bit of sprint which

I always knew we were just held by Master

BY TOM WALTER | @ANZ_NEWS It was a very strong renewal with a lot of

S

very strong branch of this wonderful Mumtaz Mahal family in Europe, Prince Of Aarran

Of Reality and Vow And Declare. It probably wasn’t until right on the line I realised how

country’s biggest race.

The former Coolmore stallion Declaration

Loralane (Habitat) (Habitat),, fourth dam of Vow and Declare, established a

I was going to win

Declaration Of War (War

Front) who twice won on turf at the highest

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Vow And Declare Chestnut Gelding

Brought to you by

des Etalons for the first time, with Haras du Taillis standing h i m o n b e ha l f o f E l e vag e d’Yllome, a small breeding o p e r a t i o n a t Fa l a i s e i n Normandy run for Karen Lewis, who races horses under FTP Equine Holdings. He was due to arrive at his new home yesterday.

News of his move to Haras du Ta i l l i s s u r f a c e d o n l y i n November, not much shy of two years after he had last raced. Louise Johanny, who manages Elevage d’Yllome, explained: “Bill finished his last race in December 2017 and George Baker and his wife Candida are very good friends with the owners, who have

Belgian Bill wins the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in 2013

horses in training with them as well as a small stud farm in France.

“Bill came over to France in November 2018 and the owners decided to have a couple of their mares covered by him to see how it worked.

He proved very fertile, we have two mares still in foal to him,

and the owner thought there should be a market in France for a son of Exceed And Excel, so why not start to promote him as a commercial stallion?”

She continued: “We don’t have the facilities to cover mares from outside stables, so he’ll be going to Haras du Taillis to start covering mares.

“He’s a great character and I think he’ll make a stallion.

He made more than £500,000 in prize-money and was a popular horse, and hopefully people will bring their mares to him.

“He’s a lovely-mannered horse to deal with and hopefully he can pass that on to his foals.”

She added: “I hope to be there on Sunday to answer any questions potential clients may have.”

Bred by Wickfield Stud and Ha r ts hi l l Stud out o f Gay Romance, a winning Singspiel three-parts sister to top US miler Hawskley Hill, Belgian Bill was a 55,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling purchase by Grove Stud and a 30,000gns vendor buyback at the Craven Breeze-Up Sale. He is being advertised at a fee of €3,000.

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Racing Post Thursday, January 16, 2020

Sires

& sons World Champion Manduro, on show alongside his Champion two-year-old son Ultra. The leading French first-crop sire of 2019 – Dubawi’s Hunter’s Light. Plus Shamardal’s son Bow Creek and the 132-rated son of Sea The Stars, Cloth Of Stars. See them all at Haras du Logis on the Route des Étalons, 18-19 January.

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Thursday, January 16, 2020 racingpost.com

BLOODSTOCK SPECIAL ROUTE DES ETALONS

Idols, record breakers and up-and-comers Martin Stevens

TEN TO SEE EN ROUTE Cloth Of Stars

7yo b h Sea The Stars-Strawberry Fledge (Kingmambo) Haras du Logis

Cloth Of Stars ticks every box for breeders. First, he was a top-class middle-distance performer, winning the Prix Ganay and twice finishing placed behind Enable in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He mixed it with the cream of the crop, running placed behind Cracksman, Hawkbill, Poet’s Word, Sea Of Class and Waldgeist as well as Enable.

Second, he has an unimpeachable pedigree, being by Sea The Stars out of a Kingmambo sister to Oaks heroine Light Shift –dam of Ulysses – and a half-sister to champion racemare Shiva.

Those relations mean he has the epoch-defining ace racemares turned broodmares Urban Sea and Miesque in his first three generations.

Third, he has the looks to match his pedigree and performance, as you will see if you visit him as he embarks on his second season at Haras du Logis on the Route des Etalons.

interesting juncture in his stallion career.

Grandcamp boasts a new emigre from the British and Irish ranks this year in Lethal Force, while Lawman and Dabirsim are among the other draws at the farm.

Dream Ahead

Kendargent

Former Ballylinch Stud resident Dream Ahead enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2019, trebling his tally of Group 1 winners when Glass Slippers landed the Prix de l’Abbaye and first-crop son Donjuan Triumphant scored in the British Champions Sprint on his career swansong at the age of six.

The top-notch sprinter – rated Europe’s joint-champion two-year-old of 2010 alongside Frankel, no less – was also represented by Diamond Jubilee Stakes runner-up Dream Of Dreams and the speedy three-year-old filly Forever In Dreams, placed in the Commonwealth Cup and British Champions Sprint.

His first crop conceived at his second stud home of Haras de Grandcamp turned two in January, so he is at an

Head to Haras de Colleville to see a bona fide recordbreaking stallion, with the stud’s stalwart Kendargent setting a new benchmark of 114 progeny wins in 2019.

It has been a remarkable Cinderella story for Kendargent. An unheralded Group 3 runner-up, he started covering mainly his owner Guy Pariente’s own mares in the early years of his stallion career but managed to produce a high percentage of black-type performers in spite of those limited chances and subsequently gained wider recognition.

He is now responsible for 28 stakes winners including the Group 1-placed Goken, Jimmy Two Times, Kendam, Kenhope, Notte Bianca and Restiadargent, as well as Skalleti, who signed off 2019 with three Pattern victories.

12yo b h Diktat-Land Of Dreams (Cadeaux Genereux) Haras de Grandcamp

17yo gr h Kendor-Pax Bella (Linamix) Haras de Colleville

Kendargent stands at Colleville alongside son Goken and the Listed-winning Galileo stallion Galiway, the leading French-based first-season sire last year.

Kazakhstan-born businessman Nurlan Bizakov, although it is very much business as usual with staff and stock, including the second stallion Recorder.

Le Havre

18yo b h Montjeu-Out West (Gone West) Haras du Quesnay

14yo b h Noverre-Marie Rheinberg (Surako) Haras de Montfort et Pr Preaux

Montfort et Preauxx is one of the principal placees of worship ons pilgrims for Route des Etalo as it houses an idol of the nks in French stallion ran Le Havre.

The Prix du Jockey Club winner spent his first four seasons at the operation at a fee of just €5,000 but, thanks upport from chiefly to strong su ustinowner Gerard Augu d manager Normand and stud Sylvain Vidal, he has supplied 33 stakes winners iincluding dual French Classiic heroines d La Avenir Certain and well as fellow Cressonniere, as w Group 1 winners Suedois and Villa Marina. he is standing Consequently, h at a fee of €50,000 tthis year. ort et Preaux A visit to Montfo has a touch of extraa intrigue this year as the stud has recently been bougght by

Motivator

Even without stallions Haras du Quesnay would be well

worth a visit. The quintessential Normandy stud features half-timbered buildings and manicured lawns, and Criquette Head is usually on hand to provide a warm welcome.

As it happens, La Quesnay does have more than its fair share of equine talent too, including 2005 Derby hero Motivator, who wrote his name into the history books as sire of Head’s dual Arc winner Treve.

The

Le Havre (above left) at Haras de Montfort et Preaux and Siyouni (above right) at Haras de Bonneval are established stars of the French stallion ranks

son of Montjeu was back in the news in the past 12 months through high-class hurdlers Pentland Hills and Stormy Ireland and as damsire of leading two-year-old sprinter A’Ali and top-notch middledistance filly Fleeting.

Motivator is joined at La Quesnay by two other Group 1 winners in Intello and Recoletos, while studmates Anodin and Attendu have received strong support from their ownerbreeders the Wertheimer brothers.

Prix de l’Abbaye winner Glass Slippers helped her sire Dream Ahead enjoy a breakthrough year in 2019

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Racing Post Thursday, January 16, 2020

ZUZANNA LUPA/AGA KHAN STUDS

No Risk At All

13yo ch h My Risk-Newness (Simply Great) Haras de Montaigu

Haras de Montaigu bade farewell to its emblematic stallion Martaline last year when the source of countless jumps stars – Agrapart, Dynaste, Kotkikova, Terrefort and Very Wood to name a few – died aged 20.

The magnificent white stallion will be irreplaceable but, fortuitously, the stud stands another exciting prospect for the jumps sphere in No Risk At All. The oldest crop of the Group 3-winning son of My Risk are six-year-olds but he has already supplied last month’s Grade 1 scorers Epatante and Esprit Du Large plus the useful pair Allaho and Gumball.

Montaigu is also launching the second career of Beaumec De Houelle, a Grade 1-winning son of Martaline, and that is another good reason to visit the stud this month.

Shalaa

7yo b h Invincible Spirit-Ghurra (War Chant) Haras de Bouquetot

Ten years ago the Normandy stallion scene was down in the dumps, with the death of big-

hitter Anabaa aged 17 and the early retirement of Linamix, and exciting sires such as Chichicastenango, Verglas and Turtle Bowl having been sold abroad as soon as they made their names.

But thanks to the attractive French premium system y encouraging peoplee to race and breed across th he Channel, as well as the emerggence of Le Havre, Siyouni et all, the stallion ranks have been completely revitalissed.

The decision of A Al Shaqab Racing to base its b breeding headquarters at Haaras de Bouquetot in Norm mandy also helped, and the mo ost compelling proof of the health of the resurgent staallion ranks is that the brilliant two-yeart old sprinter Shalaa,, by invogue sire of sires Invincible Spirit, waas the most expensivee new recruit anywhere in n Europe when he rettired to Bouquetot in 2017. His keenly anticipated first cro op are twoyear-olds in 2020.

Siyouni

13yo b h Pivotal-Sichilla (Danehill) ( Haras de Bonneval

Perhaps the pre-em minent name in a golden age a for the French stallion scen ne, Siyouni

has delivered 34 stakes winners headed by Classic scorers Ervedya, Laurens and Sottsass – all the more impressive for the fact that he is another on this list who started out at a negligible fee, in his case €7,000.

The son of Pivotal now commands a fee of €100,000, a record for a sire based in France and out of the reach of many travellers on the Route des Etalons.

However, his younger Bonneval studmates could the next big thing.

They are Dariyan and Zarak, both top-flight winners by outstanding sires out of Group 1-winning racemares: the former a son of Shamardal and Hong Kong Vase heroine Daryakana and the latter by Dubawi out of the exceptional Zarkava.

‘No Risk At All has already supplied last month’s Grade 1 scorers Epatante (above) and Esprit Du Large’

Taj Mahal

6yo Galileo-You’resothrilling (Storm Cat) Haras de la Haie Neuve

This newcomer to Haras de la Haie Neuve can lay claim to being one of the best-bred stallions in France. He is by phenomenal champion sire Galileo out of Coolmore’s brilliant young broodmare You’resothrilliing, a Group 2-winning Sto orm Cat sister to Giant’s Causew way and to the dams of Deco orated Knight and Storm The Staars.

You’resothrrilling produced five Pattern w winners, all Group 1 triu umphant or Group 1-pllaced, from her first five fo oals – Classic winners G Gleneagles and Marvellou us, Moyglare Stud Stakes sccorer Happily, Belmont Oaks third Coolmo ore and Taj Mahal himself, a dual Group 2 winner in Australia who ran second in the Secretariat Stakes.

Haie Neuvee also introduces to breeders this year Bande, an Authorrized half-brother to in-demand jumps sire D Doctor Dino, and is aalso home to Seeahenge, Maagneticjim and Whitecliiffsofdover.

Wootton Bassett

12yo b h Iffraaj-Balladonia (Primo Dominie) Haras d’Etreham

It is worth a trip to Haras d’Etreham to catch a glimpse of Wootton Bassett as he could be in for a big year with his two-year-old runners, who were bred in the afterglow of his first-crop son Almanzor being crowned Europe’s threeyear-old champion with victories in the Prix du Jockey Club and British and Irish Champion Stakes.

Wootton Bassett, who stood for as little as €4,000 in 2015 but has risen to ten times that this year, is also the sire of Group 1-placed Patascoy and Wootton, as well as exciting three-year-old colt Helter Skelter, not beaten far when fifth in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp in October.

Almanzor, whose first yearlings go under the hammer in 2020, stands at Etreham alongside Wootton Bassett, while the roster is completed by newcomer City Light, a classy sprinter; Scissor Kick, a visitor from Australia who has his first juvenile runners this year; and the magnificent jumps sire Saint Des Saints.

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Thursday, January 16, 2020 racingpost.com

Racing Post Thursday, January 16, 2020

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Thursday, January 16, 2020 racingpost.com

BLOODSTOCK SPECIAL ROUTE DES ETALONS

Pariente produces bold winning formula with phenomenal Kendargent Scott Burton talks to Guy Pariente, founder and owner of Haras de Colleville

I

T IS one thing to buy some racehorses. It is quite another to set your mind to creating a breeding empire, which in the beginning will be founded almost entirely on your own investment and anchored on a stallion who would be considered a worthy prospect by few, if any, of the existing industry powerhouses.

Yet barely a dozen years after Guy Pariente decided on precisely that course of action, he finished the 2019 season ahead of every breeder in France except for Wertheimer et Frere and Ecurie des Monceaux.

As for the stallion nobody would have thought twice about when he retired at a fee of €500, Kendargent shattered two long-standing records In France last year and continues to put Pariente’s Haras de Colleville in the spotlight.

Moreover, studmate Galiway enjoyed a fine start with his first crop of two-year-olds, while buyers were impressed with what they were offered at the yearling sales by the newest addition to the team, Goken, a son of Kendargent.

“Kendargent has been the top middle-market stallion on in France for ten years now w,” says Pariente with justifiable pride. p “He broke records in 201 19 with 114 wins and 78 individu ual winners, two new French h records that I think will stand for many years to come.

“Kendargent has really made his mark on French breeding and racing and we’re verry proud of what he has achieved.”

The previous record off 100 wins for a season, held by b Verglas and set in 2008, w was consigned to the history books on the last day of Octobeer 2019, meaning Kendargeent had another two monthss to extend that new mark.

Not that the year was sshort ot

of quality to go with the quantity, with the lightly raced Skalleti leading the way thanks to impressive wins in the Prix Quincey at Deauville and the Prix Dollar over Arc weekend, before signing off in style when defying a penalty in the Group 2 Premio Roma.

Trainer Jerome Reynier showed patience in not rushing into elite company with Skalleti – bred at Colleville and sold to race for Jean-Claude Seroul for €85,000 at Arqana’s 2016 August Yearling Sale – but that means Kendargent has had to wait a little longer for a maiden Group 1 success to garnish his 55 black-type performers.

At the age of six Morando was another son who seemed to be improving with time, having bookended his 2019 campaign for King Power Racing and Andrew Balding with a pair of Group 3 victories, while at the other end of the age spectrum, twoyear-old Kenlova was third to Tropbeau in the Group 3 Prix Six Perfections at Deauville.

Pariente says: “Our homebred Skalleti had a great season, with seven consecutive wins including two successes in Group 2 company, and we’re hoping for big things from him in 2020. The next crops of Kendargent will be very good too as the quality of the mares he has covered has remained consistently high in recent years.

“Kendargent has produced numerous well-known blacktype horses over the past few years, including our own young stallion Goken, Jimmy Two Times, Soleil Marin and Morando Morando, as well as

APRH

His lead has been followed by other French breeders in renewing the ranks of the Normandy stallion rosters, and the early success of Kendargent pressaged the emergence of Le Havre, Siyouni and Wootton Bassett.

“Kendargent was the precursor of the French stallion renaissance,” says Pariente. “His progeny have not been very lucky at Group 1 level, finishing placed multiple times at Ascot, but we have lots of promising horses to come. The future looks bright and Kendargent is in great form.”

E Guy Pariente: faith and investment in Kendargent has paid off

the fillies Restiadargent and Kenhope, to name just a few.”

Kendargent is the archetypal ameliorateur in French breeding parlance, a sire who improves his stock whatever their page.

That much was clear from the very start, with early success such as Royal Ascotplaced placed fillies Restiadargent and Kenhope emerging from his extremely modest second and third books.

Not that Pariente was relying on outsiders to take a punt on the son of Kendor early on.

“I have always believed in him,” he says. “He was unlucky during his racing career but he comes from the bloodlines of two excellent French stallions in Kendor and Linamix. The cross of those two formidable sires could not fail. However, we had to work hard, invest both time and money, and to believe be e in him ourselves ng the early years. durin “Breeders weren’t keen to port him in the early years supp especially, as I was also a new face in the industry. We were h unknown to them. We both had tto win them over, but n I believe in something I when give it my all and I see it hrough right to the end.” th Among Pariente’s other passions is poker and his words make clear that he went all in on Kendargent w m the start. from

‘Our homebred Skalleti (above) had a great season and we’re hoping for big things from him in 2020’

XTREMELY promising results from limited opportunities on the track, as well as Colleville’s burgeoning reputation as a maker of stallions, have allowed Pariente to go on the offensive with Galiway, who has fully earned his increased fee of €10,000 and who has now been syndicated.

From a top Wertheimer family, Galiway is a product of the classic Galileo/Danehill cross and, in a manner reminiscent of Kendargent’s flying start, produced five individual winners from just nine runners in his first crop.

Undoubtedly the star was Kenway, who showed a searing turn of foot to come from last to first in the Group 3 Prix La Rochette at Longchamp, while Galova was another to earn black type when third in the Criterium du Languedoc at Toulouse.

Pariente says: “Galiway has made a remarkable start to his stallion career and we have great hopes for his three-yearolds and new crop of two-yearolds. Crossing him with mares that have a lot of speed has produced excellent results. We followed the same path with the mares for Kendargent and we soon saw the results.

“We recently syndicated him with much success. The support from breeders will ensure long-term sustainability for him as a sire.

“Galiway is the leading firstseason sire in France, in terms of total earnings and earnings per runner. Galiway will continue to make headlines in 2020 with some very promising horses to race on and some who have yet to make their racecourse debuts.”

Pariente adds: “As I often say, families do not make horses, nor stallions. It requires making the right choices at the right time. He covered more than 97 broodmares in 2019. This year we have syndicated the horse but we set his fee much higher, wanting to prioritise quality over quantity. His book is filling up nicely already at this early stage of the season.”

For those looking for a potential future star from the sire’s second crop, Pariente offers a tantalising clue.

“The trainer to follow for Galiway is Frederic Rossi, who not only trains our homebred Kenway, who won at Group 3 and Listed level as a two-yearold, but also has a Galiway two-year-old who should make a big impression this year,” he says. “Watch this space!”

Given Rossi was able to get Kenway out in time to finish second in last March’s Prix du Debut – a French equivalent of Doncaster’s Brocklesby Stakes – we may not have to wait too long to discover the identity of this year’s model.

The third member of the Colleville line-up shows just how far the farm has come in little more than a decade.

To be able to stand a

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Racing Post Thursday, January 16, 2020

Clockwise from main, Kendargent leads the Haras de Colleville roster, fresh from his record-breaking exploits last year; his son Goken, who has his first two-year-olds in 2020; Galiway, whose first runners performed well in 2019

successful son of Kendargent is another source of pride for Pariente, especially one with a fine record on the racecourse, where he carried his owner’s yellow and white silks with distinction.

Goken showed a huge amount of natural speed from the start of his career in the care of Alex Pantall, snaring the Group 3 Prix du Bois before running a close fourth in The Wow Signal’s Prix Morny.

He picked up another Group 3, the Prix Texanita, during his sophomore season before being sent to Kevin Ryan at four, rattling home to be third in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot.

Buyers were not shy in showing their admiration when his first yearlings were presented in 2019, with an average price of almost €19,000 for his progeny, and the €50,000 paid by Jean-

Claude Rouget for the alreadynamed Celeborn at Arqana last August was the highlight.

“Goken has been in demand as he’s a very commercial sire,” says Pariente. “Trainers are always looking for precocious and speedy-looking two-yearolds and they weren’t disappointed with his offspring. His yearlings sold very well and the word on his

first two-year-olds is very good. It looks like being a very exciting year.”

Haras de Colleville has earned its growing reputation the hard way, building from the ground up in both infrastructure and the quality of its stock.

Pariente’s determination that it would be nothing less than a full-blown success has

been at the heart of it all, and he is far from finished with his ambitions.

Very near the top of the list will be a first Group 1 winner for Kendargent and mounting the top step of the podium at Royal Ascot or Newmarket, two venues he holds dear.

Not that 2019 can be regarded as anything other than hugely successful.

“The Haras de Colleville team was largely renewed almost three years ago and we’re now reaping the rewards,” says Pariente. “The farm consists of three different sites located very close to each other.

“We had an exceptional year in 2019 with my breeding entity, Guy Pariente Holding, which for the first time took

third spot on France Galop’s official classification of French breeders. We have great ambitions this year to finish on the podium again. It’s a huge achievement considering we started breeding only 12 years ago.”

Pariente and his dedicated team have indeed come a long way in a very short space of time.

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Thursday, January 16, 2020 racingpost.com

BLOODSTOCK SPECIAL ROUTE DES ETALONS

Scott Burton talks to Larissa Kneip about the varied roster at her Normandy stud

Y

OU’VE all heard the one about the stakes winner who started nearly favourite for the Melbourne Cup but who was actually the son of a teaser stallion.

And you might have come across the horse narrowly beaten in the German Derby whose owner went to court in search of justice.

Less likely on your radar is the promising son of Scat Daddy whose career with Todd Pletcher was cut short by injury before his Gaelic name had the chance to become the bane of US racecourse commentators’ lives.

As a former television journalist and producer, Larissa Kneip certainly knows a good story when she hears one.

But the collection of stallions she has assembled at her picture-postcard Haras de Saint-Arnoult have a great deal more to recommend them than merely eclectic backstories, however much that aspect might appeal to her.

“Life is too boring in general, so that’s what the horses are good for, to make your life less boring,” says the Luxembourg native. “Horses are sometimes stressful but stress is better than boredom.”

Kneip has built a reputation as a stallion manager focused on speed and precocity, a definite gap in the French market when she first got going around the turn of the 21st century’s first decade.

That vision also fitted with her other activities as a breeder and consignor of yearlings with a thriving breeze-up business.

But it might just be that people will need to move her out of that particular pigeonhole should one or more of the new arrivals at Saint-Arnoult prove a hit.

Dschingis Secret and Seabhac were new for the 2019 season at the stud near Exmes in southern Normandy and both might have caused more of a buzz in most years, but for that extraordinary crop of French freshmen.

To the excitement of their first foals this year has been added another new stallion in Tiberian, who offers rare bloodlines courtesy of his own sire, Tiberius Caesar, and who Kneip hopes can find a niche with jumps breeders as well as those on the Flat with time and patience on their side.

Dschingis Secret starting out in France might be exactly the right outcome – the owners of Reliable Man felt a lack of high-quality mares in

Haras de Saint-Arnoult: owner Larissa Kneip built her reputation as a stallion manager focused on speed and precocity but is now branching out in different directions

The Secret’s out: exciting young sires promise more success for Saint-Arnoult

Germany could hold their young stallion back –but it was rancour that persists to this day with that country’s racing authorities which caused owner Horst Pudwill to look abroad.

To recap, Pudwill has waged a one-man crusade through first the Direktorium and latterly the German courts, in an attempt to have Dschingis Secret instated as the winner of the 2016 Deutsches Derby, having been narrowly denied by two horses whose jockeys both received hefty whip bans.

The case almost immediately caused the country to radically change the penalties handed out to riders in breach of the rules and left Pudwill determined to look elsewhere when it came to finding a home at stud for the highest-rated son of Soldier Hollow, a six-time Group winner who counted Hawkbill and Cloth Of Stars as victims during a fine four-year-old season.

Kneip says: “Mr Pudwill’s manager, Bernd Dietel, has had a couple of mares with me

for a long time. He asked for advice as to where they could stand the horse in France. I said to him, ‘If you don’t mind me saying so, I have a few

stallions which I manage quite successfully. I would like to suggest my own farm.’

“They came over and liked the surroundings and

infrastructure and they decided it would be a good idea.

“They bought another 28 mares on top of the two they

Dschingis Secret: premiums available for both Flat and jumps breeders in his next three crops

had, some with very good pedigrees. They included Graciously, who was the top price at the Arqana February sale last year, a €500,000 daughter of Shamardal and who was in foal to Invincible Spirit. He’s getting the support he needs from his owners.”

With such backing Dschingis Secret already has plenty going for him but, in a bid to attract more outside support, his ownership company (which includes Dietel and his breeders, Gestut Park Wiedingen), has launched an ambitious programme of premiums for both Flat and jumps breeders, with up to €100,000 available to each of his next three crops.

Dschingis Secret offered the opportunity to bring a type of horse to Saint-Arnoult previously out of range, given not just his rapidly rising sire and his fine race record but also a dam who, in the words of Kneip, “throws only blacktype performers”.

Tiberian may not have such starry parentage but he is another who could not be

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ND while potential clients may not have a lot to go on in terms of the genetic inheritance of his teaserstallion father, Tiberius Caesar, at €2,200 he is being pitched at a jumps sphere where such exotic origins may be a real positive.

“I think he could be a very interesting National Hunt stallion because there are so many mares from the lines of Sadler’s Wells, Cadoudal and Monsun in France, all with great jumping pedigrees,” says Kneip.

“You’re really starting at a bit of a loss as to where you can send those mares because most of the stallions are from the same lines and there is starting to be a lot of inbreeding. He’s a complete outcross to all these good female jumping lines, he has the conformation and is tall at 6.2hh.

1.67m or over 16.2hh.”

Kneip was heelped in her nd Tiberian by decision to stan lengths friendships of varying v with his ownerss, Julian Ince, Heiko Volz, Steffan Falk and usserie’s Kamel Haras de la Gou Chehboub.

But while a prredominantly jumping prospeect is certainly a departure from the likes of nd Stormy River an Sommerabend – who she describes as “prroper cash machines”” – ds Kneip still need to know what buyers will be interested in.

“We have a great market

for British and Irish agents buying mostly foals to sell on as store horses,” she says. “Of course they want to buy them pretty cheaply and if you have a big nomination fee you need to make more on the sale just to get your feet back on the ground.

“The agents are looking for good-looking horses and Tiberian could be interesting because among the few offspring of Tiberius Caesar, they are all tall and wellboned. If he transmits the same qualities, along with a very interesting German pedigree on the dam’s side, I think that will attract those agents.”

It will be a while until any of us knows whether the hopes invested in Dschingis Secret and Tiberian can be fully realised.

But there is another secondseason inmate at Saint-Arnoult who might be ready to make a splash sooner rather than later.

As a physical specimen it is easy to fall for the charms of Seabhac (pronounced Shoke), a 1.70m near-black son of Scat Daddy whose first foals may be ready to view by the time the Route des Etalons rolls into town.

His all-too-brief racing record as a two-year-old showed plenty of promise promise, as he finished

respectably close up behind future multiple Grade 1 winner Catholic Boy on only his second start before landing the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont on his only other appearance (all three runs came on turf).

Add to that a dam who is a half-sister to Preakness and Belmont hero Afleet Alex and it is not hard to see why he was viewed as a stallion prospect, despite never getting back to the track at three.

“He covered 80 mares in his first year, so we’re looking at 70-plus foals,” says Kneip.

“He’s been syndicated and a lot of good breeders bought a share and sent him decent mares.

“I can’t give him the same level of support that the owners of Dschingis Secret can but I have bought some mares with interesting pedigrees. The breeders have sent exciting young mares and hopefully we’ll get lucky and have a very good first generation of twoyear-olds next year.”

She adds: “We’re very excited to see his first foals. We made a video to promote him when he came over as a threeyear-old and was just out of training, but having just turned five now, he has become a strapping dark bay, almost black horse.

“Yet Yet he still moves in a light way and has an a excellent character. He’ss easy to deal ust say he’s a with and I mu favourite of mine.” m ult is a house of Saint-Arnou many talents, thanks to Kneip’s multitasking – she has taken ng licence in out a trainin those order to exploit e ar-olds who fail to two-yea h the buyers’ eyes catch he breeze-ups, at th and also acts as an aggent – and there as to be a decent ha chance that its c reputation as a r stallion station is s about to take a a step forward. s

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further from the stereotype of previous inmates here.

An excellent performer from a mile and a half to two miles, he took his happy band of owners around the world, picking up a pair of Group 3s and the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville en route to Flemington and Sha Tin under the guidance of Alain Couetil.

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Seabhac: covered 80 mares last year and Larissa Kneip (below) is excited to see his first foals

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Racing Post Thursday, January 16, 2020

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