Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations feature a trio of Andre Fabre trainees, including a welcome return for Coolmore and Westerberg's dual Group 1-placed Ancient Rome.
14.25 Chantilly, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 3yo, c/g, 8f (AWT)
Godolphin's SWING VOTE (GB) (Shamardal) is an Andre Fabre-trained son of G1 Oaks heroine Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and the March-foaled homebred bay faces nine rivals in this debut. They include Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's Tonal (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who is kin to three black-type performers out of a half-sister to G1 Cheveley Park S. victrix Pas De Reponse (Danzig).
15.35 Chantilly, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 3yo, f, 8f (AWT)
Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's ALGOLIA (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), another Andre Fabre-conditioned newcomer of note, is a half-sister to Listed Prix Charles Laffitte victrix Babala (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) produced by G1 Grande Premio Diana (Brazilian Oaks) winner Viva Rafaela (Brz) (Know Heights {Ire}). Her 10 opponents include Ecurie Skymarc Farm's homebred Morgana (Fr) (Camelot {GB}), who is out of an untried half-sister to three-time GI Canadian International-winning sire Joshua Tree (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud second Arthur's Kingdom (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), from the Stephane Wattel stable; and Rashit Shaykhutdinov's Meteor Shower (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who is a homebred daughter of stakes-winning G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) runner-up Megera (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), representing Fabrice Chappet.
16.45 Chantilly, Cond, €18,000, 4yo, 9f (AWT)
Coolmore and Westerberg's 4-year-old colt ANCIENT ROME (War Front) returns to action for Andre Fabre coming back off a nine-month break, having run ninth in June's G1 Prix du Jockey Club when last seen. The 2021 G3 Prix des Chenes victor, who also hit the board in that season's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International, encounters seven rivals in this low-key affair.
Coolmore and Westerberg's 3-year-old colt Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road–Cuff {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), a multiple Classic entry, justified long odds-on favouritism with a comfortable success in Friday's one-mile Listed Patton S. at Dundalk. The homebred bay followed up an August maiden win at the Curragh with a second in the Co. Louth venue's Sept. 30 Listed Star Appeal S. and closed his juvenile campaign with a 2 3/4-length triumph in October's G3 Killavullan S. at Leopardstown. The eventual winner, Aidan O'Brien's first domestic runner of the year, was sharply into stride from the outside stall and raced in a close-up second through halfway. Nudged along to gain control soon after turning for home, the 3-10 chalk was not for catching thereafter and kept on strongly under urging inside the final furlong to prevail by two lengths from News At Ten (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}).
Cairo is the third of five foals and one of two winners from as many runners produced by Listed Naas Fillies' Sprint S. victrix Cuff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), herself kin to six black-type performers headed by MG1SP sire Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G1 Gran Criterium heroine Nayarra (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and G1 St James's Palace S. third Mars (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). The April-foaled bay's second dam, MGSP Listed Empress S. victrix Massarra (GB) (Danehill), is daughter of G1 Prix de Diane heroine Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}) and thus a half-sister to G1 Haydock Sprint Cup-winning sire Invincible Spirit (Ire) (Green Desert) and to the dam of three-time Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}). He is half to a 2-year-old filly by No Nay Never and a yearling colt Wootton Bassett (GB).
The Night Boat to Cairo
2000 Guineas entrant Cairo gives Aidan O'Brien a first domestic winner of the year from his very first runner, landing the €40,000 Listed Patton Stakes under Ryan Moore
There is no denying that the stallion market is becoming increasingly difficult with appetites for stud prospects growing. There is also no questioning that the support a young stallion receives in their first few years is paramount to their success. Most stallions are an easy sell in their first year with many being oversubscribed and then numbers falling off in the years leading up to that first crop hitting the track. However, one stallion whose numbers and support could very likely stay consistent throughout those primitive years is Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), given the number of influential breeders that are involved in his ownership.
Although standing at The National Stud in England, Lope Y Fernandez is owned by Whitsbury Manor Stud, Nick Bradley and the Newmarket-based operation as well as Coolmore, for whom the horse raced, retaining an interest. It may seem a slightly unusual set up given that Whitsbury Manor Stud have a successful stallion operation themselves, but as Ed Harper explains, when the right prospect presents itself you cannot let it pass you by.
“We really weren't planning on buying a new stallion last year,” said Harper. “We were having a busy year at Whitsbury and we wanted to give Sergei Prokofiev another year in the limelight. But when I went and saw Lope Y Fernandez, I just thought, 'this is a horse we need to get involved with.'”
At a similar time, Bradley, who is best known for his successful racing syndicate, was seeing a worrying trend in the British stallion ranks.
“The year prior to Lope Y Fernandez being available, I was noticing a post-Brexit trend that all of these top racehorses were going to stand, primarily, in Ireland,” noted Bradley. “I spoke to a lot of UK breeders and I said, 'Come on, we need to get ourselves organized here.' And Ed Harper was listening.”
Once it became apparent that the Group 1-placed son of Lope de Vega was available to buy the wheels were set in motion.
“I got talking with The National Stud and Nick Bradley and thought, 'you know, can we put a group together,'” explained Harper. “So we are the major shareholder, the National Stud owns 25% and Nick Bradley owns a nice portion as well, with Coolmore staying in too.”
From The National Stud's perspective this structure seems a no brainer with Joe Bradley citing, “We're stronger together,” when asked about being involved. “To incorporate really prominent breeders such as Whitsbury Manor, who have had the most unbelievable year, and Nick Bradley to really support the stallion means he will have every chance.”
In the last few weeks, we have seen several foals by the stallion on social media platforms and it appears that Lope Y Fernandez is passing on his good looks.
“One of his best qualities is the way he walks,” said Joe Bradley. “He's such an athletic horse. He stands over 16hh and physically he's just a very imposing horse.”
Of the first few that have hit the ground Nick Bradley has a number that have had his team “waxing lyrical,” with one colt in particular having “a great shoulder, great hip and a great action to go with it.”
Aside from the mares that will be sent to Lope Y Fernandez by his owners as well as the wider breeding population, it may not be surprising to hear that all the operators are already looking ahead to the foal and yearling sales.
“We're probably going to send in more mares this year, his second season,” said Harper. “I think we've got 25 on the list to send him this season and we'll be buying foals as well the in the ring.
All three entities were busy at the recent Tattersalls February Sale buying mares to send to Lope Y Fernandez, but Bradley is thinking further down the line.
“I'll be out there trying to buy the best fillies for Nick Bradley Racing,” said Bradley. “Last year, we had seven stakes winners, so if a couple of them could be by Lope Y Fernandez in years to come, that'd be great.”
This unique situation is not lost on those involved with it as Harper points out, “I've never been involved in a stallion that's not just had the supply side of the mares helping him, but actually the demand side buying the progeny as well, which is fairly unique for a commercially priced horse.”
As the old sayings go, there is strength in numbers and teamwork makes the dream work. For Lope Y Fernandez both sayings seem to be meeting each other in the middle. As the breeding season rolls on, it is not inconceivable to expect Lope Y Fernandez's foals to stand out during a social media scroll or to imagine his second and future books being just as large as his first.
The group heroine Air De Valse (Fr) (Mesnil Des Aigles {Fr}) took top honours during the first session of the Arqana February Mixed Sale on Tuesday.
The Bridge Consignment shelled out €240,000 for the 7-year-old G3 Prix du Petit Couvert heroine from the Corine Barande-Barbe draft. Placed in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye in 2021, Air De Valse is a daughter of listed winner Air Bag (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}).
Jérôme Glandais, the Director of Haras du Logis Saint-Germain said, “She's been bought for Mr. Benaroussi, who continues to invest in breeding. For the moment we haven't decided what stallion she will go to or where she will be boarded.”
Shalaa (Ire) mare Majal (Fr) (lot 173) changed hands for €102,000 to Eamon Reilly of BBA Ireland. Offered by Haras de Bouquetot, the winner is a half-sister to G3 Prix La Force victor Pao Alto (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), while her dam, a winner at Group 3 level in Germany, is a half-sister to G1 French Oaks heroine Palmas (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}).
Reilly said, “She's a lovely filly, that moves nicely and has an exceptional pedigree page. She'll come back to Ireland and start her broodmare career.”
The winning jumper Santa Fix (Fr) (Saint Des Saints {Fr}) (lot 118) was signed for by Paul Basquin for €92,000 on behalf of a partnership between Haras du Saubouas and Haras d'Etreham. She is a half-sister to listed-winning jumper Fixe Le Kap (Fr) (Kapgarde {Fr}), as well as A Mi Manera (Fr) (Great Pretender {Ire}), a dual graded winner over jumps.
“She's a magnificent filly that moves really well,” said Paul Basquin. “She's from a lovely family and by Saint des Saints, an excellent broodmare sire. She's been bought for a partnership between Haras de Saubouas and Haras d'Etreham. She'll be covered by Paradiso (Fr), a stallion that we estimate and want to support by sending him mares of this quality.”
The fourth dearest lot of Tuesday's session was lot 70, a nomination to Group 1 sire Camelot (GB) to aid the Red Cross in Syria and Turkey. Offered by Coolmore, the nomination was snapped up by Rahinston Stud for €62,000.
“I've bought it for a client of the farm, an owner/breeder who wants to breed the nomination to race if all goes well, said Rahinston's Harry Fowler. “We're delighted to support such a worthy charity, especially one that is at the forefront of all our minds. When the opportunity arose for such a lovely stallion and such a good cause, we felt we should support this very generous offer from Coolmore. It's also great of Arqana to facilitate the sale. A stallion like Camelot is not easy to get into; he's a beautiful horse and has a phenomenal record. We've an idea which mare we will send to him but we're not 100% sure, let's see how they all foal. But the progeny will be kept to race.”
At the close of trade, 111 lots sold from 148 offered (75%) for a gross of €1,805,000. The average rose 38.2% to €16,261, while the median rose by 50% to €9,000 from last year's opening session.
The second and final session of the February Mixed Sale begins at 11 a.m. local time. For the complete sale results, please visit the Arqana website.
