It is unlikely that anyone has forgotten Mishriff but the stallion business is a fickle game. A misplaced kick to the wall of his stable at Haras de Montfort & Préaux at the beginning of the year left the multiple Group 1 winner with a foot injury which meant he was unable to start his new job in February. Instead, his covering debut will take place in February 2024.

Last week in Deauville, he was on show with all five Sumbe stallions at Clairefontaine racecourse, enabling breeders to call in while at nearby Arqana. They won't have been disappointed by what they saw. Mishriff, always a fine-looking horse in his days in training, has developed into a truly imposing specimen during his year of leisure. To this beholder, he comes very close to being a textbook example of a Thoroughbred.

“Mishriff, as everybody knows, had a setback last year,” says Sumbe manager Tony Fry.

“It seems such a long time ago now that he won the Prix du Jockey Club. He won on turf, dirt. There was a few races that he was unlucky in, but he was a true world champion.”

Fry notes that Mishriff is 1.66 metres tall – that's 16.3hh in old money – and it is easy to believe that breeders are renewing their initial interest in the horse, especially with his fee now reduced a little to €17,500 from what would have been his opening mark of €20,000.

Mishriff remains the sole Group 1 winner for his sire Make Believe (GB). On his top line he traces back through Makfi (GB) to Dubawi (Ire), the horse who became such an effective conduit for the blood of Mr. Prospector on this side of the Atlantic, ensuring that his ill-fated sire Dubai Millennium (GB) could at least be remembered in stallion terms as a one-crop wonder.

Underneath, Mishriff's family holds equally lofty claims to greatness. Bred by his owner Prince A A Faisal, he is a member of the family which has stood Nawara Stud in ample stead over the years. His dam Contradict (GB), by the increasingly useful broodmare sire Raven's Pass, fell just short of gaining black type herself but she has bred three black-type earners, with Mishriff, her third foal, way out in front. Contradict is out of the Group 3 winner Acts Of Grace (Bahri), making her a granddaughter of the G1 Prix de Diane winner Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}). The latter's success at stud has by now far outstripped her Classic credentials on the track, and through her sons Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB) especially, her imprint can be found in reams of modern-day racehorses.

Mishriff makes his debut alongside a horse who has a special place in he heart of his owner: Belbek, a son of Showcasing (GB). His dam, the Makfi (GB) mare Bee Queen (GB), was purchased from Juddmonte and, as a granddaughter of Banks Hill (GB), represents one of that operation's key families. 

“He's a Sumbe homebred, so that gives him the pride of place,” says Mathieu Le Forestier, the former trainer who joined Sumbe last year. “It's very meaningful that the first stallion that we bred here in France in our first year here joins the roster as an exciting prospect. 

“He's been a champion two-year-old. And what's very interesting about him is that he started off in April, he was the first runner from André Fabre's yard. And even before the summer, he won the Prix du Bois. He clicked off fractions in the upper level of what's been seen in the last decade in France in this specific race. He went all through the year and picked up the crown in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, which is obviously an important race in the stallion business.”

He continues, “He's been around all year at three and he eventually bowed out with a nice Group 3 win, beating horses of Group 1, Group 2 level, older horses. So it's a good starting point for a future stallion. He comes from one of the deepest families in Europe and is the close relative of 12 other Group 1 winners.”

Tony Fry adds, “Belbek is a Juddmonte-bred through and through. Showcasing was Juddmonte and Bee Queen was Juddmonte. So, thank you to Juddmonte. 

“You can't make somebody use your stallion. All you can do is show them and say, 'Here they are. What do you think?' And people can stand in front of you for ten minutes and pick out faults and positives and whatever. But he's an exceptionally good-looking horse, a nice-moving horse with a great disposition. He took his racing well, he took everything well. And the mare is a very kind mare as well. She's just one of those sweetheart mares. And again, she'll always be special to us for providing Nurlan with his first Group 1 winner. So we're very hopeful. We'll send a good selection of mares to him, as we have with all our stallions. You can't ask people to use them unless you believe in them and follow it through yourselves.”

Sumbe has somewhat cornered the market in winners of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagradère as joining Belbek is the previous year's victor Angel Bleu, who should be a valuable addition to the French stallion ranks. Though he went off to be trained in England by Ralph Beckett, the son of Dark Angel (Ire) was bred in France by Pan Sutong at Ecurie des Monceaux, and he recorded his two most significant wins there in the Jean-Luc Lagardère followed by the G1 Criterium International. His other five wins included the G2 Vintage S. and, at four, the G2 Celebration Mile and Listed Spring Trophy for Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen.

Though they both won France's major two-year-old contest for colts, Belbek and Angel Bleu are very different types, with the latter a smaller and more compact individual than the tall Belbek.

“He's 1.61 metres, a deep horse with a strong neck and very strong shoulder,” says Le Forestier of the dapple grey Angel Bleu. “He really looks to be the early-maturing, strong, sturdy type that may be very appealing to breeders.”

Adding a bit of oomph to a decent race record is the fact that Angel Bleu's dam, Cercle De La Vie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is a full-sister to the Group 1-winning stallions Highland Reel (Ire) and Idaho (Ire) from the family of the top Australian broodmare Circles Of Gold (Aus) (Marscay {Aus}), who in turn produced the stallions Haradasun (Aus) and Elvstroem (Aus).

While the first books for the trio are being drawn up, there is also the anticipation next season of the first runners for Sumbe's G1 Commonwealth Cup-winning stallion Golden Horde (Ire), who, as a son of the G1 July Cup winner Lethal Force (Ire), also represents the Dark Angel sire-line. Then there's De Treville (GB), who doesn't have quite the same lofty race record but has the distinction of being the first foal of the great Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}). A dual winner, he managed Group 3 placings on three occasions, and the stallion's family has been given a major boost by his high-flying half-brother Too Darn Hot (GB), both on the track and through the exploits of his first crop of runners in 2023.

“We try our best to address every segment of the market,” says Le Forestier. “We have De Treville at entry level and then up to Mishriff at the top end. We have sprinters, we have middle-distance horses.”

Tony Fry, who started his association with Nurlan Bizakov in England as manager of Hesmonds Stud, has seen plenty of change during his tenure. He says, “It's been 13 years now. When we started, it was six mares that we bought in December back in 2010. And now we're up to 55 mares, new stallions and two farms in France and still a farm in England. We have Haras de Montfort & Préaux and Haras du Mézeray in France, and Hesmonds in England. Montfort is the stallion station and we board mares here. Mézeray is more Nurlan's private farm, and we take in boarders there as well. They're only six kilometres apart.”

He continues, “I remember we were we were driving out of Hesmonds one day and he said, 'One day I'd like to to buy a farm in France.' And I said, 'I hope you do. If you do, it means you enjoying the industry. It means you're having success. It means you want to expand.' So that was 12 years ago and it did happen. He still enjoys it. As we all know, with horses, there's plenty of downsides. It's normally more bad news than good news. But he's taken the bad news. We move on and he still wants to succeed and breed Group 1 winners, be in Group 1 races, be in the best races. So the ambition is still there.”

Bizakov's ambition is plain to see, not least in naming Sumbe after his birthplace in Kazakhstan. The operation took on its first major sponsorship earlier this year when backing the G1 Prix Morny and the entire undercard on one of Deauville's major summer Sundays.

“The long-term plan is to establish it as a top-tier brand,” says Le Forestier. “First of all, the boss sees himself as a breeder, and every venture he makes into the business is breeding-orientated. He has a very long-term view about things and it impacts everything in the company, be it horses in training or stallions. For instance, when we take in a new stallion prospect, the first client, the first user of the stallion would be Mr Bizakov himself. We're trying our best to make people understand that the brand is a multi-dimensional operation and that we stand behind our customers in the stallion business because we are our primary customers.”

The post ‘We Stand Behind Our Customers’: Sumbe Launches Three New Stallions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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For almost 150 years, the  breeding of Thoroughbreds has taken place at the farm at Touques, just outside Deauville, which was at one stage part of an even greater operation and included land which is now occupied by an international showjumping centre in Deauville itself.

The Rothschild family has been intrinsically linked not just to Normandy, but to racing at the highest level on both sides of the Channel throughout that time. Baron Edouard de Rothschild, who took over Haras de Meautry on the death of his father Guy in 2007, is not just one of the country's longest-standing owner/breeders but also properly immersed in the politics of French racing as the president of France-Galop.

On Sunday, he had to stand down from presentation duties for the G1 Prix Rothschild for the happiest of reasons: he won the race with his homebred filly Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}). The four-year-old's family has been within the Rothschild fold since her unraced third dam Cleophis (Fr) (Crepello {GB}) was acquired from the famed owner/breeder Marcel Boussac. Both Mqse De Sevigne's granddam Une Pensee (Fr) and dam Penne (Fr) are by Rothschild-bred stallions in Kenmare (Fr) and Sevres Rose (Fr) respectively. 

Penne, now 20, was twice a winner and twice placed in Listed contests in her racing days, making her one of the most accomplished of the 127 foals sired by the unraced Sevres Rose, a son of Caerleon and Indian Rose (Fr), who won the G1 Prix Vermeille and G3 Prix Cleopatre for Baron Guy de Rothschild and was by another former Meautry resident in General Holme (Noholme {Aus}).

While Penne is clearly one of the most celebrated residents at the Normandy farm, stud manager Nick Bell doesn't sugarcoat his description of the mare who has not only produced Mqse De Sevigne but also four-time Group 1 winner Meandre (Fr) (Slickly {Fr}), who was her first foal.

“She's a great big brute of a mare, and she really stamps her stock,” Bell says. “We've had huge problems with her producing giants. She went to Frankel one year which was a major mistake as she produced a massive filly who never ran. She hasn't had a foal now for two years but with her stock you are always wondering if they're going to get too big.

“I take notes on the horses every month and we weigh them, and I was going through the notes on Mqse De Sevigne when she was here as a foal and a yearling and every single time I put, 'I hope she doesn't get too big'.”

Mqse De Sevigne is certainly statuesque and Bell's description of the latest Group 1 winner to emanate from the Meautry paddocks is more glowing than that of her mother.

He says, “She's an absolutely beautiful filly, she really is, and a really graceful walker.”

Penne is already accompanied by three of her daughters at the farm, with Pensee Spirituelle (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who is one of her six winning offspring, proving to have the opposite tendencies to her mother when it comes to her own foals.

“She looks the absolute image of her mother. If the two of them are out in the field we'd be very hard pressed to tell which is which, but the first foals that she has produced have been absolutely tiny,” Bell notes. “It's funny, you think you know families and then they suddenly do strange things on you.”

Despite having topped the Arqana August Sale with a Galileo colt back in 2008, Haras de Meautry is more owner/breeder operation than commercial enterprise, which lends a certain amount of freedom, as Bell explains.

“You can experiment, if you think something will be quite an interesting mating, you can go off and do it without having to worry about the vagaries of the market,” he says. “That's the advantage we have. For years we have used some non-commercial sires that wouldn't be expensive, because we could afford to as we weren't selling the yearlings.”

The late Haras du Logis resident Slickly would be a prime example of that strategy having worked well for Rothschild, though returning to the well does not necessarily guarantee success. 

He adds, “Meandre was always a lovely-looking horse, but then we went back to Slickly the following year and got a filly called Ondoyante, who again looked just like her mother, and it's funny, with Penne, we were praying for colts, but we got quite a lot of fillies, which of course is useful now. I think she went three times to Slickly and one was very, very good and the rest were no good.”

Penne's daughters, the multiple winner and Listed-placed Dogma (Fr) (Mount Nelson {GB}) and the unraced Une Fausse Venus (Fr) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), complete the trio currently in production at Meautry.

It used to take about half an hour to get [Penne's] bridle on every morning. She's quite a character but we forgave her a long time ago.

“Dogma only has one ovary and she has become very tricky to breed,” Bell says. “Une Fausse Venus never ran; she had nothing but problems, then we covered her and she is now in foal to Mehmas. Penne has also got very tricky now. We've spent ages trying to get her back in foal to Siyouni. Eventually she went back in foal to him in June, but with twin pregnancies right on top of each other. We squeezed one and everything seemed fine. We had a heartbeat in the other one but after 28 days she lost it.”

He adds, “She's 21 next year but she looks fantastic and you wouldn't realise that she's the age she is. She's this wild-looking mare, and she is wild. She has settled down a bit now in her old age but apparently when she was in training with Jean-Claude Rouget it used to take about half an hour to get her bridle on every morning. She's quite a character but we forgave her a long time ago.”

If Penne is approaching her twilight years, her sire, Sevres Rose, is already there and lives on in glorious, if steady, retirement at Meautry at the ago of 30.

“He's still here. It takes him about five minutes to get out to his paddock these days and it's the same one he's been in for years and years,” says Bell. “They all live here for ages and ages. We've got paddocks of retired horses.”

He's not kidding. Even more remarkably, Dievotchka (GB), who provided the Rothschilds with the other winner of their own race in Esoterique (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), died earlier this year at the truly grand age of 34. By Dancing Brave (GB) and out of the Jim Joel mare High And Dry (GB) (High Line {GB}), Dievotchka, though unraced, eventually proved to be an inspired purchase from her breeder Windfields Farm from the Keeneland July Yearling Sale back in 1990. Her black-type winning offspring are led by Esoterique, who added the G1 Sun Chariot and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois to her Prix Rothschild success, as well as two Group 3 victories. Her siblings include the Group 2 winners Russian Cross (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Russian Hope (Ire) (Rock Hopper {GB}) and Archange d'Or (Ire) (Danehill), as well as the Listed winners Russian Desert (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}) and Russian Hill (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}).

Esoterique's transition from a glittering racing career to broodmare has not been plain sailing, but it was also not unexpected. In a patchy spell at stud, she finally delivered a longed-for filly this spring, who will hopefully eventually join several grand-daughters of Dievotchka already in production at the stud.

Bell explains, “She's back in foal to Kingman (GB) and has a Kingman filly foal, which is fantastic, because we were looking for a filly. Her yearling colt [also by Kingman] will go to Andre Fabre. She's very, very difficult to get in foal. She had this ovary problem when she was racing and that's why she was off for a long period of time, and I think that's why Edouard kept her in training for as long as he did, because he knew that she may not be easy.”

He continues, “The first year we thought we'd keep her local but unfortunately she didn't go in foal to Le Havre (Ire). She went to NEH in Newmarket and they found that there was a granular tumour in one of her ovaries so they removed that ovary. She went to Galileo three times and we got one out of her, and then we decided we'd change and go to Kingman, and luckily the first time she got in foal straightaway. She is very tricky though, and they've done a great job at Juddmonte and at John James's to get her in foal. She had quite a difficult foaling as well. 

“We haven't got a lot of fillies from that family. Russian Hill, who was the best mare that we had [out of Dievotchka] bred colt after colt after colt, and she is retired now.”

Mqse De Sevigne became the tenth Group 1 winner for Siyouni, who is out on his own in the French stallion ranks. Though the sire numbers in the country have been boosted by some interesting new recruits of late, the loss of some more established names has been keenly felt.

You do get a sense of history here. It's quite something. You tend to feel that you're only a guardian here for a short period of time.

“We're a little bit light on proven stallions in France at the moment and obviously we would like to use proven stallions as much as we can because you kind of know what you're getting,” Bell says.

“We used Wootton Bassett (GB) right from the first year, so he's a huge loss, and we used Le Havre plenty and the one good thing is we have a lot of Le Havre fillies, and he looks like he's going to be a good broodmare sire.”

He adds, “Occasionally we'll send a filly to race in America and perhaps leave her there to be covered and then bring her back. In fact, Victorine (Fr), by Le Havre, was covered by Kitten's Joy and that colt is now in training with Andre Fabre.”

The British-born Bell revels in the history of Haras de Meautry, which he joined in 2007 after previous stints in Newmarket as assistant to Tom Jones, as yearling manager at Ballylinch Stud, and later at Haras de Bouquetot until it was sold by owner Nicholas Springer.

“It worked out as perfect timing,” he says. “Edouard was about to take over Meautry as his father had just died, and he was looking for a manager. I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.”

With a view of Deauville racecourse from the highest point of the farm, and the area having had such close ties with the Rothschild family for a century and a half, Bell admits that Sunday was special day for all involved. 

He says, “It was absolutely fantastic. Edouard's son Louis presented the trophy to Edouard that he should have been presenting, and Alexis Pouchin, who rode his first Group 1 winner, his father is one of the travelling head lads for Andre Fabre, so it really was a proper family affair.”

Bell adds, “You do get a sense of history here. It's quite something. You tend to feel that you're only a guardian here for a short period of time and that you have to keep the legacy going. We sell very few yearlings and tend to keep pretty well everything. Edouard is in it for the racing–to go racing and enjoy it.”

There could be no better principle for the head of France-Galop, and few more enjoyable achievements than to have had two homebred winners of the family race on the course that feels like home.

The post The Belle Epoque Continues for Meautry appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Last year was an outstanding one for Cadran, with stakes performances from Wally (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Sippinsoda (Fr) (War Front), Anna Karenine (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}), and Kyrov (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), as well as Jean-Claude Seroul's Marianachic (Fr) (Authorized{Ire}), Wootton City (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Marianafoot (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). Talvard came agonisingly close to enjoying a second Classic victory at Chantilly when La Parisienne (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) went down by a short head to Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Prix de Diane. 

Talvard, always a passionate supporter of his protégées at the races, was in tears of joy at the finish exclaiming that it felt as if they had won the race. La Parisienne stays in training for 2023, with the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe her objective, having been balloted out of the race last year. 

“She spent two months here after Arc weekend and is now back in training” says Talvard, who lights up at the mention of the filly trained by his great friends and frequent business partners Carlos and Yann Lerner for Peter Bradley and associates. “And she is magnificent. She has put on topline, she looks stronger than last year. We just have to hope she gets in the race this time. But it should help pass the year. Her dam, Skysweeper (Fr) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), will return to Zarak. He has really impressed me this year, his statistics are fantastic. I also like the cross of Dubawi and Hurricane Run.” 

Skysweeper is out of the Lomitas (GB) mare Varsity (GB), and had already produced a group winner in GM Hopkins (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). She was bred by Talvard and bought back by her breeder alongside Carlos Lerner for €44,000 as a yearling, and then again for €12,000 as a broodmare carrying to Makfi (GB). The resulting filly foal, Scripturale (Fr), was Listed and Group 3-placed; La Parisienne is her first group winner. Her New Bay (GB) yearling colt sold for €90,000 at the Arqana August Yearling Sale in 2022, with the Lerner father-and-son training duo reinvesting in this family. 

The 104-rated Queen Trezy (Fr) was bought by Talvard and his associates at the most recent Arqana December Sale for €800,000 from her breeder Haras d'Etreham. Queen Trezy is from the first crop of Etreham's Almanzor (Fr) and out of Elodie (GB) (Dansili {GB}), a full-sister to Group 1 winners We Are (GB) and With You (GB). She finished second in the competitive juvenile G3 Prix des Reservoirs, before placing four times at stakes level at three including third in the G1 Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary. 

“She will be covered by Lope de Vega (Ire), which suits my partners as Ballylinch Stud is one of them,” explains Talvard, “She is by Almanzor and out of a Dansili mare. The resulting foal will be an outcross, which is essential for me. She's a mid-sized mare, which I prefer over big mares as you never know what they will produce and how to cross them. Lope De Vega puts size and scope in to first foals, so I like him for maiden mares. I have had success with the sire; we bred Trixia De Vega (Fr) for Jean-Claude Seroul who went on to be a Listed winner, and I sold a Lope De Vega colt very well last year [for €575,000 to Godolphin].” 

That colt was out of Golden Lilas (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the full-sister to G1 Prix de Diane victrix Golden Lilac (Ire), who returns to the Ballylinch flagship sire this year. Talvard elaborates, “She unfortunately lost her foal this year. She had already been to Lope De Vega once before, and she will return to him. She produced a colt who was perfect in every way. We sold him at Arqana last year, where he was bought by Godolphin. She is already in foal.” 

Another recent purchase by Talvard is the multiple group performer Flighty Lady (Ire) (Sir Percy {GB}). “I was delighted to have bought this mare this year in partnership with three others,” he says. “She is a maiden by a good broodmare sire in Sir Percy and was a Group 1 performer. Her dam is by Dansili, another very good damsire. She's a very attractive mare, average-sized and from the close family of Early March. She finished third in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and placed several times at group level in the States. She has already been covered by Wootton Bassett and she is in foal. He should suit her.” 

Sir Percy is continuing to grow his reputation as a broodmare sire, with 95 winners from his daughters and 30 2-year-old winners, including the G2 City Of York S. winner Shine So Bright (GB).

Like Zarak, for example, he produces horses that want to race. Last year, he was already impressive, but this year has been exceptional.

Ecurie Melanie is Talvard's biggest partner, and they own a number of mares together including Night Music (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), Happy Approach (Fr) (New Approach ({Ire}), Mint Julep (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Golden Lilas and Tickle Me Green (Ger). 

“A Talvard special,” laughs the breeder, “Tickle Me Green is a daughter of Sea The Moon who was quite a good racemare. She comes from a nice Cheveley Park family. She has a nice Oasis Dream yearling colt and is unfortunately not in foal this year to Lope De Vega. She has been covered by Siyouni.  She's a very attractive mare, and so I hope that this mating will produce a lovely foal.” 

The Gorlsdorf-bred and raced mare was a Listed winner in France and multiple Group-placed, including second in the G2 Prix de la Nonette. She was bought for €800,000 by Talvard, Ecurie Melanie and Gandharvi Racing at the Arqana December Sale in 2021 in foal to Oasis Dream (GB).

Bred and raced by Talvard's longtime associate, Ecurie Melanie, quadruple laureate Sippinsoda (Fr) (War Front {Ire}) returned to Cadran at the end of 2022 to begin her second career. She is another that will head up the road to visit the French champion sire Siyouni. 

“We sold her dam, Let's Misbehave (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), at Arqana last December [for €920,000 to BBA Ireland], and so we have brought the daughter home,” says Talvard. “She deserves to go to Siyouni as she was a good performer on the track; she was a Listed winner and finished fourth in the G1 Prix Saint Alary just a short-head from Queen Trezy, and a length from Place du Carrousel (Ire), who went on to win the G1 Prix de l'Opera. She also finished second in the G3 Prix Chloe.”

Another Cadran/Melanie homebred, Roman Candle (GB) (Le Havre {Fr}), now stands at Haras de l'Hetraie after a promising career came prematurely to an end–but not before he made five appearances at group level, always in the first five home, including a win in the G2 Prix Greffuhle. He was the second foal and first runner for his dam, Holy Dazzle (GB) [Sunday Break {Jpn}]. 

Talvard continues, “Holy Dazzle has a lovely foal by St Mark's Basilica (Fr), and she will go to Saxon Warrior (Jpn) this year. He has had a great start, although it is too early to really be able to judge him, as is the case for all sons of Deep Impact (Jpn). However, Deep Impact has such influence in Japan and across the world, that his sons merit our interest. She's a small mare but she produces good-sized foals. She has a nice Siyouni colt, who was a June foal, in training with Carlos and Yann [named Wapi], that we retained in a partnership. I like him a lot.”

He continues, “One that I really like is Kerila (Fr). She's a daughter of Makfi, and her first three foals are very nice horses; Darkness (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who is a 2-year-old Listed winner and group-placed, and Shaikha (Fr) (Ribchester {GB}), who won the Prix de Lisieux in a record time. She has a very nice Wootton Bassett 2-year-old in training with Andre Fabre for Al Shaqab Racing. She is in foal to Wootton Bassett, and she will return to him this year. She's a small mare and he will give her a bit of size and quality. I really liked her first foal by the sire, and now that he has gone into training with André Fabre, I am dreaming. We bought her in foal for the first time to Siyouni from the Aga Khan, and that foal was Darkness.” 

Talvard continues, “I bought back Silver Lining (Fr), the half-sister to Wally (Fr), at the end of last year. She is by Caravaggio and she finished fourth in the Prix d'Aumale. A maiden, she will go to Blue Point (Ire) to give her a bit of size, and to keep the speed. Another son of Shamardal, but all our mares have Galileo in their pedigree and as I don't like inbreeding the choices are limited. Sons of Shamardal, sons of Dubawi, sons of Deep Impact or Kodiac and Siyouni are lines that we use. But if you don't want to inbreed to Danehill or Galileo you are restricted in your choice. I need to use stallions who regularly produce good-looking stock, as they all go to the sales, like Wootton Bassett, who is nearly certain to give you an attractive yearling.” 

I do all the foaling, and all the mares foal here. I want to take pleasure in each arrival.

Wootton Bassett left Haras d'Etreham for Coolmore in 2020, where he now commands a fee of €150,000, having begun his career at a modest €4,000 in 2012. Now sire of six Group 1 winners, his best-bred crops are still to come. 

Talvard adds, “Due to foal to Wootton Bassett this year is Chuppy (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), on her maiden cover. She is the full-sister to Wonderful Tonight (Fr), and she will visit Mehmas (Ire) this year. Marianabaa (Fr) (Anabaa {USA}), the dam of G1 Maurice de Gheest winner Marianafoot, and dual Listed winner Marianachic (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}), will be covered by Zarak.

“In France, I mostly use Zarak, Siyouni, and the three Haras d'Etreham sires: Almanzor, Persian King (Ire) and Hello Youmzain (Fr), and I still support The Grey Gatsby as he is our homebred.  I have a share in him, but in general I try not to take shares in stallions as you are then obliged to use them, which is also the reason I don't have stallions on the stud. I prefer to be free to make my choice of mating based on the mare and send her to the best possible sire.”

With such elite breeding stock in his paddocks, Talvard takes his mating planning seriously, working on it from the start of September through to the end of the year. 

“I do a couple every night,” he says. “I have a few rules; there is not to be any inbreeding, and the bloodlines need to work. I follow the race results of every race in the world throughout the year, and see what sires are succeeding and how their progeny race. Like Zarak, for example, he produces horses that want to race. Last year, he was already impressive, but this year has been exceptional. Even in smaller races, if there is one by Zarak in the race, it will be in the first three. They love their racing. He has such a pedigree as well, even if he is expensive I will use him. I have four going to him this year. 

“Another stallion who impressed me last year was Cracksman (GB), who I am sending two or three mares. We were really not expecting him to produce 2-year-olds, but he did. Jean-Claude Rouget has two for this year that look very good. John Gosden has several very well-bred 3-year-olds by him that haven't debuted yet. Another that I really like is Earthlight (Ire). I have a lovely filly by him, and I think he is at reasonable price. I have to balance with some of the very expensive sires that we are using, as we also need to think of our budget.”

Talvard adds, “I don't add up the nominations bill. I do the matings as if I were rich, and if the mare deserves the cover she will go to the stallion. I do this job because I want to breed beautiful foals; I do all the foaling, and all the mares foal here. I want to take pleasure in each arrival.”

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A native of the central part of France, where many top-class jumpers are raised, André was surrounded with horses from birth and qualified as an agricultural engineer. She has now been working in the racing industry for 20 years, 16 of which were spent running the office at Ecurie des Monceaux, the operation which has dominated the vendors' leaderboard at the Arqana August Yearling Sale for the past decade. 

She recalls, “I arrived at Monceaux in 2005, just one year after Henri Bozo was appointed as manager. I spent my first three years working with the mares and foals, before taking up the office and clients' relations. It was a privilege to meet many prominent figures of the international racing and breeding scene, including Lady O'Reilly, David Redvers and Sheikh Fahad Al Thani. We had some loyal customers as well as a constant intake of new clients, thanks to Henri's great drive and talent. Looking back on this unique entrepreneurial experience, I feel honoured to have witnessed the rise of Monceaux to the leading position as yearling vendor, and to have been a very small part in the production of 11 Group/Grade 1 winners including Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) and Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}).”

Earlier this year, André branched out on her own to set up 'Le Racing Office', a one-stop shop for all foreign investors with racing and/or breeding interests in France. 

Setting itself the simple goal to save her clients all the paperwork and administrative hassle so that they can concentrate on enjoying their passion, Le Racing Office offers a wide range of services covering all interactions with French authorities (horse registration, naming, owner registration, application for racing colours, etc.), accounts management, breeding paperwork (nominations, registration for French bonuses, transport) and keeping you updated on your horses through photos, videos and reports.

She explains, “On many occasions during my time at Ecurie des Monceaux, I noticed that the administration of a racing or breeding operation in France was not simple for foreigners, even on a small scale. As in many other countries, red tape can be off-putting, the tax system can be difficult to navigate and of course there is the language barrier. My aim is to make the life of foreign owners and breeders easier, with a single point of contact handling their account and being in contact with the professionals on the ground to give them regular feedback on their horses.”

André is keen to underline that this new venture would not have been possible without her extended spell at Ecurie des Monceaux.

“I am hugely thankful to Henri Bozo for the unique experience I had at Monceaux and remain extremely attached to this fantastic operation,” she says. “Henri is a renowned horseman and a visionary. Working alongside him for 16 years taught me an awful lot and gave me the confidence to start up my own business.”

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The acquisition of the 440-acre farm in Normandy follows the 2019 purchase of Haras de Montfort & Préaux, which is just 10 kms from Mézeray and is home to the Sumbe stallions Le Havre (Ire), Recorder (GB) and Golden Horde (Ire). The latter, who has just embarked on his first covering season, had his first mare scanned in foal on Thursday.

Bizakov founded his breeding empire at Hesmonds Stud in the UK. He has retained that 700-acre Sussex farm, which is used for boarding clients' mares or for his own mares visiting British-based stallions, but his entire broodmare band was moved to France last year. Tony Fry, the long-term manager of Hesmonds Stud, has moved to Haras du Mézeray, and Mathieu Alex remains in charge of Haras de Montfort & Préaux.

The Kazakhstan-born Bizakov said of his most recent purchase, “When I bought Montfort & Préaux I realised that the existing land was not big enough to accommodate my own mares as well as those of Montfort & Preaux's clients. When we moved our 30-plus mares from England it put it under pressure, and from day one, Mathieu, Tony and I have been looking for some options around Montfort & Préaux. Then we decided to look at Mézeray, which was on the market and is just 10 minutes from Montfort & Préaux. It has been a long journey but finally we've done it and I am very happy because Mézeray is a very big name in French breeding. It has a long history, having been founded by Paul de Moussac in 1962. So it is coming up for its 60th anniversary next year.”

During those last six decades two Arc winners, Trempolino and Subotica (Fr), have headed a notable list of Mézeray-bred Group 1 winners which includes Luth Enchantee, Amonita (GB), Naaqoos (GB), Coquerelle (Ire) and Mekhtaal (GB). More recently, it has also been responsible for the five-time Group 2 winner Enbihaar (Ire) and last season's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon winner and G1 Criterium International runner-up Normandy Bridge (Fr), a son of Le Havre who is a Classic prospect this season for young Deauville trainer Stephanie Nigge.

Montfort & Préaux has also produced a number of top-class performers in recent seasons, including the dual Classic heroines Avenir Certain (Fr) and La Cressonniere (Fr), both by Le Havre, who is also the sire of the David Menuisier-trained dual Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight (Fr). She was bred at the farm, along with Suedois (Fr) and Mont Ormel (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}).

Bizakov continued, “We will consider Mézeray and Montfort & Préaux as one farm. Obviously some staff will be focused on one farm and some on the other but I am sure there is plenty of room for synergy between the two. I hope that clients from both farms will benefit from this merger as well because it will give us more room, more facilities and more infrastructure.”

The owner/breeder indicated that he is keen to expand his stallion operation in France. Along with the three stallions at Montfort & Préaux, Mézeray is currently home to De Treville (GB), an Oasis Dream (GB) half-brother to Too Darn Hot (GB) who will be represented by his first runners this season. 

“We will discuss with his owner Rashit Shaykhutdinov what he would like to do with De Treville,” he said. “We would definitely like to stand more stallions in the future. That was the main reason that I decided to buy Montfort & Préaux in the first place, because they had Le Havre and Recorder, who I hope will have a big year this year. Now with Golden Horde we have a new stallion at the farm and this year we will look for some options to buy. I would like to stand a Group 1-winning miler and we might look at a mile-and-a-quarter horse as well.”

Bizakov's own mare Card Shop (Chester House), the dam of G3 Prestige S. winner Ollie Olga (Stormy Atlantic), was the first to be scanned in foal to Golden Horde this week. The breeder will also be supporting his new stallion with Albanka (Giant's Causeway) and Totally Devoted (Seeking The Gold), the dams respectively of two more of his group-winning homebreds in Altyn Orda (Ire) (Kyllachy {GB}) and Tomyris (CGB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Also slated to visit the G1 Commonwealth Cup winner is Melilot (Fr) (Elusive City), whose daughter Mageva (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was third in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, and Dalkeya (Fr) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), a half-sister to the Aga Khan's G1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Dolniya (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}).

“Golden Horde has settled in very nicely,” said Mathieu Alex. “He's a horse with a great mind. He has already covered 16 mares and the first one has been scanned in foal. He's a very exciting horse to have in France as he is a Royal Ascot Group 1 winner, so that is very exciting for French people. He had great form at two, which is always a plus, and he's a good-looking horse, so he's been popular.”

Of the inclusion of Mézeray in the operation's portfolio of studs, he added, “It is a great opportunity to be able to purchase such a prestigious farm where 27 Group 1 winners, including two Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners, were bred. Good land is so important and definitely one of the keys for racing success. Nurlan Bizakov loves the breeding side of this industry and it made sense to go ahead with this farm located 10 kms away from Haras de Montfort & Préaux. It is a very exciting project and all the team involved feel very privileged to be part of it. It is also great news for France where the racing system is one of the best in the world. It's great to see major players want to be here.”

Despite moving his breeding stock to France, Bizakov still has horses in training in Britain and he singles out the 96-rated treble winner Shandoz (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), trained by Roger Varian, as one he is particularly looking forward to seeing return to the track this season.

He said, “We have a good bunch of horses to go to war with. We bought two by Recorder last year to support our stallion and we sent one of those to England to Clive Cox, who trained Golden Horde. In England, we have horses with Roger Varian, John Gosden and Clive Cox, and in France we have a good bunch of trainers as well. With French premiums we will probably have more horses in training in France.”

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“Wooded stood out from the day he arrived for his good looks and ability and he was very sound, never missing a day’s work,” said trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. “In the G3 Prix Texanita he announced himself as a potential superstar and we were confident he would go close in the Commonwealth Cup. The difficulties of travelling this year made it impossible for him to run. As a racehorse he had so many qualities, class, courage and speed and he fully deserved his Group 1 win this year.”

A winner and placed in both the G3 Prix la Rochette and G3 Prix Thomas Bryon as a juvenile in the Al Shaqab colours, the bay did his best running at three. Successful in the G3 Prix Texanita, he was second in the G3 Prix du Petit Couvert three starts later in September prior to his Group 1 win facing elders on Arc Day. The Gestut Zur Kuste-bred €90,000 Arqana October yearling retires with a mark of 9-3-3-1 and $250,081 in earnings.

“Wooded has been a very special racehorse to us at Al Shaqab, winning such a prestigious sprint race as the Prix de l’Abbaye on Arc day, at 3-years-old and against much more experienced horses,” said Al Shaqab General Manager Khalifa Al Attiya. “He will now be starting a new exciting career at Haras de Bouquetot, and we feel confident that such a standout sprinter who performed at the highest level with such consistency at 2- and 3-years’-old will be very well received by the breeders.”

Out of a full-sister to SW & MGSP Fred Lalloupet (GB) (Elusive City) and a half-sister to SW & GSP Mon Pote Le Gitan (Thunder Gulch), Wooded is a full-brother to G3 Sovereign S. bridesmaid Beat Le Bon (Fr). His second dam, Firm Friend (Ire) (Affirmed), won at the listed level in France, and was also second in the G2 Italian 1000 Guineas and third in a further two French Group 3s.

Added Haras de Bouquetot Stud Manager Benoit Jeffroy, “We’re delighted to welcome a Group 1-winning son of Wootton Bassett to join the roster at Haras de Bouquetot for 2021. An athletic mover of 1m67 (16.2 hh), Wooded has outstanding looks, is a very balanced and correct horse with great depth. He’s always shown plenty of speed and we are confident he’ll be an attractive sort to the European market.”

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