Kamel Chehboub and his daughter Pauline, who plays a key role in the family's racing and breeding interests, campaigned Sealiway in partnership with his breeder Guy Pariente having bought him as a yearling at the Arqana August Sale in 2019. His subsequent rise to Group 1 star is very much a feather in the cap of Pariente's Haras de Colleville, as not only is Sealiway from the first crop of resident stallion Galiway, a son of Galileo (Ire), but his dam Kensea (Fr) was also bred there and is by the stallion that made the farm's name, Kendargent (Fr). Step back one more generation in the pedigree of Sealiway and we find that his second dam Sea Island (Fr), bought inexpensively by Pariente as a yearling, is by the former Quesnay resident Gold Away (Ire). What goes around, comes around. 

The success of this horse on the racecourse has in no small way driven the Chehboubs' desire to make a major impact on the French scene by launching their own stallion operation. Sealiway has been joined at Haras de Beaumont by the 12-year-old Intello (Ger), whose stud career thus far has been split between Quesnay and Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket, and the George Strawbridge-bred Stunning Spirit (GB), a Group 3-winning miler by Invincible Spirit (Ire) in the same colours as Sealiway who started his stud career at Haras de Hoguenet and has his first foals on the ground this year. It is plain, however, that this new venture very much centres on one horse.

“Sealiway, It starts with him,” says Pauline Chehboub. “We have a horse like him, a champion, and we wanted to do the best for him. We are very proud to offer Sealiway in France. He won the Champion Stakes in the UK and he was the best two-year-old in France.”

The Chehboubs are certainly not newcomers to the racing scene. Hailing from Marseille, Kamel and his brother Bouzid raced the 2008 GI Arlington Million winner Spirit One (Fr) (Anabaa Blue {GB}) who spent some years at stud in France. They already own Haras de la Gousserie in the Loire region, and they also enjoyed a major victory on Arc weekend last year when Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) won the G1 Prix de l'Opera. She was subsequently sold for €3 million to Peter Brant and Michael Tabor and went on to win this season's GI EP Taylor S. for Chad Brown.

Running a commercial stallion operation is a new direction, however, and the family has played a masterstroke in appointing Mathieu and Emilie Alex to run Haras de Beaumont. Mathieu Alex, who cut his teeth in the business with a lengthy stint at Coolmore, was a key player in the success of Haras de la Cauviniere, later Montfort et Preaux, and its flagship stallion Le Havre (Ire), who died earlier this year. 

Pauline Chehboub adds, “We are very happy to establish this new project in France and to do that with family and with a good team like Mathieu and Emilie. That's super exciting.”

Alex is all too aware of the commercial imperatives key to launching a new stallion when he says, “It's clear [Sealiway had] quite an extraordinary racing career because he won his first race as a two-year-old in May over six furlongs. He had the speed to win over six. He won the Champion Stakes over ten. He was second only to St Mark's Basilica in the French Derby, which is a great stallion-making race. He was a champion two-year-old in France.

“It's the interesting part about him. Because he raced at two, three and four people forget, but he was extremely good as a two-year-old and had a lot of precocity, and there is a lot of precocity in his pedigree. And that's one of the targets with him, to try to target that two-year-old market as well.”

Sealiway, who had only arrived at Haras de Beaumont three days in advance of TDN's visit in early December, is certainly playing his part well so far. A relaxed individual who appears to enjoy posing for the camera, he is an easy-moving horse who will surely draw admirers as visitors descend on the new stud through the early months of 2023 and for the Route des Etalons on January 21 and 22.

“Sealiway is obviously a very important horse for for the this new operation and this farm,” Alex continues. “The owners want to support the horse. It's so important not only to send good mares to the horse, but also to raise [the offspring] properly and send them to good trainers. It doesn't always work, but this is the formula we like to follow.”

Alex acknowledges that the former inhabitants of the land now known as Haras de Beaumont set a formidable example to follow.

He says, “It's part of the Quesnay, which has been extremely successful. It's going to be very difficult to do as well as the Head family but we'll try hard for sure. And we are very fortunate to have this land. A lot of champions have been bred here. Treve has been raised here. So, you know, it's a dream for us, but we work hard for it. This location as well, when you're standing stallions, we are 10 minutes away from Deauville, so when people are at the sales, they can give us a call, we have a shuttle, they come here, they'll see the horses, and they can be back in town 10 minutes later.”

Sealiway is of course not alone in the new stallion barn. His fellow Galileo-line sire Intello is rising 13 and has the Group/Grade 1 winners Intellogent (Ire) and Adhamo (Ire) to his credit. Stunning Spirit, meanwhile, hails from the Strawbridge family that produced Group 1 winner Rainbow View (Dynaformer), a sister to his dam. 

“Intello has got an extraordinary ratio of stakes horses, 11% stakes performers to runners, which is huge,” Alex notes. “And he's a very well-bred, good-looking horse. He was a French Derby winner, and he's a proven sire at a very reasonable fee, so we are very happy to have him, and we are also going to stand Stunning Spirit, who is a group winner by Invincible Spirit and his dam is a full-sister to Group 1 winner.”

As outlined by Alex, the Chehboub family plans to support Sealiway with a number of mares from their own broodmare band as well as some recent purchases, including Key Success (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the dam of black-type earners Axdavali (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) and Axdaliva (Fr) (Elusive City), bought at Arqana last weekend.

Pauline Chehboub says, “We bought three mares at Goffs especially for him: one by Dubawi, one by Acclamation in foal to Sea The Stars, and another Group 1-placed [mare], so we'll send maybe 25 or 30 mares to him this year.”

Pauline will have her work cut out as she oversees the family's stable in Chantilly, which is the base of trainer Ludovic Rovisse. Their 55 horses in training are also spread between a number of trainers including Jean-Claude Rouget, Francis-Henri Graffard, Yann Barberot and Didier Guillemin.

“I have a lot of trainers to follow and we have maybe 25 two-year-olds, so it is very busy,” she says. “But I love the breeding, it is my passion, so I will help Mathieu and Emilie and spend time in Deauville and Chantilly.”

She adds of Sealiway's recent retirement from the Graffard yard, “It was a special moment when he left the stable at Chantilly for the last time because there was a lot of sentiment for this horse. He has been different class from the beginning, since my father saw him as a yearling. He's a good mover, he could do short distances and Classic distances so, for me, he had everything.”

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The 4-year-old son of Galiway (GB) will be the first stallion to stand under the Beaumont banner, the new base for Kamel and Pauline Chehboub's breeding enterprise on land purchased from the Head family at the famed Haras du Quesnay. Haras de Beaumont will be managed by Mathieu Alex.

“I think we have the place for this champion in France. He deserves his place at stud,” Pauline Chehboub told TDN. “He was the best 2-year-old in France, one of the best 2-year-olds in Europe, and he was the best horse in France last year.

“To be able to stand him at such a magical place as Quesnay and to have as our first stallion a champion such as Sealiway makes us very proud and excited. It is a new turn in our career as owners and breeders. Our goal is to breed at the top level and to race the next champion.”

The Chehboubs, who race under the name Haras de la Gousserie, campaigned Sealiway in partnership with his breeder Guy Pariente. Among his five victories at two, he won the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, the race also won by France's current champion sire Siyouni (Fr). The following season Sealiway was runner-up to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and also ran fifth in the Arc before winning the Champion S., in which he beat Classic winners Adayar (Ire), Mac Swiney (Ire), and Mishriff (Ire).

The Chehboub family previously stood their homebred Arlington Million winner Spirit One (Fr) at stud in France but are now in the midst of a significant expansion of both their racing and breeding operations. Kamel Chehboub's daughter Pauline is managing the racing stable recently purchased in Chantilly which is now the base of Ludovic Rovisse, who is training 35 horses for the family.

Commenting on the significant purchase of part of Quesnay, Chehboub said, “I think it's very important to us to perpetuate what has happened on this land. The Head family was an example for everyone in this industry and for us too. 

“Beaumont is a major project, a story of people and encounters. We have called on Mathieu and Emilie Alex who, thanks to their expertise, will support us in doing everything possible to try to achieve our objectives.”

“It will be exciting in December to be able to show breeders the stud and Sealiway when they are in Deauville for the sales. We will be supporting the horse and we would love to add some new mares to the stud because he deserves to be covering mares at the top level. Unfortunately we sold Rougir last year, as he deserves this type of filly.”

In a banner year for Haras de la Gousserie in 2021, Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) won the G1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc weekend a fortnight before Sealiway's triumph on British Champions Day at Ascot. The filly was sold later that year by Alex under the Sumbe banner for €3 million to Michel Zerolo on behalf of Peter Brant and Michael Tabor. In Tabor's colours she won last weekend's GI EP Taylor S. for the Chad Brown stable. 

“We are proud to have raced such a filly,” said Chehboub. “She showed on Saturday that she was still the mare we had in France. I think she just needed some time to acclimatise to a new country, and one that's very different in France.”

For Chehboub and her father, the search is now on for the next stars to race under their new title of Ecurie de la Gousserie from their Chantilly yard alongside Les Aigles.

“I think my father is proud of what we have achieved so far, and the continuity of that is our project now. We have our eyes on the future. I would say the best is in front of us and that's very exciting.”

At Haras de Beaumont, Mathieu Alex has been appointed to run the stud and launch the career of Sealiway, a role for which he is well qualified, having previously worked with leading French sire Le Havre (Ire), among others, during his days at Haras de Montfort et Préaux, later known as Sumbe.

“It is exciting to start our activity with a horse with the class of Sealiway,” he said.  “His performances at the highest level, his warrior attitude and his longevity make him a true champion. 

“The Chehboub family and Guy Pariente are determined to do everything they can to give Sealiway the best possible start at stud. This is very positive for the French breeding industry. We will do our utmost to involve breeders in this exciting project and thus share the success of such an adventure.”

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Part of the Fairway Consignment draft and already named Tomokay (Fr), lot 34 is the fifth foal from his dam, the winning Hold That Tiger mare Loumaxaye (Fr). His half-brother Hayejohn (Fr), by first-season sire Johnny Barnes (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), carried all before him in the Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles at Vichy after the catalogue was published.

This is also the extended family of the dual listed winner Sully (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and G1 Futurity S., G1 Queen Elizabeth S. and G1 Caulfield Cup S. heroine Aqua d'Amore (Aus) (Danehill).

Second on the buyers' sheets was lot 82, Tiger King (Fr) (Inns Of Court {Ire}). Originally a €9,500 in utero purchase by Jean-Claud Olivier out of the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale in 2020, the colt was re-sold one year later in that same sale for €19,000 to Six of Us. Offered by Haras de Grandcamp on Thursday, the February-foaled colt was snapped up for €85,000 by John Hassett of The Bloodstock Connection for GET IN THE GAME. Out of the listed-placed Pink Cloud (Fr) (Octagonal {NZ}), his dam is a half-sister to two-time listed winner Pink Gin (Fr) (Kouroun {Fr}), as well as the stakes-placed Pink Anabella (Fr) (Anabaa).

John Hassett said, “He's a magnificent colt, that comes from a good stud. I'm very pleased with this purchase. It's possible that he might come back to Deauville for the Breeze Up next May, but nothing is decided yet.”

Hassett had struck for a colt by Shalaa (Ire) earlier in the day, when shelling out €68,000 for lot 71 as JCH Bloodstock. Haras de Castillon consigned the bay, whose dam is a half-sister to none other than outstanding third-crop sire and dual Group 2 winner Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who was also runner up in the G1 National S. and third in the G1 Middle Park S.

John Hammond bought four on the day for owner Gerard Augustin-Normand ranging in price from €5,000 to €80,000. Leading the quartet was a colt by City Light (Fr) (lot 101) from the draft of Haras d'Aspel. His dam is a half-sister to the stakes winner and stakes producer Rioticism (Fr) (Rio de la Plata), responsible for three-time stakes winner and G3 Round Tower S. third Ladies Church (GB) (Churchill {Ire}), while his half-brother by Birchwood graduated at Deauville this summer for Joel Boisnard. This colt will also join the Boisnard string.

Thursday's most expensive filly was a daughter of Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (lot 47). Purchased for €77,000 by Hammond from Haras de la Haie Neuve, the well-bred miss is from the same family as Group 1 winner Sequoyah (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), the dam of dual Classic winner Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo), and the Classic-placed Group 3 winner Queen Cleopatra (Ire) (Kingmambo); while Sequoyah's half-sister Listen (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) took the G1 Fillies' Mile and was runner-up in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. Carrying this filly, her dam brought €55,000 from Narvick International at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale in 2020.

“She's a lovely filly, that is very like her sire,” said Hammond. “I really like her physique and she has a lot of strength. We'll decide on her future at a later date.”

At the end of the day, 101 yearlings (71.6%) had sold from 141 offered. The gross was a respectable €2,113,000. The average was €20,921 and the median settled at €15,000.

The sale continues Friday at 2 p.­m.

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In a statement released on Saturday, Sumbe manager Mathieu Alex said, “Due to health issues which occurred at the end of last year, the decision was made to end his stallion career. We owe him so much and our priority is his wellbeing. Le Havre is a true champion. Winner of a magnificent Prix du Jockey Club, he was a leading stallion from his debut at stud.”

He added, “The sire of 50 Stakes winners, including two dual winners of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane, Le Havre is a source of French pride. We know how rare these horses are. He gave us the most beautiful emotions. We have lived with him for more than 10 years and are enjoying every moment.”

Bred by the Sundstrom family under their Team Hogdala banner, Le Havre was the first foal of his dam Marie Rheinberg (Ger) (Surako {Ger}), a half-sister to the Group 1-winning sprinter Polar Falcon (Nureyev), whose later accolades include being the sire of Pivotal (GB). 

Le Havre was bought by his trainer Jean-Claude Rouget for €100,000 at Arqana's August Sale and became the first major flag-bearer in Thoroughbred racing for his prolific owner. He won his first two starts as a juvenile and was clearly held in high regard by Rouget, who then ran him in the G1 Critérium International, in which he was seventh, beaten less than three lengths.

The trainer's confidence was well founded. Le Havre won the Listed Prix Djebel on his 3-year-old debut, beating the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère winner Naaqoos (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) into second. The pair finished in the same order on their next start in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, but this time it was in second and third behind Silver Frost (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}). Le Havre had his revenge a month later, however, when delivering a commanding performance to win the Prix du Jockey Club in its fifth year at the reduced distance of 2,100 metres.

His retirement to what was then known as Haras de la Cauvinière in 2009 prompted a significant foray into the breeding world by Augustin-Normand, who through his former racing manager and bloodstock advisor Sylvain Vidal bought a decent array of mares to support his exciting young stallion. Le Havre's arrival on the French scene came at a time when the country's stallion ranks had been quite seriously depleted with the deaths or retirement of some significant names such as Anabaa, Highest Honor and Linamix (Fr). Around the same time, Kendargent (Fr) and Siyouni (Fr) also retired to Normandy studs, and the trio has made a significant contribution to the resurgence of France's breeding industry over the last decade. 

Vidal's judgement in those broodmare purchases for their new stallion, who was the first to stand at the farm he ran with his former wife Elisabeth, soon became apparent and Le Havre was arguably the first of the three to make an impact. A well-named filly from his first crop, Avenir Certain (Fr), bred by Elisabeth Vidal, became Le Havre's first Classic winner in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and swiftly followed up in the Prix de Diane. Two years later the Augustin-Normand-bred La Cressonniere (Fr) completed the same Classic double, with both fillies having been campaigned by Augustin-Normand and Antonio Caro and trained by Rouget. 

Augustin-Normand told TDN on Saturday, “Le Havre has been the most important horse of my life. He was the beginning and it's very emotional for me. I wouldn't have been in the breeding business if he had not been there. Everything began with Le Havre and I wouldn't have started breeding horses without him.”

He continued, “When he went to stud I wanted to give him the best chances, everything he needed to succeed. I was so grateful to him for what he had given me, and that has not stopped. To have won two Poules and the Prix de Diane twice [with his daughters] is incredible.”

Paying tribute to the team that contributed to Le Havre's success on the racecourse and at stud, Augustin-Normand added, “I am very grateful to Jean-Claude Rouget, I think it was his first win in the Jockey Club, and it was a wonderful year for us. I am also very grateful to Christophe Lemaire, Sylvain Vidal, Mathieu Vidal and all the team. I must also say a word for Anna Sundstrom, the breeder of Le Havre. His story was the beginning for her also, and it will not be the end. Anna is a wonderful woman and is very important to me.”

Le Havre's first crop also included Suedois (Fr), who became his first colt to win at the top level in the GI Shadwell Turf Mile, while Villa Marina won the G1 Prix de l'Opera, and Wonderful Tonight (Fr), bred by Sylvain Vidal and Mathieu Alex, won the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and the G1 Prix de Royallieu among her five stakes wins for David Menuisier and Chris Wright. 

To date, Le Havre is the sire of 20 group winners and 30 listed winners, and features as the broodmare sire of G1 Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}). A number of his daughters have been exported to Japan, including both his French Classic winners. Avenir Certain's first of two foals before her untimely death, Des Ailes (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), won last year's G2 Hanshin Himba S., and has struck early in 2022 with victory in the G3 Aichi Hai. Le Havre's daughter Sea Front (Fr) is now the dam of the Grade 2-winning juvenile Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}). 

Le Havre will remain at Haras de Montfort et Préaux in retirement. Of his decision to bring the curtain down on the horse's stud career, Augustin-Normand said, “It has not been easy but it is the right thing to do. We love him so much and he has given us the biggest emotions. I went to Montfort last week to see him and it was really emotional. I hope he will stay with us as long as possible.”

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Shortly after changing its name to Montfort et Preaux, the stud added Recorder (Ire), The Queen's homebred G3 Acomb S. winner by Galileo (Ire) who was well supported by breeders and, with eight first-crop winners this year, sits behind only Zarak (Fr) on the French first-season sires' table.

Last year, Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) became the first stallion recruited to the stud since it was purchased by Bizakov and renamed Sumbe in homage to his hometown in Kazakhstan. The G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Golden Horde represents a unique opportunity for French breeders, he being one of very few representatives of the red-hot Acclamation sireline in the country, and its only Group 1 winner.

Bred by CN Farm, Golden Horde was picked up by trainer Clive Cox for £65,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale of 2018. He made his debut in mid-May for owner Al Mohamediya Racing and broke his maiden at second asking two weeks later when making all to win a Windsor maiden by 4 1/2 lengths. Two lengths from the winner Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) when fifth in the G2 Coventry S., Golden Horde won the G2 Richmond S.-just like Acclamation's ascendant sire son Mehmas (Ire)-over Threat (GB) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), who would go on to add the G2 Gimcrack S. and G2 Champagne S. in his next two starts. Golden Horde, meanwhile, stepped up to Group 1 company finishing third behind Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Prix Morny before running that rival to a neck when second in the G1 Middle Park S.

Golden Horde returned to Royal Ascot for a belated 3-year-old debut in the G1 Commonwealth Cup, and shook off the cobwebs in decisive fashion when racing prominently and pulling 1 1/2 lengths clear in the closing stages for a first top-level win. Facing older horses for the final three starts of his career, Golden Horde made a good account of himself on each occasion, beaten 1 1/2 lengths when third in the G1 July Cup, fifth in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and third in the G1 Sprint Cup S. Golden Horde proved both consistent and versatile, having been Group 1-placed over both good and soft ground.

“He was very consistent, very tough, and I loved his way of racing-first out, running hard all the way and very, very tough and genuine,” said Sumbe's Mathieu Alex. “It's a great pleasure to have him here too, he is very well behaved and has a great mind, and we have a lot of faith in him.”

Golden Horde's pedigree has continued to go from strength to strength since his purchase as a yearling. His dam, the Pivotal (GB) mare Entreat (GB), was sold by her breeder Cheveley Park Stud for 14,000gns at Tattersalls July in 2016 carrying Golden Horde. A month after Golden Horde became a pattern-race winner, his elder sister Exhort (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) also scored at listed level. Line Of Departure (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Entreat's 3-year-old of 2021, won the Listed Cathedral S. in June, and was ultimately gelded after tall assignments in the July Cup and G2 Hungerford S. Entreat has a 2-year-old filly by Zoffany (Ire) named Heart To Heart (GB) who was a 580,000gns Tattersalls October purchase last year by MV Magnier and won one of nine starts this year, and a filly foal by Zoustar (Aus) who was bought back for 240,000gns at the same sale. Golden Horde traces back to a highly productive American family: his third dam is Imagining (Northfields), best known as the dam of the champion and Group 1 producer Serena's Song (Rahy), whose legacy includes G1 Coronation S. winners Sophisticat and Rizeena (Ire), Jim Bolger's useful sire Vocalised, dual Grade I winner and Grade I sire Honor Code and G1 Prix d'Ispahan victor Zabeel Prince (Ire).

The recent death of Golden Horde's broodmare sire Pivotal may mean that his genes are more highly sought after than ever, especially considering Pivotal's position in the pedigree of French champion sire Siyouni as well as exciting young stallions like St Mark's Basilica (Fr), Sottsass (Fr), Cracksman (GB) and Advertise (GB).

“Golden Horde's sireline is very proven-Acclamation, Dark Angel, and his dam Entreat is by Pivotal and is the dam of six winners including three stakes winners, and it is the family of American champion Serena's Song and Sophisticat,” Alex said.

Breeders can be encouraged, too, by the fact that Sumbe threw the strength of its broodmare band behind Golden Horde, who Alex describes as “a very good-looking horse,” in his first season at stud.

“He's very masculine and has a lot of strength, and he's a great mover,” Alex said. “We supported him heavily on the farm sending 20 very good mares–stakes performers and dams of stakes performers. He's been very well received in France, and across Europe.”

After covering his first book in 2021 for a fee of €10,000, Golden Horde will be available for €8,000 next year.

“I think Golden Horde should be a very commercial sire because he was a very talented 2-year-old who brings a lot of precocity, but also trained on and won a Group 1 race at Royal Ascot as a 3-year-old,” Alex said. “He's a fast horse, a very good-looking horse with a great pedigree, so fingers crossed-he has a lot of things going for him.”

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“Mr. Bizakov bought Haras de Montfort at Preaux at the end of 2019 and, since that, purchase, Haras de Mezeray, so two big, nice farms in France,” said Mathieu Alex, longtime manager of Haras de Montfort et Preaux prior to its name change. “Mr. Bizakov still owns Hesmonds Stud in England, so that comes under the Sumbe banner too.”

“We are just about to run a consignment in Deauville for the first time at the breeding stock sales,” Alex added. “It's a very exciting exercise mainly thanks to the horses we'll be presenting, including two Group 1-winning fillies. It's a great consignment to have for the first year.”

Rougir, owned by the Chehboub family's Haras de la Gousserie, is the only current-season, Group 1-winning 3-year-old filly to be offered at Europe's breeding stock sales this year. A debut winner in June of last year at two, Rougir capped a productive campaign with a win in the G3 Prix des Reservoirs following a third in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac. She came within a half-length of a Group 1 victory in August when fourth behind Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 Prix Rothschild, but made amends next out when nosing fellow Arqana entrant Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) in a thrilling finish to the G1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc day. Rougir was last seen finishing seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6. Rougir, the third foal out of the listed-placed Summer Moon (Fr) (Elusive City) last visited the Arqana ring as a yearling, when she made €55,000 at the August yearling sale.

“Rougir's owner, Mr. Kamel Chehboub, is a breeder I've known for a long time and we've renewed our relationship lately,” said Alex. “We're very grateful for his support. It's a fantastic opportunity to buy a Group 1-winning filly. She's very sound and she could race on. The opportunity is very rare so we look forward to it.”

Speak Of The Devil and two additional black-type fillies in the Sumbe draft, Frankel's Magic (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 190) and Roman Bamb (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 213), are owned by Rashit Shaykhutdinov, who was a client with Mezeray that has stayed on after the Sumbe transition. Speak Of The Devil, a €62,000 Arqana October yearling, ran just once at two, winning a late-season maiden race in Deauville for trainer Fabrice Chappet before finishing a nose second in the Pouliches in just her third start the following spring. Speak Of The Devil picked up a first black-type win over seven furlongs in last year's Listed Prix de Saint-Cyr, and this year won three listed races over a mile for new trainer Frederic Rossi. She came close again to winning a Group 1 when third, beaten a neck, in the Prix Rothschild in which Rougir was fourth. Speak Of The Devil is a half-sister to the triple Group 3 scorer Morando (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}).

“Mr. Shaykhutdinov was a client of Haras du Mezeray, so when Mr. Bizakov bought the farm we were connected and we are very grateful for his support,” said Alex. “Speak Of The Devil is a very, very good-looking filly. She's by top-class sire Wootton Bassett and she was beaten a very short margin in the French Classic. She's a proper Group 1 filly with a good pedigree, by a great stallion, and is a very good-looking filly so I'm sure there will be plenty of people wanting to buy her.”

Shaykhutdinov topped Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale in 2019 when his listed-placed Frankel Light (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) sold to Charlie Gordon-Watson for €1.3-million, and Shaykhutdinov will look to emulate that feat with another daughter of this year's leading sire by European earnings, Frankel's Magic. The 4-year-old made her belated racing debut last July a winning one, interestingly scoring over 2400 metres. She dropped back to 2000 metres for a pair of listed placings last autumn and was second in the Listed Prix Panacee over 2400 metres on very soft going on Oct. 4. Frankel's Magic, who was a 1.15-million gns buyback from the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, is out of the dual listed-placed Global Magic (Ger) (Lando {Ger}), herself a half-sister to eight stakes horses including group winners Global Dream (Seattle Dancer) and Global Thrill (Big Shuffle). Shaykhutdinov could also see fierce bidding for 3-year-old filly Roman Bamb, who broke her maiden at Chantilly in March before twice placing at listed level over 2000 and 1900 metres. She is from the family of the G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Nezwaah and is by Holy Roman Emperor, who is compiling a solid record as a broodmare sire.

Sumbe, from the corner section of Yard A from which Mezeray enjoyed so much success at Arqana, also sends out 3-year-old filly Louliana (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) (lot 135), winner of the six-furlong Listed Prix Marchand d'Or in June for owner Mbaye Niang and a daughter of the listed-placed Rosie's Premiere (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}). Sumbe also offers two foals: a colt by the ascendant Wootton Bassett (GB) out of the G3 Prix du Bois third and black-type producer Sage Melody (Fr) (Sageburg) (lot 73) and a first-crop daughter of Calyx (GB) out of the G3 Prix Minerve second Game Zone (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) (lot 266) who is from the family of dual Group 1 winner Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and her G1 Cheveley Park S.-winning daughter Tenebrism (Ire) (Caravaggio).

The strength of the foal and breeding stock markets at Goffs and Tattersalls in recent weeks should permit sellers to enter the final breeding stock sale of the season with confidence, and Sumbe has a draft that gives it every chance to stand out.

“There have been very, very strong markets at Goffs and in Newmarket, and Arqana has done a very good job with its catalogue,” said Alex. “There are a lot of very, very talented horses getting ready to sell, so hopefully the momentum will carry on.”

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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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