Normandy | Horse Racing Free Tips

Oysters, a Broken Ankle and Normandy’s Finest: It Could Only be the Route des Etalons

Not even a blanket of snow and some icy country lanes could deter those on the annual Normandy bloodstock pilgrimage more formally known as the Route des Etalons.

With plenty of new sires to show off this year, many of France's major stallion studs welcomed in breeders and members of the public during the weekend showcase which is now in its 14th year. At Haras de Bonneval, the French home of the Aga Khan Studs stallions, more than 600 people turned out on Saturday to see the quartet of stallions neatly split into established stars and freshmen, with Vadeni (Fr) and Erevann (Fr) filling the role of the latter.

“We had a large number of people. I don't know if it's the place where you do a huge amount of business as such, but you see a lot of people that you don't see through the year so it's a great time to catch up and talk about the horses,” said Georges Rimaud, manager of the Aga Khan Studs.

“The horses showed themselves well. Rather than people talk about them amongst themselves without seeing them, it's lovely to be able to show them to people and for them to make their own minds up. We were lucky to have very good weather – although it was very cold – but when you see a horse in the sun you can really appreciate them, so it was a very good day.”

Jean-Claude Rouget was the trainer responsible for both Vadeni and Erevann, and though he was required to be on duty in Cagnes, his assistant Jean-Bernard Roth was in attendance to reminisce about the racing careers of both horses with Pierrick Moreau, best known as one of Arqana's auctioneers, who was the MC for the day at Bonneval.

“We've already had a lot of bookings and when people are here to see the horses you can have a different discussion with the breeders about their mares and their matings,” Rimaud added. “It was great to have Jean-Bernard here, he's a well-known figure, and I think that added something special to the shows. At the end of the day I think we were all quite pleased but quite tired. It was very pleasant to see so many people.

“We see some people who are not horse people, for example our neighbours, who are farmers next door. They are busy most of the year but it is a good opportunity for them to come in and see what we do here.

“It's important to show what we do to a larger public, especially in these days when racing can sometimes be looked at unfavourably.”

Through the sale of caps and wrist-warmers, the shows at Haras de Bonneval also raised money for Au Dela des Pistes, France's organisation for the retraining of racehorses.

All in all I thought it was great, and I wonder, are we Brits being left behind by not having something similar? – Sara Cumani, breeder

Sumbe's Haras de Montfort et Préaux was open for both days of the Route des Etalons, with manager Tony Fry battling on despite recently breaking his ankle and requiring the surgical intervention of seven screws and a plate. While he wouldn't pass the trot-up at the moment, it takes more than mere broken bones to deter the hardy Fry, who was on parade along with the farm's five stallions, who certainly were moving with a lot more fluency.

“Yesterday, we had around 250 people and again today [Sunday] there has been a good steady stream of visitors,” reported Fry. “I think in a week's time we'll know how much business we have actually done but the horses seem to have been well received and it's just a wonderful opportunity to show them.”

Sumbe of course has three new recruits, Angel Bleu (Fr), Mishriff (Ire) and the homebred Belbek (Fr), who were the subject of a recent TDN feature. The latter, who won the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in the colours of his owner-breeder Nurlan Bizakov, has a bonus incentive scheme to launch him on his stud career, with the breeder of Belbek's first maiden winner set to receive €10,000 and the breeder of his first group winner in line for a €50,000 bonus.

Fry added, “There are a lot of people who come on the Route des Etalons just for a day out, but that's fine, you want to encourage people to get involved, and there have been a lot of young people coming through as well, which is great.”

Sara Cumani of Fittocks Stud was one of the English breeders to have travelled to France for the weekend and joined a united nations touring party which included Alix Choppin, Tina Rau and Marina Marinopoulos. It was the first time on the Route des Etalons for Cumani, who said that it had been a worthwhile weekend.

“It was lovely to see the studs, the horses, to meet the people and to put faces to names,” she said. “I had my list of horses I wanted to see and we managed to see them all, which was great.

“We had a really lovely time at Haras de la Hetraie. [Stud owner] Pascal Noue is a real character and I was so impressed with the horses, who looked amazing with fantastic coats. He gave us a lot of insight into stallion psychology, which was fascinating, and all his stallion handlers are women. The horses were so well behaved and Pascal said he'd always rather have women handlers over men.

The condition of the horses was what really stood out, but they also offered us some lovely oysters and crepes, so all in all it was a really good visit.”

The Cumanis own a mare in partnership with Henri Bozo's Ecurie des Monceaux who is heading to Galiway (GB) this year. The stallion's home, Haras de Colleville, was the final stop on the tour after two days on the road.

Cumani continued, “Luca is a very big believer in knowing what a stallion does, rather than what they look like, but I think that if you spend a lot of time trying to get the physical aspects right then it is important to see them, especially when they first go to stud, rather than when they are more rounded and have let down. I certainly find it useful and I particularly wanted to see Zarak and Galiway as we are using them, and they didn't disappoint.”

She added, “It was very nice to go to Haras de Beaumont and to meet Pauline Chehboub. It's always nice when you go to a farm and the principal is there, and I was taken with Sealiway.

“It was also fantastic to see Haras d'Etreham, which is a beautiful farm, and I absolutely loved Hello Youmzain. He's got so much chunkiness and size, and he walks really well. I'll be very interested to follow him this year, and my fellow travellers very much liked Onesto, who is in a similar mould to Chaldean.”

Cumani's final thoughts on the Route des Etalons initiative are surely shared by others. She said, “It was an interesting trip, and of course it helps enormously when you get delicious French eats on the way. All in all I thought it was great, and I wonder, are we Brits being left behind by not having something similar?”

The post Oysters, a Broken Ankle and Normandy’s Finest: It Could Only be the Route des Etalons appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

French Stallion Trail Dates Set For January

The Route des Etalons will be held in Normandy from Jan. 20-21, 2024. Featuring many of the best French stud farms, La Route des Etalons will allow breeders and racing fans to view some of the best stallions in France. For more information, please visit the La Route des Etalons website.

The post French Stallion Trail Dates Set For January appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘I Do The Matings As If I Were Rich’: Cadran’s Pierre Talvard on Plans for 2023

One of the most passionate horsemen in France, Pierre Talvard began breeding over four decades ago from a caravan on a handful of acres. Today, his Haras du Cadran stretches over 400 hectares on the rolling Orne hills in Normandy, with 117 mares stationed on the farm. Over the last decade Cadran has been a regular name in the leading breeder lists in France, with graduates including French Derby winner and sire The Grey Gatsby (Fr), and Group 1 winners Gentoo (Fr) (Loup Solitaire {USA}), Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer (Ire}), and Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}).

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.”

The post ‘I Do The Matings As If I Were Rich’: Cadran’s Pierre Talvard on Plans for 2023 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Saint Pair: A Boutique Operation With a Global Outlook

Performance or pedigree? In an ideal world a breeder would choose both when buying a mare but, depending on budget, almost inevitably there has to be a compromise. In recent weeks in TDN we have heard from Mark Johnston about his selection process when buying yearlings, in which he is particularly keen on a decent rating for the dam. On the opposite side of the equation this week as vendor, Andreas Putsch is in agreement.

“For us it is all about selection, of the matings, of culling, and trying to introduce new blood. When I read the interview with Mark Johnston that was music to my ears because that's very much our approach. The form of the dam is so important,” says Putsch, who at Arqana will be selling seven of the eight yearlings born on his sumptuous Normandy-based Haras de Saint Pair last year.

Indeed, Putsch had outlined this strategy when interviewed in these pages five years ago. At the time he said of his early days in the breeding business, “I was breeding to sell. I tried to buy mares with good pedigrees who didn't have such good racing records. Some of their offspring sold well, so commercially it was a success, but what bothered me was that there weren't enough good results on the racecourse with those horses. Then I read Joe Estes's book which compared mares' performances and I studied all the dams of the good stallions. I decided that the way to go was to buy performance over pedigree–it's very difficult to afford both.”

Certainly that shift in direction, which has been incorporated into the broader perspective at Haras de Saint Pair, has reaped dividends on the track, both with the graduates of the farm who race in Putsch's own colours, such as the multiple group winner Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), and with those bought by other owners.

It is no surprise that Saint Pair, just outside Cambremer, is capable of producing top-class racehorses as the farm has a rich history rolling, like its paddocks, back to 1883. Four Arc winners have been born there, and in the 15 years in which it has been under the ownership of Putsch, the Group 1 winner Vadamos (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) has been born and raised there among some other notable group winners, including Glycon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Waldbiene (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), Lucky Lycra (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) and Guildsman (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

Siblings to two of those mentioned can be found in the septet which forms the Haras de Saint Pair Arqana August draft. The Kingman (GB) colt out of Dardiza (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), lot 249, is a half-brother to the American Grade III winner Guildsman, who was also third in the G2 Coventry S. when trained by Archie Watson. It is a family with roots in the Aga Khan Studs and also features the Classic winners Almanzor (Fr) and Darjina (Fr).

A colt and a filly by Kingman's stud-mate Frankel (GB) also feature, with the son of G2 Rockfel S. winner Spain Burg (Fr) (Sageburg {Fr}) being the third horse set to sell on Sunday evening (lot 148). With the remainder of the draft being concentrated on Monday, the Frankel filly appears as lot 284 and is one of three members of the same illustrious family to pass through the ring within four lots. Bred on a cross which has been successfully advertised by Group 1 winners Nashwa (GB), Cracksman (GB) and Hungry Heart (Aus), the filly is out of the Pivotal (GB) mare Girl Friday (Fr), who was a winner at two and is a half-sister to the aforementioned G2 Grand Prix de Deauville winner Glycon. Their dam Glorious Sight (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) was talented herself, as a Listed winner who was placed in both the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane. Furthermore, she is a half-sister to another talented Pivotal mare, Beauty Is Truth (Ire), a Group 2 winner who has produced the Group 1 winners Hermosa (Ire), (Hydrangea (Ire) and The United States (Ire) from her repeated matings with Galileo (Ire).

The Frankel filly will be followed through by a daughter of Wootton Bassett (lot 285), whose young winning dam Glad Eye (Fr) is by Dansili out of Glorious Sight, while the third filly from the family (287), and perhaps the draft's pièce de resistance is the full-sister to Glycon, whose sire Le Havre died earlier this year. With Glorious Sight being a Kilfrush Stud-bred descendant of the great matriarch Mill Princess (Ire) (Mill Reef), the family has been given a further boost in recent seasons by the exploits of dual Group 1 winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio) and her sister Statuette (Justify).

“The full-sister to Glycon, certainly, is a superstar,” says her proud breeder. “She will be very popular. And if you look at the pedigree update, at the mares that Coolmore have, Hydrangea has a Deep Impact and two Dubawis, and Hermosa has a No Nay Never and two Dubawis. [Their Dansili half-sister] Fire Lily has two Galileos. There aren't many families that have that sort of support. As Coolmore aren't selling, it's really almost an exclusive entry into the family.”

Putsch adds, “We have a very consistent draft, I would say. The horses are where they should be. The two colts are also very popular, they are very strong, very racy, very well developed. I'm very happy with them. They're all ready to go.”

Only one of the crop of 2021 has been retained this year at Haras de Saint Pair, for practical reasons as well as perhaps a sentimental one, for the Siyouni (Fr) filly is the final foal of another successful Singspiel mare for the stud, Via Milano (Fr), the dam of the black-type trio of Via Ravenna (Ire) (Raven's Pass), Via Medici (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and Via Manzoni (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}). The G3 Prix Lieurey winner Via Medici has subsequently been exported to Japan, where she produced the dual Group 1 winner and young Shadai stallion Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}).

“We have to keep the filly, because Via Milano is now retired in the paddocks. But we really bring our 'A game' to the August Sale,” Putsch says. “Because we don't know, as the buyers don't know, which ones are going to be the ones who race successfully. If I'd have known that Sicilian Defense was as good as she is, I wouldn't have sold her for, what, €30,000.

“If you look back at the figures, Saint Pair does produce a high percentage of stakes winners year after year, but obviously we don't know which ones are going to be the 20/25% of the stakes winners–and over the last four years, with four or five crops, that's what we've been producing, from small crops of on average 11 foals.”

He continues, “I think if you look at all these operations that are successful, they have a very good ratio of land to horses, and that's the key on our land. We have a strict policy of a minimum of two hectares per horse, and that allows us to rest the paddocks. All our paddocks have a minimum of six months of rest every year, and we see very few horses. We see lots of cows during the season, and empty paddocks. And I think that, in terms of management and especially parasite management, is absolutely key. I couldn't do it any other way.”

As already outlined in Saturday's TDN by Arqana's Freddy Powell, there will be no shortage of international buyers prowling the sales grounds in Deauville. Like many in the business, Putsch can see both sides of the coin when it comes to the increasing globalisation of the racing and breeding industry.

He says, “I welcome it and I am concerned. First of all, I'm not the emperor of racing and breeding so I cannot change the reality. And it's the reality of things right now that Europe has become huge. Look at it historically, I think right now in terms of quality of stock you have Europe and Japan that are leading the world. Japan has different reasons, but why Europe is so good is historically that amazing competition between Coolmore and Darley, and also Juddmonte playing this phenomenal role.”

He continues, “This gives us the stallions, on which we feast. And only because we can feast on these amazing stallions, we have superior breeding. I think really the power, in history, has always been led by stallion power. Where the top stallions are, you have the best breeding. I strongly believe in that.”

Of the sires responsible for the yearlings in the Saint Pair draft, the champion sires of France and Britain and Ireland, Siyouni and Frankel, are represented, along with the proven names of Le Havre, Kingman, and Wootton Bassett. Only one is yet to prove himself, and that is the Darley freshman Blue Point (Ire), whose filly within this consignment (lot 311) features late in the sale and is the second foal of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up and Listed winner Irish Rookie (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}).

Putsch explains, “I only use first-season sires when I really was impressed with them as a racehorse. Obviously Blue Point winning twice in the one week at Ascot, very few horses can do that. It takes a top horse to do it. And that convinced me to use Blue Point in his first season, but usually I prefer to go with proven sires.”

Returning to the theme of Europe's current glut of classy sires, he adds, “We have this situation in Europe where we breed top stock because of top stallions. But that is not a given that it will last forever, and now we have these very important breeders disappearing for age, slowly, and it's a whole new game. We also have ridiculous prize-money, and I include France in that, all over Europe. If you compare it to America, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, our prize-money is a joke. And that is the big problem, because we're becoming right now a nursery for stock for international racing. I have to look at international markets to market my horses. I've got no choice. And long term that can hurt.”

With a Group/Grade 1 winner in Japan and Hong Kong advertising the strength of the merits of the Saint Pair broodmare band in no less a stallion farm than the Yoshida family's Shadai operation, Putsch can also see the benefits of this global mingling of bloodlines.

“It is positive as well,” he says. “We really try to get our horses in as many jurisdictions as possible. As small as we are, I very much believe in this international market, and also international racing, and again prize-money. If you look at all our races, apart from the Classics that really are for breeding, but once the Classic season is over, the best horses automatically go to the races where the most money is. I think the Japanese showed us that, they're much more progressive than we are, but Europe is catching up, America is catching up. And the championship races today are the big races internationally that have the most prize-money.”

He adds, “So it's important for me, as a breeder, to be represented at the big meetings. Everything that is outside these meetings is just lesser racing, in general, and that is an important development. If you want to be in the limelight as a breeder you have to make sure your horses compete in this kind of company.”

The post Saint Pair: A Boutique Operation With a Global Outlook appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post