Sea the Moon (Ger) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Lanwades A Study In Thoroughbred Excellence

Kirsten Rausing experienced a season to remember last year, with triple German Group 1 winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), G3 Albany S. and G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. victress Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) and the dual Group 1-placed Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) the highlights of a handful of talented fillies and mares on the racecourse. All three of those train on in 2022, and Rausing has plenty to look forward to in her stallion ranks at Lanwades Stud, too; Sea The Moon (Ger) stands for £25,000, his highest fee yet, while Study Of Man's first yearlings are catching the eye. Bobby's Kitten has a couple of talented 3-year-old fillies to look forward to this year, while Sir Percy, the elder statesman of the stud barn at 19, has a pair of Classic contenders.

Rausing is known to support her stallions at Lanwades heavily, especially in their early years, and therefore Study Of Man in particular will get a huge boost from Rausing's broodmare band in his third season. The TDN's Kelsey Riley caught up with Rausing to discuss her mating plans, her stallions and the horses she is looking forward to on the racecourse this year.

TDN: Study Of Man's appeal as a stallion prospect is pretty obvious, he being a beautifully bred son of Deep Impact who won the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, but tell us in your own words why you wanted him for Lanwades.

KR: It's hard to find a better-bred horse anywhere. It's a lovely female family with Miesque as his second dam, and it's a family I've known a very long time since the 1970s through [Miesque's dam] Pasadoble. For me it was very important that Study Of Man is by Deep Impact; we have no other such horse in Britain and only Saxon Warrior (Jpn) in Ireland and as good as he was, Saxon Warrior is out of a Galileo (Ire) mare, which in some ways makes him a bit more difficult [to mate] in terms of the prevalence of Galileo in the mare population.

I've had a long-standing and very good working relationship with the Niarchos Family, especially Maria Niarchos. Her father, Mr. Stavros Niarchos, was a shareholder in Niniski in the early 1980s when I first came to Newmarket, and with that share in Niniski they bred champion Hernando (Fr), and eventually from him champion Sulamani (Ire). Study Of Man is the third horse from the Niarchos's we have stood at Lanwades.

It's absolutely marvellous to have a son of Deep Impact here because he will suit a whole lot of mares in Europe and internationally. The Deep Impact sons now, with the early loss of the sire, have increased scarcity value and any mare with Kingmambo in her pedigree, such as my own mares by Archipenko (GB), will enjoy a reinforced line with Miesque, which will be very interesting to say the least.

TDN: What are your impressions physically of Study Of Man's first progeny?

KR: In the early stages what we have are short yearlings and foals, and I'm thrilled with them. It's probably incidental, but he looks to be a pure-breeding bay, which is of academic interest, but people like it. I think they're very representative of him and also Deep Impact; they're medium-sized, pretty correct, whole colored bay or with a few markings, no chestnuts and no grays. They're very good movers and as far as we can tell with excellent temperaments, as he has himself.

TDN: Sea The Moon stands his eighth season for his highest fee yet, £25,000. He stood his first six seasons for £15,000 and was £22,500 last year, and is widely regarded as an excellent value sire. Tell us a bit about his trajectory.

KR: Sea The Moon has surprised a few people-external people. He stood for £15,000 for his first six years and he has since increased in fee in 2021 and again in 2022, but even so he compares very favourably to the main stallion population in Europe. People understand that we are not trying to over-egg the pudding by increasing his fee exponentially, but he's done well enough to merit his fee.

Like Study Of Man for Deep Impact, Sea The Moon is the only son of Sea The Stars (Ire) at stud in England, and one of actually quite few sons of Sea The Stars at stud in Europe to date. He was an exceptional racehorse himself and anyone who saw him winning the German Derby by 11 lengths would not likely forget it. I was already in negotiations with his owner/breeders Gestut Gorlsdorf at the time, and we eventually landed him here in Newmarket at Lanwades. I think quite a few people were surprised by this addition, but he was pretty well instantly booked full and has been ever since.

He has attracted, for obvious reasons, a whole lot of mares from Germany, but we also get a lot of mares from France and Ireland here, so it's an international book that he covers, which I think is attractive to breeders as well because it means you have the yearlings spaced out at different sales; you don't get 40 yearlings by the same stallion in one sale. He has been very commercially attractive in all the European markets. For him he had a relatively quiet year last year but he has started very well this year with Pretty Tiger (Ire), who won a listed race at Cagnes about a week ago, and he won a Group 2 last year. There are some interesting-looking Sea The Moons that are now 3-year-olds coming through, but it's early days. I'd like to think that my own Allada (GB), trained by Tim Donworth in France, might be good enough to figure in major contests, and no doubt there are plenty of others waiting in the wings.

TDN: Bobby's Kitten has a couple exciting 3-year-old fillies for this year, while Sir Percy, despite breeding smaller books now, has a pair of Classic hopefuls.

KR: I'm thrilled with the success of Bobby's Kitten having Sandrine, and [debut winner] Heat Of The Moment (GB) looks quite promising too.

Old Sir Percy has come up with two Classic candidates; not only [the listed-winning] Kawida (GB), but also the Lanwades-bred Lucellum (GB) in France. He's trained by Andre Fabre for Sheikh Mohammed and he is a French Derby aspirant. It's pretty good of old Sir Percy with nowadays narrow representation and small crops to come up with two such good 2-year-olds last year.

TDN: You've typically kept a few mares in Kentucky, too. Is that the case again this year?

KR: Sadly, for the first time in 35 years, I don't have a mare in Kentucky. I usually have between two and four mares in Kentucky, and I've always mated them with a view to the produce coming back to Europe. I found very, very good value in the old days in Kentucky; I could not afford the Nureyevs and the Blushing Grooms of this world, but in the layer beneath that the Irish Rivers, Rivermans, that sort of horse, were exceptionally good value for Europe and I used them and indeed also Kingmambo with the help of the Niarchos Family. Smart Strike I used many times. Stormy Atlantic was one of my favourites and he's done me very, very well. Lookin At Lucky and Nyquist were the younger horses I used, but unfortunately the two industries have become more and more divergent. I brought my Lookin at Luckys and my Nyquists back here and people said, 'who are they? We've never heard of them.'

I have one mare in foal to Hard Spun this year and she's come back here, but sadly I am fresh out of mares in Kentucky for the first time in 35 years, which is a regret to me, but I just cannot find stallions within my reach in Kentucky that are suitable for European racing.

I think what is interesting is that there were so many American purchases of yearlings in Europe last year. It's good that the American industry is replenishing with European pedigrees, because 30 or 40 years ago the traffic was all the other way. It would be infinitely attractive to international buyers if pedigrees were again more interactive.

TDN: You have some very exciting fillies and mares to look forward to on the racecourse this year. Tell us about how they're wintering and what the plans might be for the season.

KR: It's early days yet but they've all had their winter holidays and they're all back in training and so far so good. But if they aren't alright at this time of year, they never will be. At the moment all my geese are swans, but we need to see what happens later in the spring.

We might not even run Sandrine in a trial race, but if we do there are two obvious races over seven furlongs, the Nell Gwyn and the [Fred Darling]. I think Andrew Balding would be quite keen to run her first time out in the 1000 Guineas.

I wouldn't say Allada is an early-season mile type. At present we plan to run her in the Listed Prix Rose de Mai on Mar. 10, which I think is the first black-type race for 3-year-old fillies in Europe, and we'll see where we go from there.

Heat Of The Moment might well go in one of the Classic trials at Newbury or Newmarket, but we have an idea of the French 1000 Guineas for her.

It's going to be very difficult for Alpinista to maintain her success at Group 1 level. She's done her bit in Germany, so we have to think of Group 1s closer to home now. Most all of them, other than the Yorkshire Oaks, she would have to meet the colts, and there are some very good colts in training not least Godolphin's two Derby winners. But that's the idea. Albaflora, the idea with her is to try to win a group race of some description and hopefully a Group 1. She's shown she's well up to Group 1 standards. She needs to probably meet the colts and we'll possibly look at opportunities in France and Germany for her.

Lanwades Stud 2022 Mating Plans

ALEA IACTA (GB) (m, 10, Invincible Spirit {Ire}-Almiranta {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}), visits Study Of Man (Jpn)

Alea Iacta is a great-granddaughter of world champion 3-year-old filly Alborada. The winner herself of the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon, Alea Iacta's first three foals are all winners, including Aleas (GB) (Archipenko), who won the Listed Glasgow S. Alea Iacta's fourth foal is a yearling colt by Study Of Man (Jpn), and she is due to Sea The Moon (Ger) this season.

ALOE VERA (GB) (m, 6, Invincible Spirit {Ire}-Almiranta {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}), visits Study Of Man

Aloe Vera is a black-type winning full-sister to Alea Iacta and likewise visits Lanwades's resident G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Study Of Man. Her first foal is a colt by Wootton Bassett (GB).

ALYSSA (GB) (m, 9, Sir Percy {GB}-Almiranta {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}), visits Study Of Man

Alyssa, a G2 Park Hill S.-winning half-sister to Alea Iacta and Aloe Vera, also visits Study Of Man and is due to Kingman (GB). Their half-sister Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), who was second last year in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 British Champions Fillies and Mares S., stays in training this year with Ralph Beckett.

Almiranta has had just one colt, which was unraced, from her first eight foals, and her first four fillies-Alea Iacta, Alyssa, Aloe Vera and Albaflora-are all stakes winners. Her 4-year-old is the Bobby's Kitten filly Alambrista (GB), and she has a 3-year-old Sea The Moon filly named Allemande (GB) and a yearling filly by Study Of Man. Both Almiranta and her listed-winning dam Alvarita (GB) (Selkirk) are due to foal to Study of Man, and their 2022 matings have not been confirmed.

ALL AT SEA (GB) (m, 11, Sea The Stars {Ire}-Albanova {GB}, by Alzao), visits Study Of Man

All At Sea is a daughter of the multiple Group 1-winning Albanova. A multiple French listed winner herself, she is a sister to three stakes winners including Alwilda (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), the dam of last year's triple Group 1-winning filly Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Two of All At Sea's first three foals are winners, including the listed-placed A La Voile (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and the promising Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), and she visits Study Of Man after foaling to Lope De Vega (Ire).

A LA VOILE (GB) (m, 5, Invincible Spirit {Ire}-All At Sea {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), visits Zarak

“A La Voile visits Zarak for her first covering,” said Rausing. “Her very promising half-brother Eldar Eldarov is by Dubawi, as is Zarak, and Zarak and the mare herself both trace back to the Aga Khan's great Mumtaz Begum. The family diverged and some of them became 'ALs' and some of them became 'Zs' in the Aga Khan's stud book. But it will make a pretty pattern when you look at the hopefully resulting foal. Whether it will work only time will tell, but it will be an interesting one anyway.”

ALGARADE (GB) (m, 18, Green Desert-Alexandrine {Ire}, by Nashwan), visits Sea The Moon

Algarade, a granddaughter of the great producer Alruccaba (Ire) (Crystal Palace {Fr}), is the dam of promising 3-year-old Allada (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), and will return to her sire after foaling a Bobby's Kitten. She has a yearling filly by Time Test (GB).

ALWILDA (GB) (m, 12, Hernando {Fr}-Albanova {GB}, by Alzao), visits Frankel (GB)

Alwilda is a half-sister to All At Sea and is the dam of German champion and triple Group 1 winner Alpinista as her first foal. She has already produced a filly by Iffraaj (GB) this year and returns to Frankel.

LADY JANE DIGBY (GB) (m, 17, Oasis Dream {GB}-Scandalette {GB}, by Niniski), visits Study Of Man

The Group 1-winning Lady Jane Digby has produced seven winners from her first seven foals. She has a filly foal by Sea The Moon and visits Study Of Man, as do her winning daughters Aventuriere (GB) (Archipenko) and Dame Freya Stark (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). A third winning daughter, Francophilia (GB) (Frankel {GB}), is in foal to Study Of Man and visits Sea The Moon.

HERE TO ETERNITY (Stormy Atlantic-Heat Of The Night {GB}, by Lear Fan), visits St Mark's Basilica (Fr)

Here to Eternity's first two foals are the G1 Hong Kong Cup winners Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko) and Glorious Forever (GB) (Archipenko). Her 2-year-old Davideo (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is with Ralph Beckett, she has a yearling filly by Dubawi (Ire) and is currently in foal to Study Of Man. She visits Coolmore first-season sire St Mark's Basilica.

HEAT OF THE NIGHT (GB) (m, 20, Lear Fan-Hot Thong {Brz}, by Jarraar), visits Study Of Man

Here To Eternity's dam has a promising 3-year-old for 2022 in Heat Of The Moment (GB) (Bobby's Kitten), and she will visit Study Of Man, having already foaled a filly by him this season.

LEADERENE (GB) (m, 11, Selkirk-La Felicita {GB}, by Shareef Dancer), visits Sir Percy (GB)

A mating with Lanwades elder statesman Sir Percy for the stakes-producing Leaderene will result in a full-sibling to Lucellum (GB), who is a G1 Prix du Jockey Club candidate for Godolphin and trainer Andre Fabre.

LUISA CALDERON (GB) (m, 10, Nayef-La Felicita {GB}, by Shareef Dancer), visits Cityscape

Luisa Calderon is a half-sister to Leaderene and a full-sister to the G1 Prix de l'Opera winner and group producer Lady Marian (Ger) (Nayef). She has a 2-year-old colt by New Approach (Ire) with Ralph Beckett and visits Cityscape, who is by Leaderene's sire Selkirk. “I always use Cityscape and I'm sending two mares to him this year,” Rausing said.

MADAME CHIANG (GB) (m, 11, Archipenko-Robe Chinoise {GB}, by Robellino), visits Siyouni (Fr)

G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. winner Madame Chiang has three winning fillies from three foals of racing age, including the listed-winning and multiple group-placed Oriental Mystique (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Madame Chiang has a 2-year-old Galileo (Ire) colt with Ralph Beckett, a yearling filly by Study Of Man and visits Siyouni this season.

ORIENTAL MYSTIQUE (GB) (m, 5, Kingman {GB}-Madame Chiang {GB}, by Archipenko), visits St Mark's Basilica

While her dam is bound for Normandy to visit France's leading sire Siyouni, Oriental Mystique visits his world champion son St Mark's Basilica at Coolmore after foaling to Study Of Man.

KESARA (GB) (m, 17, Sadler's Wells-Kaldounya {GB}, by Kaldoun {Fr}), mating TBD

Kesara is the dam of multiple Australian Group 1 winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), and her 2-year-old filly Zaakara (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) has joined Sir Michael Stoute. Kesara is in foal to Study Of Man with a 2022 mating yet to be confirmed. Her winning daughter Kandahari (GB) (Archipenko) also visits Study Of Man, as does Arriviste (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), a granddaughter of Kesara.

STARLIT SANDS (GB) (m, 17, Oasis Dream {GB}-Shimmering Sea {GB}, by Slip Anchor {GB}), visits Mehmas (Ire)

Starlit Sands is a descendant of Lanwades's foundation mare Sushila (Ire) (Petingo {GB}) and has produced six winners from her first seven foals including Sablonne (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a winner at two last year. She visits Mehmas, the third time she has been mated with a Royal Applause-line sire, the others being Expert Eye and Acclamation.

“Starlit Sands hasn't really worked with Royal Applause yet, but I'm hoping I'll get it right at the third attempt,” Rausing said. “Maybe I'm pushing this too far by trying a third time, but you never know.”

SEYCHELLOISE (GB) (m, 10, Pivotal {GB}-Starlit Sands {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}), visits Frankel (GB)

A daughter of Starlit Sands, Seychelloise is the dam of two winners from two to race headed by last year's G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. and G3 Albany S. winner Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten). She visits Frankel after foaling to Sea The Moon.

SANDS OF TIME (GB) (Bobby's Kitten-Starlit Sands {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}), visits Ardad (GB)

Another winning daughter of Starlit Sands, Sands Of Time visits one of the standout members of last year's first-season sire crop in Ardad at Overbury Stud. “With Sandrine's three-parts sister Sands Of Time, I'm trying to stay with a sprinting outlook, so that's why she goes to Ardad, who has done exceptionally well with his first crop,” Rausing said.

The post Lanwades A Study In Thoroughbred Excellence appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Mating Plans: Haras de Castillon

Benoit Jeffroy's Haras de Castillon, a burgeoning force on the French racing and bloodstock scenes, burst into international prominence in December when it consigned the Group 1-winning Grand Glory (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale, where she sold for €2.5-million. The quickly growing Castillon has only been in existence under its current guise since 2015, but the Jeffroy family has a history of breeding quality racehorses from their SCEA des Prairies, with just one recent example being Zelda (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), a listed winner last year at two bred by Castillon and SCEA des Prairies and raced by the Jeffroys in partnership with basketball star Tony Parker. Jeffroy is assisted at Castillon by Amelie Lemercier-and both also work at Sheikh Joaan's Haras de Bouquetot-and Jeffroy and Lemercier shared details of Castillon's 2022 mating plans.

TEXALOULA (FR) (m, 18, Kendor {Fr}-Texalouna {Fr}, by Kaldoun {Fr}), visits Sea The Moon (Ger)
Texaloula is the dam of Dubai Group 2 winner Frankyfourfingers (Fr) (Sunday Break {Jpn}). She is also the second dam of G3 Prix de Psyche winner and €1.2-million Arc sale topper Penja (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) and listed winners Taos (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}) and Texas (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) through two of her daughters. “Texaloula will visit Sea The Moon, a proven sire at good value, and we hope to have another filly,” said Castillon's Jeffroy.

TEXALOVA (GB) (m, 8, Dream Ahead-Texaloula {Fr}, by Kendor {Fr}), visits Wooded (Fr)
Texalova is an unraced daughter of Texaloula and is the dam of last year's listed-winning 2-year-old Texas. Texalova is currently in foal to Mehmas (Ire) and visits G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Wooded in his second season this year. “Wooded is by Wootton Bassett so we will try to breed on the same line to get a three-quarter sibling to Texas,” Jeffroy said. “Wooded was a talented sprinter and I believe he has a big chance to make it.”

JUST WITH YOU (IRE) (m, 10, Sunday Break {Jpn}-Texaloula {Fr}, by Kendor {Fr}), visits Zelzal (Fr)
Just With You, a daughter of Texaloula and a half-sister to Texalova, is the dam of Taos and Penja. “Just With You is probably our best mare,” said Jeffroy. “She has a beautiful Wootton Bassett yearling filly and she is in foal to Siyouni. She will visit Zelzal. We are big supporters of Zelzal, having bred Zelda and having invested into him. We will support him strongly again this year with eight mares.”

AWE STRUCK (GB) (m, 12, Rail Link {GB}-Aspiring Diva, by Distant View), visits Victor Ludorum (Fr)
Awe Struck is the dam of German Group 3 winner and GI Canadian International second Alounak (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) and is barren this year. “Awe Struck will be bred to Victor Ludorum, who should bring her some precocity and speed,” Jeffroy said. “He is from a great stallion family and had a terrific turn of foot as a 2-year-old.”

GALILEO'S MOON (IRE) (m, 11, Galileo {Ire}-Adoration, by Honor Grades), visits Toronado (Fr)
Galileo's Moon is a daughter of Breeders' Cup winner Adoration who was purchased for $37,000 at Keeneland November in 2018. Galileo's Moon is in foal to Blue Point and visits Toronado. “I think Toronado is the best value stallion on the French roster,” Jeffroy said. “I have done the same cross with a filly named Jouza and she is a very promising filly, a winner on her second start as a 2-year-old last year.”

NEKO (FR) (m, 9, Dansili {GB}-Epopee {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells), visits Zelzal (Fr)
Neko is the dam of the listed-winning and G2 Prix Eugene Adam second Caprice Des Dieux (Fr) (Declaration Of War), and her second foal, the 3-year-old Gemmyo (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}), is a winner. She has a 2-year-old colt by Wootton Bassett and is in foal to Hello Youmzain. “She has got the walk but she needs some strength,” Jeffroy said. “Zelzal will inject some speed and strength.”

SPACE ANGEL (FR) (m, 4, Shalaa {Ire}-Space Quest {GB}, by Rainbow Quest), visits Ten Sovereigns (Ire)
A maiden mare from the family of Enable (GB) and Flintshire (GB) who ran three times last year, Space Angel will be bred to Ten Sovereigns for her first mating. “Space Angel showed a lot of potential in the mornings but was too keen in the afternoons,” Jeffroy said. “We have four nice foals on the farms by him [Ten Sovereigns], and I liked what I saw at the sales as well.”

SUNDAZE (FR) (m, 4, Shalaa {Ire}-Tropical Mark {GB}, by Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), visits Bated Breath (GB)
Sundaze is an unraced half-sister to the Group 1-placed Danza Cavallo (Fr) (Sunday Break {Jpn}), herself now the dam of Group 3 winner Cheshire Academy (Fr) (Flintshire {GB}). She visits Bated Breath, like Flintshire a son of Dansili, for her first covering.

ARLETTA (FR) (m, 4, Lethal Force {Ire}-Milena's Dream {Ire}, by Authorized {Ire}), visits Almanzor (Fr)
Arletta is a half-sister to GI EP Taylor S. winner Etoile (Fr) who was bought for €50,000 at Arqana in December in foal to Sottsass (Fr), a son of Etoile's sire Siyouni (Fr). She visits Almanzor in 2022.

AMARA (FR) (m, 4, Olympic Glory {Ire}-Lunaba {Fr}, by Anabaa), visits Hello Youmzain (Fr)
Amara is a half-sister to the dam of the GI Garden City S. winner Alterite (Fr) (Literato {Fr}) as well as the dual stakes-producer Dianaba (Fr) (Diktat {GB}). “She is from a great Louviere family,” said Jeffroy. “All her sisters who have been average race mares have been good producers including one who gave Group 1 winner Alterite. Amara has size and scope. She lacks strength behind so we will breed her to Hello Youmzain, who has plenty of speed and great, powerful conformation.”

RESTLESS (FR) (m, 6, Le Havre {Ire}-Reine Zao {Fr}, by Alzao), visits Romanised (Ire)
Restless is a half-sister to GI EP Taylor S. winner Reggane (GB) (Red Ransom) as well as to the dam of last year's G3 Prix des Reservoirs victress Rosacea (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). “She gave us a colt by Hello Youmzain as her first foal and will visit Romanised,” said Jeffroy. “We have five foals on the ground by him and I like them already.”

LEMON TWIST (IRE) (m, 14, Marju {Ire}-Lia {Ire}, by Desert King {Ire}), visits Ectot (GB)
Lemon Twist is the dam of G2 Prix de Malleret winner Al Wathna (GB) (Nayef). “Lemon Twist is a medium-sized, compact mare and Ectot is producing progeny with size and scope,” Jeffroy said. “He has started well with his first 3-year-olds.”

COMPLICATION (FR) (m, 4, No Nay Never-Sleek Gold (GB), by Dansili {GB}), visits Mehmas (Ire)
Complication is a winning and listed-placed half-sister to the Castillon-bred Ouraika (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), who won the GIII Sweet Life S. at Santa Anita. Another half-sister, Simplicity (Fr) (Casamento {Ire}), is listed-placed. Complication visits Mehmas for her first mating.

The post Mating Plans: Haras de Castillon appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Sunday Stallion Beat A Treat As Always

NEWMARKET, UK–There's still some important business to be done in the sale ring but the Sunday between the foal sale and the mare sale at Tattersalls always has something of an end-of-term feel to it as breeders tour the local studs to view stallions and sample a range of hot sausage rolls.

First stop on a mini tour for the TDN team, which sadly did not include all the studs, was to Lanwades to see an impeccable quartet. One of the most enjoyable features of Kisten Rausing's traditional December open day is that it invariably includes either the owners of or those closely connected to her sires. Sure enough, this Sunday Sir Percy's owners Victoria and Anthony Pakenham were there along with the Derby winner's former trainer Marcus Tregoning and his son George, who posed for the lovely accompanying photograph taken by Nancy Sexton. Sir Percy is now the veteran of the Lanwades ranks at the age of 18 but looked a picture in the winter sunshine with his devoted handler Peter Manuel.

Heike Bischoff and Niko Lafrentz, the proud owner/breeders of the German Derby winner Sea The Moon (Ger), whose popularity seems to grow with each passing season, were also on hand. The Gestut Gorlsdorf owners have enjoyed some good foal sale results of late, including topping the Goffs November Sale with a Frankel (GB) half-sister to Sea The Moon.

The Niarchos family's racing manager Alan Cooper was also at Lanwades and was keenly videoing the French Derby winner Study Of Man (Fr), who has let down into a magnificent specimen. A reminder of the greatness of his sire Deep Impact (Jpn) had been provided that same morning by Contrail (Jpn), who brought the curtain down on a glittering career with victory in the Japan Cup. European breeders are fortunate to have access to his bloodline via Saxon Warrior at Coolmore in Ireland and Study Of Man, a grandson of the great Miesque, in Newmarket.

Sir Mark Prescott, who must be the apple of Kirsten Rausing's eye, having trained Alpinista (GB) to emulate her grandam Albanova (GB) by winning three German Group 1 races this season, was one of a number of trainers at the Lanwades parade, along with Sir Michael Stoute, Jane Chapple-Hyam, Rae Guest, David Simcock and George Margarson. Emma Balding was also in attendance and is an astute breeder in her own right as well as being the mother of Andrew, who trained Sandrine (GB) to win the G2 Albany S. and G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. in the Lanwades colours this season. The filly is an exciting Classic prospect next season for her imposing sire Bobby's Kitten, the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner and son of Kitten's Joy.

That sireline has of course been seen to great effect on these shores via the late Roaring Lion and more recently by 2000 Guineas winner Kameko, who is another sire well worth a visit at Longholes Stud this week with a year at stud now under his belt. Price Bell Jr, who stands another top-class son of Kitten's Joy in Oscar Performance at Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky, had come to check out the opposition at Longholes and was a welcome visitor along with Dr Chandler.

The handsome dark brown Kameko led a trio of sires from Tweenhills who are in Newmarket for a temporary holiday. One who should feel right at home in the town is Lightning Spear (GB), who spent three of his six seasons in training in Newmarket under the excellent care of David and Jenny Simcock. He always appeared to be a laidback individual out on the Heath in the mornings and that lovely temperament has not deserted him in his second career.

Havana Gold (Ire), one of the faster sons of Teofilo (Ire) who already has his own Group 1-winning son Havana Grey (GB) at stud at Whitsbury Manor, completed the trio. For those trying to breed a durable, early 2-year-old, it's worth remembering that Havana Gold's son Chipotle (GB) won the Brocklesby on the first day of the 2021 season and, eight starts later, completed his year with a win the listed Two-Year-Old Trophy, having also won at Royal Ascot.

Longholes is also hosting the Newsells Park Stud stallion Without Parole (GB) this week and the elegant Group 1-winning son of Frankel (GB) is another who must be seen in the flesh as he is about to embark on his second season at stud.

There is also a collaborative approach between stallion masters at the National Stud, which, along with its own stallions, is temporarily home to Whitsbury Manor Stud's son of Scat Daddy, the statuesque Sergei Prokofiev, and A'Ali (Ire), who has recently retired to Meadow Farm Stud in Marlborough, a new stallion base owned by well-known equine vet Rob Dallas and his wife Catherine. A'Ali, a compact son of the late Society Rock (Ire), has a racing profile and physique which will doubtless make him popular with commercial breeders.

Whitsbury Manor and the National Stud have gone into partnership, along with Coolmore and Nick Bradley, to stand Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) in Newmarket. Lope is the operative word for the 4-year-old, who has a long, loose walk and appears to be pretty relaxed about life. The winner of the G3 Round Tower S. as a juvenile, the son of Lope De Vega (Ire) was then third in the Irish 2000 Guineas and placed in three further Group 1 races at three before returning at four to run second to Palace Pier (GB) in the G1 Queen Anne S.

Time Test (GB), one of the emerging success stories of the season for the British stallion scene, will return to the National Stud from New Zealand on Dec. 20 and looks set to have a very busy season in Newmarket.

Breeders in town for the sale this week can also take advantage of visiting the stallions at Juddmonte, Cheveley Park Stud, Shadwell's Beech House Stud and Darley's Dalham Hall Stud. The latter is showing the new recruits Palace Pier (GB) and Space Blues (Ire), who are bound to attract plenty of visitors.

Our thanks to all the studs who have opened their doors, and especially to the stallion handlers for their hard work and patience on a cold day.

The post Sunday Stallion Beat A Treat As Always appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Frankel Filly Reigns Supreme At Goffs

KILDARE, Ireland–There was a palpable energy in the air at Goffs on Wednesday morning with the anticipation of some equine future stars changing hands, and so it proved with a daughter of the new king Frankel (GB) stealing the show when selling to Juddmonte Farms for €550,000. Being the strongest day of the four day foal sale, it was important that the gains made in the first half of the week were built on here and it was encouraging to again see trade maintain the strong pace initiated on day one. An 82% clearance rate was in line with the same day last year and while an aggregate of €11,756,000 and median of €52,000 (+4%) surpassed last year, the average of €72,568 (-4.3%) came up marginally short on the 2020 figures.

The sale topper, consigned by the Grassicks' Newtown Stud as lot 652 out of Sanwa (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), could be regarded as a collector's item being a half-sister to Sea The Moon (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a breathtaking winner of a G1 Deutsches Derby and a highly respected stallion, while Monsun (Ger)'s Group 1 winners Schiaparelli (Ger), Salve Regina (Ger) and Samum (Ger) all feature under the second dam. Furthermore, her 2-year-old full-sister Sea The Sky (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire})–who cost €820,000 as a yearling–broke her maiden at Chantilly earlier this month at the first time of asking for Andre Fabre. Speaking after purchasing the Heike Bischoff and Niko Lafrentz-bred filly, Juddmonte's Barry Mahon said, “She is a beautiful filly with an outstanding pedigree and it is not very often that a filly like her comes to the market. Obviously she is by Frankel, who has had a phenomenal year and she will eventually join the Juddmonte broodmare band. We're delighted to have bought her.

“I'm sure you have heard of the Green Book, which is the Juddmonte broodmare band and it is not often a filly of this calibre comes onto the market and they were keen to add her to the Green Book. It's such an outstanding pedigree so hopefully one day she will join the broodmare band and go on to breed good horses for Juddmonte.”

Bischoff admitted to mixed emotions after selling her filly.

“I am absolutely overwhelmed,” she said. “One side of my heart is of course very sad but the other one is happy. She has gone to a lovely owner and I hope they have loads of luck with her. It's a lot of money for a little foal–you can buy a house for that or even more–so you have to be happy. My knees were shaking and I wasn't sure if it was all the tea I was drinking at Sheila Grassick's office or my nerves, but I think it was my nerves. Goffs was a fabulous place to sell her and I am very grateful for the fabulous treatment here.”

the team from @NewtownStud celebrate after lot 652 sells for €550,000 @Goffs1866. This filly by Frankel (@JuddmonteFarms) is a half-sister to Champion racehorse Sea The Moon who is now a successful stallion. She was bought by Juddmonte Farms. pic.twitter.com/GgiGYlgLlL

— TDN (@theTDN) November 17, 2021

Stars' Shine Bright

The Wardstown Stud duo of Mark and Elaine Clarke brought a fine son of Sea The Stars (Ire) out of their good producer Holda (Ire) (Docksider) to Goffs as lot 562, and they were well rewarded when the half-brother to GI EP Taylor S. winner Blond Me (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) was knocked down to Camas Park Stud for €270,000. The foal was bred in conjunction with the stallion's owners, Sunderland Holding, and for good measure was even led up in the sales ring by Mark Clarke himself. The pedigree can boast of producing a Group 1 winner in each of the first three generations, and a delighted Clark said afterwards, “It is a very special family day and we are so thrilled. He is a smashing horse and has all the attributes to ultimately make a great racehorse, and we wish the Hydes the best of luck with him. It's a big day for us, and it was a bit surreal leading him up. Even though it was a foal share, when the price starts heading towards a quarter of a million that's new territory to us so it really is exciting. We still have the mare, we also have a daughter of hers called My Brunette (Ire) (Arcano {Ire}) to breed from and even though Holda is not in foal at the moment we have plenty of options to consider for her next year.”

It also took a bid of €270,000 from Frannie Woods to secure another Sea The Stars (Ire) colt offered by Jacqui Norris's Jockey Hall Stud as lot 623. Sold on behalf of breeder Ling Tsui's Sunderland Holding, the colt is the second produce of the unraced Newton's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) whose first foal, a full-sister to Wednesday's offering, was bought by U.S. investors Bridlewood Farm and Madaket Stables last year. The colt will likely reappear at a yearling sale next year for Rathbarry Stud with Frannie Woods commenting, “He is a lovely foal, we've been trying to buy a Sea The Stars for a number of years so now we've finally got one, let's hope everything goes well with him. I didn't think I'd have to stretch so far to get him and hopefully the sister in America might do us a turn in the meantime. The market is strong, which isn't a surprise after the yearling sales and the nice ones are not easily bought.”

Pinhookers Reload

One of the bravest pinhookers in the business, Philipp Stauffenberg, was back in town arming himself for next year's yearling sales and among his purchases this week was a Night Of Thunder (Ire) filly, lot 687. Bought for €240,000, the filly was offered by Oghill House Stud out of the G3 Prix Miesque winner Sweety Dream (Fr) (Dream Ahead). “She is a lovely, strong, precocious-looking filly with great movement and I am delighted to have gotten her,” Stauffenberg said. “The dam was a group winning 2-year-old so this filly has every chance of being a smart, early type. The market is quite strong but I am happy that breeders are being rewarded as they work very hard producing these lovely horses,” he added.

Another very shrewd pinhooker who isn't afraid to spend big on the right article is Michael Fitzpatrick of Kilminfoyle House Stud and the Laois man paid €215,000 for a Blue Point (Ire) colt offered by Limekiln Stud as lot 711. The foal is out of the Galileo (Ire) mare Wild Child (Ire) whose yearling filly by Camelot (GB) was bought by Kenny McPeek in the Orby Sale for €200,000.

Noyelles Delivers Again

The 17-year-old mare Noyelles (Ire) (Docksider) has been very good to Nick and Alice Nugent since the couple bought her for €22,000 in France 14 years ago, and the mare came up trumps again when her Frankel (GB) colt, consigned by Neilstown Stud as lot 626, sold for €210,000 to the Nugent's neighbor Eddie O'Leary's Lynn Lodge Stud. Noyelles is already the dam of two stakes winners and with two young Frankels on the ground and a 2021 Kingman (GB) covering, she could well add to that tally in the coming years.

The solitary Kingman (GB) foal on offer at Goffs this week had a dam-line to match his brilliant paternal influence, being a Moyglare Stud-bred and offered son of Majestic Silver (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}), making him a half-brother to stakes winners Carla Bianca (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and Joailliere (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Lot 598 will return to a sales ring next autumn after being knocked down to Mick Flanagan on behalf of Baroda Stud for €200,000.

“He is a lovely horse with plenty of quality and substance, but as an April foal he should develop more over the winter,” said Baroda's David Cox. “He's a good mover and comes from a great family and we look forward to reselling him next year,” he added.

New Forces

Ballylinch stallion New Bay (GB) is threatening to make the leap into elite territory and he has a big fan in the WH Bloodstock team of Mimi Wadham and Violet Hesketh. The pair combined with Brendan Holland's Grove Stud to acquire lot 554 for €200,000. The New Bay colt out of the G2 Queen Mary S. placed Hairy Rocket (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) is a half-bother to smart Ballydoyle juvenile The Acropolis (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and was offered by The Castlebridge Consignment. “We love New Bay and this is one of the nicest we have seen by the sire,” Wadham said. “He is a really sharp, active colt and he showed himself well each time we saw him. He will be for resale next year,” she added.

When lot 642, a Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) half-sister to Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) stepped into the ring it was no surprise to see both BBA Ireland's Mick Donohoe and Goffs Scandinavia agent Filip Zwicky emerge as bidders on the Baroda Stud-consigned filly, given their respective involvement with the foal's siblings. It was Donohoe who selected the G1 Phoenix S. winner and rookie Irish National Stud stallion Lucky Vega in this ring at the Orby sale a few years ago, while Zwicky famously pinhooked the Footstepsinthesand (GB) half-brother who made €630,000 to Donohoe's bid at this year's Orby. However, when it came down to the business end, it was Donohoe who won the battle when landing the filly for €195,000. “She is for Yulong Investments and will stay in Ireland to be trained by Jessica Harrington,” Donohoe revealed. “She reminds me very much of her siblings and given the success we have had with the family already I thought she made a lot of sense. Mr. Zhang is very excited about Lucky Vega's stallion career and hopefully this filly will do well for him.”

Early fireworks were provided when a daughter of Ballylinch stallion Waldgeist (GB) from Des Leadon and Mariann Klay's locally based Swordlestown Little Stud stepped into the ring. The late May-born filly out of the stakes placed Ezalli (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) was the subject of a spirited bidding battle but it was Clare Manning of Boherguy Stud who proved successful for lot 534 when the hammer dropped at €180,000. “I've bought her to race and she will carry my granny Jackie Bolger's colours. My granda trained Ezima (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), who is under the second dam, so it's nice to get back into the family,” Manning said.

Swordlestown Little has enjoyed some magnificent returns in this sales ring and a delighted Des Leadon commented, “Mariann and the team did a brilliant job prepping her and she is a classy filly with a lovely temperament. The stallion is both exciting and interesting and we just feel honoured to be involved with such a lovely dam-line that includes the likes of Taghrooda (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}). I am particularly proud that Estimate is on the page because I have been a great friend of Sir Michael Stoute for a long time. I'm delighted the filly is going to such a good home and I remember Eddie Lynam, who trained the dam, saying Ezalli was very fast so hopefully that bodes well for the foal.”

The final day of foal action takes place on Thursday when trade is set to resemble the earlier part of the week.

The post Frankel Filly Reigns Supreme At Goffs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post