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.

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‘Pharoah’ Doubles Up in February S.

Café Pharoah (American Pharoah) returned to the winner's circle for the first time since landing the 2021 G1 February S. in the 2022 version, and became the second horse to win two editions after Copany Rickey (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}) in 2014/15. A “Win And You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in November, the 1600-metre race saw the Noryuki Hori-trained runner draw off by 2 ½ lengths from T M South Dan (Jpn) (South Vigorous), with the popular white filly Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune) ran third, another half-length back.

In touch with the first flight as Sunrise Hope (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) cleared the field, the 4-1 shot perched in between horses in fifth. The bay edged closer to the vanguard once Yuichi Fukunaga relaxed his hold as T M South Dan took over pacesetting duties from Sunrise Hope and hit the half-mile pole in :46.80. Sunrise Hope began a gradual retreat and Sodashi had dead aim on T M South Dan. Surging three deep, Café Pharoah began to let down strongly as Sodashi tired at the quarter pole, and took over the lead from T M South Dan with 200 metres to travel. He maintained the advantage all the way to the line, covering the 1600 metres in a snappy 1:33.80 in the mud, tying the track record.

“Mr. Hori and I went over the tactics before the race and everything went as planned,” said pilot Yuichi Fukunaga, who was returning from an injury sustained during the Longines Hong Kong International Races. “Cafe Pharoah's start wasn't that sharp but he recovered well and we were able to sit in a good position, in third, where he didn't have to bear too much sand in his face, which was what I was hoping for. After that I just tried to keep him focused especially after taking over the lead in the final stages. I'm grateful to the connections who offered me this ride even before I had fully recovered from the fall in Hong Kong and am happy that I was able to do a good job.”

Knocked down for $475,000 to Narvick International, agent, after breezing a quarter in :21.1 at the OBS March Sale in 2019, the 5-year-old entire won his first three starts at two and three, with stakes victories in the Listed Hyacinth S. and G3 Unicorn S. Later that year, he added the G3 Sirius S. and, after a sixth-place run in the G1 Champions Cup in December fo 2020, put it all together in the 2021 February S. The Paul Pompa, Jr.-bred bay was off the board in his next three starts, among them the Champions Cup at Chukyo on Dec. 5 when last seen.

 

Pedigree Notes
One of three Grade/Group 1 winners for his American Triple Crown-winning sire, Café Pharoah is also the first of the trio to win twice at the highest level. Of the Coolmore Ashford resident's 24 stakes winners, 13 have been grade/group winners.

Since his February S. win last year, Café Pharoah's year-older half-sister Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) became a Grade I winner herself with an 2 1/2-length win in the GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar in the colours of Peter Brant's White Birch Farm. Also a winner of four other graded stakes including Saratoga's GII Lake Placid S. over her career, she had sold for $975,000 out of the Paul Pompa, Jr. Dispersal at Keeneland January in 2021, while their dam, Mary's Follies had been knocked down to BBA Ireland on a bid of $500,000 at the same sale. The first foal out of the dam was the GIII Dania Beach S. and GIII Transylvania S. hero Night Prowler (Giant's Causeway). Mary's Follies's 4-year-old colt by Uncle Mo died, while she also has a 3-year-old colt by Candy Ride (Arg) and a juvenile colt by Connect. She aborted after being bred to Curlin in 2020, and re-visited Coolmore Ashford's American Pharoah last spring.

 

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
FEBRUARY S.-G1, ¥232,980,000, Tokyo, 2-20, 4yo/up, 1600m, 1:33.80, my.
1–CAFE PHAROAH, 126, h, 5, by American Pharoah
                1st Dam: Mary's Follies (MGSW-US, $338,889),
                                by More Than Ready
                2nd Dam: Catch the Queen, by Miswaki
                3rd Dam: Wave to the Queen, by Wavering Monarch
($475,000 2yo '19 OBSMAR). O-Koichi Nishikawa; B-Paul P.
Pompa (KY); T-Noryuki Hori; J-Yuichi Fukunaga. ¥123,486,000.
Lifetime Record: 11-6-0-0. *1/2 to Night Prowler (Giant's
Causeway), MGSW-US, $475,682; and Regal Glory (Animal
Kingdom), GISW-US, $1,529,884. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click
   for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–T M South Dan (Jpn), 126, h, 5, South Vigorous–Moving Out
(Jpn), by Langfuhr. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (¥17,280,000
Ylg '18 JBBAAUG). O-Masatsugu Takezono; B-Grand Farm
(Jpn); ¥48,996,000.
3–Sodashi (Jpn), 121, f, 4, Kurofune–Buchiko (Jpn), by King
Kamehameha (Jpn). O-Makoto Kaneko Holdings; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥30,498,000.
Margins: 2HF, HF, NK. Odds: 4.10, 7.90, 7.20.
Also Ran: Soliste Thunder (Jpn), Time Flyer (Jpn), Red le Zele (Jpn), Arctos (Jpn), Sunrise Nova (Jpn), Air Spinel (Jpn), Mutually (Jpn), Inti (Jpn), Sunrise Hope (Jpn), Suave Aramis (Jpn), Teorema (Jpn), Daiwa Cagney (Jpn), K T Brave (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Outbox Lands Amir Trophy For Watson, Doyle

A stakes winner in England and stakes-performed in France and in Sweden, Outbox (GB) (Frankel {GB}) added a stamp from Qatar to his passport for Saturday's His Highness The Amir Trophy in Doha and walked away with the lion's share of the US$1-million in prize money on offer. The Amir Trophy is one of three races contested locall that is recognized internationally as black-type eligible.

Ridden aggressively from a wide alley by Hollie Doyle, Outbox took up a pace-pressing position from second, as Qatari Gold (Lemon Drop Kid), with Tom Marquand in the irons and ostensibly in the race to set things up for 2017 winner and fellow 9-year-old stablemate Noor Al Hawa (Fr) (Makfi {GB}), was intent to lead over the very quick ground. Shadowing the front-runner's every step into the second bend, Outbox went for home 400 metres out and stayed on very gamely under energetic handling to prevail narrowly. Mutabahi (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}), a full-brother to last year's winner French King (GB), missed the break and endured a wide passage, but boxed on tenaciously in a luckless effort. King Power's Fox Tal (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), midfield and keen early, rallied well enough once into the clear to finish third.

Outbox made the first eight starts of his career for his breeder and Simon Crisford for a solid record of 3-2-2, but missed the entirety of the 2020 season and changed hands for 16,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale. Third to Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G3 John Porter S. last April, he caused an upset when besting 2019 G1 St Leger hero Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Listed Fred Archer S. at Newmarket last June and earned further group black-type when runner-up in the G3 Stockholm Cup International at Bro Park in September. Outbox was last seen finishing down the field in listed company over the Deauville all-weather in December.

Immaculately bred, Outbox is out of a Group 2-winning daughter of Group 1 winner Zomaradah (GB) (Deploy {GB}), whose legend has been cemented as the dam of the prolific Dubawi (Ire) (Dubai Millennium {GB}). Emirates Queen is the dam of the 3-year-old filly Emirates Empress (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Kingman (GB).

HH THE AMIR TROPHY (Black-Type), $1,000,000, Al Rayyan, 2-19, 4yo/up, 2400mT, 2:25.11, fm.
1–OUTBOX (GB), 128, g, 7, Frankel (GB)–Emirates Queen (GB) (GSW-Eng, GSP-Fr, $115,027), by Street Cry (Ire). (16,000gns HRA '20 TATAUT). O-Hambleton Racing Ltd XXXIII; B-Sheikh Mohammed bin Obaid al Maktoum; T-Archie Watson; J-Hollie Doyle; $570,000. Lifetime Record: SW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Swe, SP-Fr, 25-7-5-3, $813,672. *1/2 to Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal), SP-Eng.
2–Mutabahi (Fr), 126, c, 4, French Fifteen (Fr)–Marina Piccola (Ire), by Halling. O-HE Sheikh Joann Bin Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani; B-SCEA Haras de Victot; T-Henri-Alex Pantall; J-Olivier Peslier; $220,000.
3–Fox Tal (GB), 128, g, 6, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Maskunah (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. (475,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited; T-Andrew Balding; J-David Probert; $110,000.
Margins: HF, 1HF, NK.

 

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Bahrain Turf Series Hailed At Home And Away

After two months and ten races, the curtain came down on the inaugural Bahrain Turf Series on Friday, with the results of the final two contests having both international and local appeal.

Britain's champion trainer Charlie Appleby fielded his first runners of the series in the seven-furlong Al Sakhir Cup and duly landed the spoils with Silent Film (GB) (New Approach {GB}), who rallied under a strong drive from James Doyle to win by a head from Shebil Aljazira (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).

The 4-year-old winner was landing his third victory in succession in three different countries, having won a seven-furlong handicap at Sandown back in June and then reappeared at Meydan last month to win off a mark of 94.

“He's a horse we pinpointed for the race so we're delighted he's gone and won,” said Appleby. “It's a great series they have set up in Bahrain and we're just happy that we've been able to find the right horse to come over and be competitive. Everyone is very happy in Dubai, and I'm sure we'll be part of the Turf Series moving forward.” 

The following race, the Vision 2030 Cup, went the way of the partnership which is leading the tables in Bahrain his season, with dominant local trainer Hesham Al Haddad, who trains in partnership with Fawzi Nass, claiming his seventh victory in the series with Zagato (GB) (Frankel {GB}) under Neil Callan, the leading rider on the island for the current campaign with 19 wins under his belt.

Shaikh Sultan Aldeen Al Khalifa of Al Mohamediya Racing is a familiar figure both at Tattersalls and on British racecourses, and his visit to Newmarket last September proved to be a fruitful one as he purchased the smartly-bred Zagato from John and Thady Gosden's stable for 55,000gns. John Gosden had also trained her dam, the dual Group 1 winner Izzi Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), for breeder Meon Valley Stud. 

A winner at Thirsk last year over a mile, the 4-year-old has been gradually finding his feet in his new homeland and he had previously finished third then second in earlier legs of the Turf Series on Dec. 31 and Feb. 5. On Friday, he blew his rival away after skimming the rail round the tight bend for home and blasting through under Callan to win by 6 1/2 lengths. 

“Zagato has been an improving horse and he has improved with each start,” said Fawzi Nass. “We'll see what the handicapper does with him but he'll probably get an entry into the King's Cup which is a race run over 12 furlongs so he'll have a further two furlongs to negotiate.” 

With $50,000 per race up for grabs in prize-money, the Turf Series also rewards the horse to have earned the most points throughout the series in two distance categories: 'Pot A' is for horses racing over six and seven furlongs and 'Pot B' for those over nine and ten furlongs. 

Happy Craf (Arg) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), trained in Bahrain by Allan Smith and the winner of four of her last five starts, took the $25,000 Pot A bonus, while the Newmarket-trained Arqoob (Ire), representing William Jarvis, landed the same bonus in Pot B, with $15,000 going to his owners and $10,000 to the trainer. Though Arqoob did not win one of the races in the series, he appeared in five of them, placing three times.

Music agent Emma Banks, who is involved in the ownership of Arqoob and who enjoyed a memorable season on the track in 2021 with her Group 1-winning filly Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), said, “What a fantastic bonus to keep him out here. He hasn't won yet but he's been ultra-consistent and passed a lot of horses. It's a really interesting way the points have worked out and makes for an interesting end to the series.” 

She continued, “You can't be disappointed when you go home with prize money from races, prize money from the league table and a lovely trip to Bahrain.” 

Arqoob's trainer William Jarvis added, “I'm so thrilled his owners have been able to come out and witness this race. I'm very proud of him, he's been so consistent and the support I've had from Richard, his owner, has been massively appreciated.” 

Happy Craf is likely to be seen in action next in Europe, switching from Allan Smith's stable to the Newmarket base of his son Martin.

Allan Smith said, “She deserves it. It's a pity we couldn't run her in the last Turf Series race but she's off to England at the start of April. She'll be targeted at Listed and Group 3 races. Hopefully if she can pick up some black type we can send her to stud and then she can return to Bahrain to foal.” 

The Bahrain Turf Series, which got underway on Dec. 10, has been shown through 20 broadcasters around the world via the Racecourse Media Group. Channels to have featured the racing from Sakhir include Fox Sports in America, ESPN in Latin America, Dubai Racing Channel, and Japan's Green Channel.

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