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Etreham’s Hello Youmzain and Persian King Shine at Arqana

On a day where BBA Ireland tightened its grip on yet another sale by signing for the top lot for €175,000, Haras d'Etreham boss Nicolas de Chambure was breathing a sigh of relief as the progeny of two of the stud's newbies Persian King (Ire) and Hello Youmzain (Fr) took flight.

Persian King enjoyed a particularly strong session. The G1 French 2000 Guineas winner, who stood for €30,000 in his debut season at stud, saw seven foals sell for €516,000, headed by a colt (lot 306) knocked down to Alex Elliott for €160,000. That foal is likely to be heading back to Yeomanstown Stud with Robert O'Callaghan standing alongside Elliott when the hammer fell and later telling the French media that the colt was one of the best on offer on the day.

The Arcadia Élevage-drafted Persian King is out of an unraced daughter of Siyouni (Fr) and Elliott shared O'Callaghan's opinions on the acquisition.

He said, “Persian King was a very good racehorse and he's a big horse himself, and this colt is a big boy too. He's out of a mare by Siyouni, who has to have every chance to make it as a broodmare sire as he's a phenomenal sire himself and is by Pivotal (GB).

“It goes back to the family of Miss France (Ire) and I actually bought one of her daughters last night so it's a strong Wildenstein family that I like. It's young and it's happening so I'm delighted to get him. He'll be sent back to Ireland before being offered for resale.”

Etreham also signed for a Persian King filly (lot 319) from Cour Blanche for €110,000 with a view towards a racing career and also picked up two foals by Hello Youmzain to pinhook with de Chambure clearly touched by the good results the young stallions posted on the day.

He explained, “Today has been a very positive step in launching the stallion careers of Hello Youmzain and Persian King. We had a much bigger group of foals from the stallions here than at Goffs or at Tattersalls so it was important that it went well. Everyone has been very positive about the two stallions and it is nice to see the English, Irish and buyers in general so keen on them. Not that we had any doubt, but to see them sell well to those foreign buyers and some very good judges is extremely positive.”

He added, “I hope today helps us attract some more mares from abroad. That would help give the horses more exposure in the future. But seeing how well their foals sold today, it will give breeders confidence going forward. It looks like Persian King and Hello Youmzain are comparing favourably with some of the better first-season sires in Europe.”

In Persian King, de Chambure has a Classic-winning stallion son of Kingman (GB) while Hello Youmzain, winner of the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. is one of the best sons of Kodiac (GB), offers something for speed-favouring breeders.

He explained, “The two stallions are very different. Hello Youmzain has strength and power and has passed that on to his foals. They are very forward and they look to be very forward mentally as well. They all walk very well and have very good bone. They look like they could be early types. He seems to be stamping them with great power in the hind quarter.

“With Persian King, his foals have a bit more scope and size. They have a bit more class and are still very light on their feet with a good walk. The one that made €160,000 is a good example of a nice Persian King as he had good size and balance. They are not heavy. They are athletic. I think the stallions are a little less unproven now that people have seen the foals so hopefully more people from England and Ireland will decide to send some nice mares next year.”

Hello Youmzain began his career at stud on a €25,000 fee and his nine foals to go under the hammer at Arqana on Sunday realised €370,000 and averaged just over €40,000. His top lot, a colt consigned by Etreham (lot 337), fetched €90,000 to Mab Agency. He is set to stand for €22,500 next year while Persian King's fee has been set at €25,000.

On the stud's purchases on Sunday, de Chambure added, “We bought a Persian King filly from a nice German family to race for €110,000 and we bought two colts by Hello Youmzain to pinhook. It's been a nice start but we have put in a lot of work in these two stallions. It all began two years ago and, from getting breeders on board, selling shares, selling nominations and getting them up and running, it is a lot of work and today is the first big result we have enjoyed from that.”

The opening two days of the December Breeding Stock Sale have been strong. Saturday saw the aggregate shoot up a massive 42% to €47,129,000 and the average rise 16% to €245,281. Sunday's session was also up.

The aggregate on Sunday rose 15% to €7,734,000 while the average rose 12% to €36,654 and clearance rates also climbed 3% to 80%.

De Chambure commented on the trade, “We have been saying all year that we have been in our own bubble in the racing industry with everything that has been happening in the world but I guess it has almost been a benefit from Covid that people who have money have decided that they might as well just enjoy it and get involved in the game.

“The top of the market has been extremely strong and this being the last sale of the year, people still have some orders to fill and it has all fallen into place to make a really strong market today and yesterday.”

Quesnay Play Starring Role

The Haras du Quesnay dispersal provided a fascinating subplot to the sale and Ballylinch Stud pushed hard to land one of the star attractions from the draft, an Intello (Ger) filly foal out of dual winner and Group 3-placed Treasure (Fr) (Anabaa) (lot 409), for €100,000.

Treasure has produced three black-type horses already, including King Ottakar (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), Tresorier (GB) (Dunkerque {Fr}) and Tresorerie (Fr), who is a full-sister to Sunday's €100,000 purchase.

Ballylinch boss John O'Connor said, “Thierry [Storme] and I have been friends for many years and we've had a number of horses in partnership together. We'd both like to think we're pretty good judges and we liked this filly a lot. She's a compact filly with a good pedigree and good movement. We liked everything about her.

“She will probably come back here to be sold, but we'll retain the option to race her if necessary as she looks like an athlete to me. The mother is a proven stakes performer herself and she's bred three black-type horses. There's a lot of positives but we'll decide whether to race or sell next year.”

He added, “We've already had some success with a mare that was bred by Quesnay and we bought Trophee from them and she's bred a Group 2 winner in Australia.

“These pedigrees are deep. They've been developed for generations by Alec Head, who was one of the great horsemen of our time.

“This filly is out of a good stakes mare who's been a successful producer. She's one of the nicest foals here today and we felt that she has resale value but she also has residual value. She was hard to buy, but sometimes the ones you really like are and you accept that.”

Another Intello from the Haras du Quesnay dispersal captured the imagination as the first foal out of Perle D'Auge (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) (lot 329) was knocked down to Fernando Laffon-Parias for €90,000. Jill Lamb bought Perle D'Auge on Saturday for €350,000.

The filly hails from the close family of dual Group 3 scorer Eternal Pearl (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and is from the maternal line of the brilliant Pearly Shells (GB) (Effisio {GB}).

Laffon-Parias said, “She's been bought for a partnership of owners that wish to continue the story in France. She's a lovely filly who's dam sold well yesterday. It's too early to talk about her future trainer but we are very happy.”

Quesnay have amassed €1,908,000 for 17 lots over on Saturday and Sunday.

BBA Ireland Stay Strong

It was a case of a different day but the same old story as BBA Ireland signed for another top lot in the Aga Khan-drafted and Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Shahnameh (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) (lot 367) for €175,000.

A dual winner, Shahnameh is the fifth foal out of listed winner Shamanova (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who is a half-sister to classy performers Shamdala (Ire) (Grand Lodge) and Shamakiya (Ire) (Intikhab).

BBA Ireland went on to purchase the Frankel (GB) mare Shammah (Ire) (lot 474) in foal to G1 French 2000 Guineas winner Victor Ludorum (GB), meaning the powerful buyers spent €9,135,000 on 43 lots in the first two days of the December Breeding Stock Sale.

Balloon Up Up And Away To Australia

Australian buyer David Mee purchased Girl With Balloon (Fr) (lot 284), a winning daughter of Frankel, to continue her career down under for €140,000. Mee signed for the filly, offered by Ecurie des Monceaux, under the banner of Pinhook Bloodstock International.

Girl With Balloon was trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and carried the colours of LNJ Foxwoods during her time in France. She is a daughter of Landikusic (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), a full-sister to Zoffany (Ire). Classy performers Rostropovich (Ire) and Wilshire Boulevard (Ire) are also siblings to the dam.

Mee said, “She'll now go to Sydney in Australia to continue her career. We were really looking for a filly by Frankel, and these kinds of fillies are hard to find in Australia. She is a winner and is improving all the time. We're delighted.”

Six-Figure Lots Late In The Day

Two six-figure lots lit up the late evening. The Wertheimer-drafted Frivole (Fr) (Anodin {Ire}) (lot 548) was sold to Gary Chervenell for €155,000. She won once and placed four times and is a half-sister to black-type performer Fuse (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}). The Fabrice Chappet-trained Healing Oasis (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) (lot 545) brought €135,000 from Australian buyers Belmont Bloodstock. Healing Oasis won twice and placed third in a listed race at ParisLongchamp in October.

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Clement Adds Quality to Stable Roster at Arqana

Christophe Clement said he always looks forward to his annual trip to Deauville for the Arqana December Sale. It's a bit like stepping back in time for the U.S.-based trainer as he wanders the grounds that were once the setting of childhood summers spent working for his father, French conditioner Miguel Clement Sr. The youngest of three, Clement is still often called 'Little Clement' while in Deauville.

“That always makes me laugh,” said Clement, whose own son Miguel has a handle on their stable in America while his father is away. “I come to this sale every year. It's a great way to see a lot of friends and family and still do some work.”

Clement kept busy during Saturday's select session at Arqana and will be returning to the States with several new trainees in tow, highlighted by the session-topping filly Malavath (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). The dual Group 1-placed 3-year-old was purchased for €3.2 million by Clement's longstanding client Moyglare Stud.

“I was aware that she was going to be in the December Sale and we've been working on this for the past two months,” Clement shared. “I'm delighted. I think it's a great acquisition for Moyglare.”

The winner of the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at two, Malavath returned to the starting gate this year to claim a Group 3 in Deauville and place second in the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret for Francis Graffard. In her most recent start, Malavath finished fifth in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile.

Clement said that he has no specific races in mind yet for the new acquisition, but added that he believes she will be a good fit for American racing.

“I think she seems to be [best at] seven furlongs to a mile. One of the reasons why Moyglare was interested in the filly was that she brings speed to their program. We'll get her to the States and let her tell us what to do. We have a great program in New York. If she's doing well, plenty of good things can happen.”

Also on Saturday, Moyglare Stud purchased Amazing Grace (Protectionist) for €850,000. The Group 2 winner will continue her racing career with Clement.

“She will be a fun fit for the longer turf races,” said the 4-year-old's new conditioner.

Clement sends Moyglare Stud's Beautiful Lover to victory in the GIII La Prevoyante S. at Gulfstream this year | Nicole Thomas

The Co. Meath-based Moyglare Stud has sent horses to Clement for almost 25 years. Their greatest successes together include Grade I winners Relaxed Gesture (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and Dress to Thrill (Ire) (Danehill). This year, American-bred Beautiful Lover (Arch) carried the black, white and red silks to victory in the GIII La Prevoyante S.

“We have a great relationship,” said Clement. “We've had plenty of good winners for them. It's fun because when you train for an owner-breeder, you get that kind of relationship where it doesn't depend on what happens today. It's more long-term, and usually that works out best for both sides.”

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, who races with Clement and has been a leading owner this year on the New York circuit, was active during the first session, purchasing listed winner By All Means (Ire) (Kodiac) for €650,000. The juvenile was Group 2-placed for owners Giacomo Algranti and Haras d'Etreham.

“She is a very nice filly,” said Clement. “I believe that one of the owners, Nicolas de Chambure [Haras d'Etreham] will stay in for a piece, which makes it even more exciting.”

Also during Arqana's opening session, Clement purchased Group winner Atomic Blonde (Ger) (The Grey Gatsby {Ire}) for €300,000 and went to €280,000 for black-type filly Lady Mia (Fr) (Outstrip).

“You have a lot to compete with in New York,” he noted. “You have to buy some good horses because the turf division is not easy. You need to bring in new blood in order to compete.”

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Normandie Breeding: `It’s a Family Story’

Guillaume Vitse is probably best known as the man who helped to launch the Cindarella-story careers of the top French stallions Kendargent (Fr) and Galiway (Ire) when he worked at Guy Pariente's Haras de Colleville. Now, Vitse looks to write his own fairytale story alongside his wife Camille with their new project, Normandie Breeding, and it appears they are well on their way to doing so.

Normandie Breeding brought 16 horses to the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale from their operation in Beuvron-en-Auge about 30 minutes southeast of Deauville, after bringing 23 to the October sale and selling 18 of them.

Vitse left Haras de Colleville in 2018 after 11 very successful years there, where he not only oversaw the stallions' careers, but helped Pariente to build the farm. But in 2018, he and Camille decided they were of an age where they were either going to go out on their own, or miss the chance and spend their lives working for others.

“We thought it was time,” said Vitse, now 49. “Camille and I were very ready to have our own place. We liked having our own horses and doing business. We wanted to do it before we were 50 and we said if we don't do it this year, we'll never move. Sometimes, you have to move on and do something new. We started from scratch. No money, no farm, no clients. We had two little kids. And we said `let's go.'”

The first five or six months were tough going, he said. “We leased a farm,” he said, “but the farm was empty. We had no horses. It's a good experience when you set up your own place. You think it's going to be easy, that clients are going to come, but that's not the way it goes. You have to prove yourself anew. You have to show you have enough money to feed the horses, to do a good job. So it was pretty difficult, but we made it.”

Not only have they made it, but they have made it look easy, even if it weren't so.

“Before we started, we had two mares in association with trainers Phillippe Decouz and Yann Barberot. And we had two horses born that year that we kept, and they turned out to be very good horses–black-type performers. One of them, Go Athletico (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) went on to win a Group 3 at two and ran in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland in 2020, so that was amazing. And the other, Axdavali (Fr), went on to be Group 3-placed at two.

“We bought a mare for 4,000 guineas at Tattersalls called Miss Pimpernel (Ire), who wound up being the dam of Toimy Son (Fr), who was a listed winner at three. We sold him at the Arc Sale for €160,000 and now he's headed to David Menusier, so hopefully he'll be an even better horse. We bought Artifix (Ire), who is now the dam of Around Midnight (Fr), by Almanzor (Fr), trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, who is a listed winner at two and Group 3 runner-up, beaten a nose, at two. She's a Classic prospect for next year, so we have been very lucky. We have done a good job, but we have been very lucky that everything has gone well, and we just hope it keeps on going like this.”

The name Normandie Breeding is fitting for Vitse in more than one way. A native of the region, he was born in Argentan in 1973. His father Jean-Patrick managed Haras de la Verrerie, the farm of Elie de Brignac, the late president of l'Agence Francaise de Ventes du Pur Sang, the predecessor to Arqana. He lived there until he was six and his parents divorced. He moved to Paris with his mother but came back to Normandy to live with his father at 14. “School wasn't made for me,” he said with a smile. “I kept on working with horses while I finished school,” he said, “and I traveled around.”

For someone not yet 50, Vitse has accumulated a resume which has grounded him in every aspect of the business. He worked at Plantation Stud starting in 1991, working with Rafha (GB)–who would go on to produce Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB)–when she was a maiden mare. He worked at sales and started riding out for a jumping yard, “just to know how to ride racehorses, to have another feeling, another connection with them. And the following two, three, four years I continued on like this, working the breeding season at Coolmore and Kildangen Stud during the yearling season.”

He spent a very formative two years in the United States at Lane's End where he worked with mares. “I was in Mare Barn 4, where we had some complicated mares to get in foal, some sick foals. It was a great learning experience. It's a very good farm to work at. They have the best stallions, and a very good team. Mr. Farish was in charge, and Bill was also there–such nice people and a very good place to work. I saw a lot of things. And if you want to be the best, you have to work with the best.”

After two years, he decided to return to France to get some experience running farms on his own.

“I was a young guy and went down to the south of France and ran Haras de la Clauzade, then Haras du Vieux Pont and then I went on to the Haras du Thenney, where I met my wife. And then I met Mr. Pariente. We started Colleville in 2007.”

Kendargent stood his first season at stud for €500 before going on to become one of the great French stallion success stories, and a successful broodmare sire. He was followed by Galiway, purchased from Wertheimer & Frere as a 3-year-old, and sent to stud with just a listed win and a Group 3 placing to his credit. He quickly become the Champion first-crop sire in France, and a Group 1 producer with Sealiway (Fr), who has just retired to stud not far away at Haras de Beaumont. Galiway stood for €30,000 in 2022 after covering more mares than any other stallion in France in 2021.

Jan. 1, the family, including their children, ages 11 and eight, are scheduled to move into their new farm. They have 23 hectares where they will keep only their own mares and those of their associates. “We're not going to board any outside mares,” he said. “We're going to keep the consignment, because we have an annex where we can keep fillies on one side and colts on another. So we can have 15-17 yearlings per sale.”

“We had a big draft in October, with 23 horses. But 15 is a good draft. We have some very good foals. We have regular clients, who come every year, we are expecting some very good horses to come along.” Vitse said that Sylvain Vidal and Mandalore Racing Stables were among those who have supported them loyally from the beginning.

Vitse said he believes in bringing home horses rather than selling them cheaply. “If a horse is going to sell cheaply, for 10, 15, 20,000 euros, we would rather keep her. If you sell at an average price, you end up with an average trainer and an average horse. You may as well get rid of the mare. If we have a cheap mare, it is because we believe in her.”

With Normandie Breeding, Vitse has come full circle. He is selling horses this week in the Elie de Brignac sales pavilion, named after his father's employer. He has worked with foals, yearlings and mares, and helped to launch two of France's best stallions. Now, he's just looking for the chance to do it for himself, and for his family. It has given him a satisfaction and a contentment that some people never achieve.

“We are very happy with where we are now,” he said. “It's family work. I am very in tune with my wife Camille; everything is 50-50. We see the horses together, we sell them together, we do the matings together. We see the stallions together. It's a family story, and nothing would be possible without my wife. Two of us together, we can do the job. I love my job, and I love my wife. Everything is perfect.”

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King Kamehameha’s Jun Light Bolt Crowned At Chukyo

In a dramatic finish to Sunday's G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo, Jun Light Bolt (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) collared G2 UAE Derby hero Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach The Crown {Jpn}) by a neck just before the wire.

Sent off at 6-1 in this 1800-metre contest, the 5-year-old entire settled one off the rail in midpack as Red Soldado (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) dashed to the front. That rival, setting an uncontested pace, got away with middling fractions on the backstretch, with the first 1000 metres covered in 1:02.40. As a result, the field was keeping closer order and racing room was at a premium as they approached the far turn.

Still on the engine 400 metres from home, Red Soldado was facing a stiff challenge from Crown Pride to his outside. Jun Light Bolt, meanwhile, was within striking distance, and was asked by pilot Yukito Ishikawa shortly after the quarter pole. Rumbling home ominously well, the dark bay set his sights on new leader Crown Pride, as 1-2 favourite T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) was winding up to his inside. The Yasuo Tomomichi runner hit a superior gear however, and thrust his neck in front three jumps from the line. The stalking Hapi (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) was 1 1/4 lengths back in third, another neck behind T O Keynes, who had covered extra ground in the race.

“I can't find any other word to describe this other than 'happy',” said Ishikawa, who was winning his first Group 1 race in Japan. “I tried to feel the horse's rhythm and was confident that if we can find an open space after entering the lane, he would burst out. The colt responded so well that I knew we could win. Though I have yet to feel my first Group 1 win, I would like to savor this joy from now on.”

Although a four-time winner and listed-placed over the turf, the Northern Farm-bred reinvented himself when trying the dirt for the first time in July, running second in the Listed July S. at Fukushima. He earned his first black-type score outright in the Listed BSN Sho at Niigata in August, and continued his upward trajectory with a three-quarter-length score in the G3 Sirius S. going 1900 metres over this strip on Oct. 1.

Pedigree Notes

The deceased King Kamehameha has left 94 stakes winners and 65 group winners, with Jun Light Bolt his 15th at the highest level. Four of his stakes winners are out of Special Week (Jpn) mares, including G1 Asahi Hai Tuturity S. victor Leontes (Jpn), and G3 Falcon S. scorer Tagano Grandpa (Jpn), besides Sunday's winner.

Despite never finding the winner's circle, Special Groove (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}) has done the job as a broodmare, with a pair of stakes winners among her quintet of scorers to show from six runners of racing age. Jun Light Bolt's year-older half brother Groove It (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {GB}) won at Group 3 level in Japan, and his juvenile half-sister Pure Groove (Jpn) (Drefong) has plenty of time to build on her first two starts. Special Groove foaled colts by Drefong and Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Third dam Air Groove (Jpn) (Tony Bin {Ire}) was named Japanese Horse of the Year in 1997, and at stud she left fellow Japanese champion Admire Groove (Jpn) (Sunday Silence), herself the dam of Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Colt and late sire Duramente (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}). Another of Air Groove's progeny is Shadai stallion Rulership (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), who won the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

Sunday, Chukyo, Japan
CHAMPIONS CUP-G1, ¥232,920,000, Chukyo, 12-4, 3yo/up, 1800m, 1:51.90, gd.
1–JUN LIGHT BOLT (JPN), 126, h, 5, by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Special Groove (Jpn), by Special Week (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Sonic Groove (Jpn), by French Deputy
                3rd Dam: Air Groove (Jpn), by Tony Bin (Ire)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (¥120,000,000 Ylg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Junji
Kawai; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Yasuo Tomomichi; J-Yukito
Ishikawa; ¥123,444,000. Lifetime Record: 25-7-5-2. *1/2 to
Groove It (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), GSW-Jpn, $969,081. Click
   for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk
   Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Crown Pride (Jpn), 121, c, 3, Reach the Crown (Jpn)–Emmy's
Pride(Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK
   TYPE. O-Teruya Yoshida; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥48,984,000.
3–Hapi (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Kizuna (Jpn)–Queen Pirates (Jpn), by
King Kamehameha (Jpn). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Toshio
Terada; B-North Hills (Jpn); ¥30,492,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 6.90, 13.30, 14.90.
Also Ran: T O Keynes (Jpn), Shamal (Jpn), Sunrise Hope (Jpn), Smashing Hearts (Jpn), Notturno (Jpn), Auvergne (Jpn), Tagano Beauty (Jpn), Red Galant (Jpn), Gloria Mundi (Jpn), Sakura Allure (Jpn), Badenweiler (Jpn), Sunrise Nova (Jpn), Red Soldado (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video.

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