Aidan O'Brien spoke of how Matrika was not inclined to give her all last term and that looked the case despite her winning on debut at The Curragh and in that venue's G2 Airlie Stud S. Runner-up to Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) in Royal Ascot's G3 Albany S. in the interim, she remains one of the budding Rosegreen prospects that could materialise into a top-level performer.

Ryan Moore said, “We didn't see her after that win in July, but the fact that she is here speaks for itself, Aidan has his horses in very good nick and, while she has plenty of speed, I'd have thought she will get the extra furlong here okay.”

Continuing The Sequence?

In general, Charlie Appleby's horses perform to a high level at this Craven meeting and in some ways their performances give a barometer as to what type of season he will have. The yard's leading Guineas hope Dance Sequence (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has little to prove, having already garnered the important juvenile staging post of the course-and-distance G3 Oh So Sharp S. and she heads into this trial as the hot favourite. “Dance Sequence has done very well over the winter,” Appleby said. “She looks the one to beat again.”

KHK Racing Ltd's True Cyan (Ire) is another daughter of No Nay Never with big upside, being out of the multiple group winner Realtra (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and a course-and-distance winner from the Roger Varian stable. Chris Wall, racing manager to owner Shaikh Khalid, said, “She's wintered well, she's been training satisfactorily, we're hopeful of a positive effort and then we'll take it from there. If you're going to be stakes class, you'll have to be up there competing with them and if not, we'll have to go down another route with her.”

Narkez Tests The Waters As Fabre Descends On Newmarket Again…

Andre Fabre has never made any secret of his regard for the track at Newmarket and it is notable that he ships across Nurlan Bizakov's TDN Rising Star Narkez (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) for the nine-furlong Listed Feilden S. he won with his subsequent G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Intello (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2013. He was impressive when handing the well-regarded Supercooled (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) a 6 1/2-length beating in Saint-Cloud's Prix Comrade at a mile last month and that stablemate had been far closer to the recent G3 Prix la Force winner Atlast (Fr) (Farhh {GB}) at Chantilly in October.

“The distance should suit him with the extra furlong, as he is from a family of middle-distance horses and obviously he's in good shape,” Fabre said of the homebred, whose form is also closely linked in with Sunday's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau scorer Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}).

“I want to see how he does it because he won easily last time, beating not much, so this will be a good experience for him. If he does well, he's more of a mile-and-a-quarter horse so the Prix du Jockey Club would be a long-term target for him, but I'll be wiser after the race.”

Aidan O'Brien returns with the G3 Zetland S. runner-up Gasper De Lemos (Ire) (Justify), while Godolphin's Kempton novice scorer El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and the Gredley Family's Zetland third Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) are other fascinating contenders.

Gasper De Lemos's jockey Ryan Moore is aware of the threat of the French raider. “We are happy with him coming into this race, but he will be suited by further down the line and I am always wary of an Andre Fabre horse and his Narkez won very well on his return,” he said.

Rhyme Run Depends On Course Walk…

Also at Newmarket, the older horses get their chance in the nine-furlong G3 Earl of Sefton S., where Karl Burke is pondering whether to let his upwardly-mobile Royal Rhyme (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) take his chance on drying ground. One of the back-end of last season's most improved 3-year-olds, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Listed Doonside Cup winner was fifth in the G1 Champion S. on his favoured deep surface.

“He's in good shape, but I'd be a bit worried about the ground and if we're not happy with it, he's a possible non-runner,” his trainer said. “If it goes on the firm side, he definitely wouldn't run and really, to be at his best, he wants a bit of soft ground.”

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Group 3 winner Tamarind (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), a winner of the G3 Give Thanks S. and the dam of three stakes-placed horses, is in foal to Mishriff, as is Labaaqa (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), who is the only one of the five not a member of Bizakov's broodmare band.

Albanka (Giant's Causeway), the dam of G3 Oh So Sharp S. heroine Altyn Orda (Ire) (Kyllach {GB}), who placed in a pair of Group 1 races, is pregnant to Angel Bleu.

Rounding out the quintet of in foal mares are the black-type producer Melilot (Fr) (Elusive City) and her daughter Mageva (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was third in the G1 French 1000 Guineas.

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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?”

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It is unlikely that anyone has forgotten Mishriff but the stallion business is a fickle game. A misplaced kick to the wall of his stable at Haras de Montfort & Préaux at the beginning of the year left the multiple Group 1 winner with a foot injury which meant he was unable to start his new job in February. Instead, his covering debut will take place in February 2024.

Last week in Deauville, he was on show with all five Sumbe stallions at Clairefontaine racecourse, enabling breeders to call in while at nearby Arqana. They won't have been disappointed by what they saw. Mishriff, always a fine-looking horse in his days in training, has developed into a truly imposing specimen during his year of leisure. To this beholder, he comes very close to being a textbook example of a Thoroughbred.

“Mishriff, as everybody knows, had a setback last year,” says Sumbe manager Tony Fry.

“It seems such a long time ago now that he won the Prix du Jockey Club. He won on turf, dirt. There was a few races that he was unlucky in, but he was a true world champion.”

Fry notes that Mishriff is 1.66 metres tall – that's 16.3hh in old money – and it is easy to believe that breeders are renewing their initial interest in the horse, especially with his fee now reduced a little to €17,500 from what would have been his opening mark of €20,000.

Mishriff remains the sole Group 1 winner for his sire Make Believe (GB). On his top line he traces back through Makfi (GB) to Dubawi (Ire), the horse who became such an effective conduit for the blood of Mr. Prospector on this side of the Atlantic, ensuring that his ill-fated sire Dubai Millennium (GB) could at least be remembered in stallion terms as a one-crop wonder.

Underneath, Mishriff's family holds equally lofty claims to greatness. Bred by his owner Prince A A Faisal, he is a member of the family which has stood Nawara Stud in ample stead over the years. His dam Contradict (GB), by the increasingly useful broodmare sire Raven's Pass, fell just short of gaining black type herself but she has bred three black-type earners, with Mishriff, her third foal, way out in front. Contradict is out of the Group 3 winner Acts Of Grace (Bahri), making her a granddaughter of the G1 Prix de Diane winner Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}). The latter's success at stud has by now far outstripped her Classic credentials on the track, and through her sons Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB) especially, her imprint can be found in reams of modern-day racehorses.

Mishriff makes his debut alongside a horse who has a special place in he heart of his owner: Belbek, a son of Showcasing (GB). His dam, the Makfi (GB) mare Bee Queen (GB), was purchased from Juddmonte and, as a granddaughter of Banks Hill (GB), represents one of that operation's key families. 

“He's a Sumbe homebred, so that gives him the pride of place,” says Mathieu Le Forestier, the former trainer who joined Sumbe last year. “It's very meaningful that the first stallion that we bred here in France in our first year here joins the roster as an exciting prospect. 

“He's been a champion two-year-old. And what's very interesting about him is that he started off in April, he was the first runner from André Fabre's yard. And even before the summer, he won the Prix du Bois. He clicked off fractions in the upper level of what's been seen in the last decade in France in this specific race. He went all through the year and picked up the crown in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, which is obviously an important race in the stallion business.”

He continues, “He's been around all year at three and he eventually bowed out with a nice Group 3 win, beating horses of Group 1, Group 2 level, older horses. So it's a good starting point for a future stallion. He comes from one of the deepest families in Europe and is the close relative of 12 other Group 1 winners.”

Tony Fry adds, “Belbek is a Juddmonte-bred through and through. Showcasing was Juddmonte and Bee Queen was Juddmonte. So, thank you to Juddmonte. 

“You can't make somebody use your stallion. All you can do is show them and say, 'Here they are. What do you think?' And people can stand in front of you for ten minutes and pick out faults and positives and whatever. But he's an exceptionally good-looking horse, a nice-moving horse with a great disposition. He took his racing well, he took everything well. And the mare is a very kind mare as well. She's just one of those sweetheart mares. And again, she'll always be special to us for providing Nurlan with his first Group 1 winner. So we're very hopeful. We'll send a good selection of mares to him, as we have with all our stallions. You can't ask people to use them unless you believe in them and follow it through yourselves.”

Sumbe has somewhat cornered the market in winners of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagradère as joining Belbek is the previous year's victor Angel Bleu, who should be a valuable addition to the French stallion ranks. Though he went off to be trained in England by Ralph Beckett, the son of Dark Angel (Ire) was bred in France by Pan Sutong at Ecurie des Monceaux, and he recorded his two most significant wins there in the Jean-Luc Lagardère followed by the G1 Criterium International. His other five wins included the G2 Vintage S. and, at four, the G2 Celebration Mile and Listed Spring Trophy for Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen.

Though they both won France's major two-year-old contest for colts, Belbek and Angel Bleu are very different types, with the latter a smaller and more compact individual than the tall Belbek.

“He's 1.61 metres, a deep horse with a strong neck and very strong shoulder,” says Le Forestier of the dapple grey Angel Bleu. “He really looks to be the early-maturing, strong, sturdy type that may be very appealing to breeders.”

Adding a bit of oomph to a decent race record is the fact that Angel Bleu's dam, Cercle De La Vie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is a full-sister to the Group 1-winning stallions Highland Reel (Ire) and Idaho (Ire) from the family of the top Australian broodmare Circles Of Gold (Aus) (Marscay {Aus}), who in turn produced the stallions Haradasun (Aus) and Elvstroem (Aus).

While the first books for the trio are being drawn up, there is also the anticipation next season of the first runners for Sumbe's G1 Commonwealth Cup-winning stallion Golden Horde (Ire), who, as a son of the G1 July Cup winner Lethal Force (Ire), also represents the Dark Angel sire-line. Then there's De Treville (GB), who doesn't have quite the same lofty race record but has the distinction of being the first foal of the great Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}). A dual winner, he managed Group 3 placings on three occasions, and the stallion's family has been given a major boost by his high-flying half-brother Too Darn Hot (GB), both on the track and through the exploits of his first crop of runners in 2023.

“We try our best to address every segment of the market,” says Le Forestier. “We have De Treville at entry level and then up to Mishriff at the top end. We have sprinters, we have middle-distance horses.”

Tony Fry, who started his association with Nurlan Bizakov in England as manager of Hesmonds Stud, has seen plenty of change during his tenure. He says, “It's been 13 years now. When we started, it was six mares that we bought in December back in 2010. And now we're up to 55 mares, new stallions and two farms in France and still a farm in England. We have Haras de Montfort & Préaux and Haras du Mézeray in France, and Hesmonds in England. Montfort is the stallion station and we board mares here. Mézeray is more Nurlan's private farm, and we take in boarders there as well. They're only six kilometres apart.”

He continues, “I remember we were we were driving out of Hesmonds one day and he said, 'One day I'd like to to buy a farm in France.' And I said, 'I hope you do. If you do, it means you enjoying the industry. It means you're having success. It means you want to expand.' So that was 12 years ago and it did happen. He still enjoys it. As we all know, with horses, there's plenty of downsides. It's normally more bad news than good news. But he's taken the bad news. We move on and he still wants to succeed and breed Group 1 winners, be in Group 1 races, be in the best races. So the ambition is still there.”

Bizakov's ambition is plain to see, not least in naming Sumbe after his birthplace in Kazakhstan. The operation took on its first major sponsorship earlier this year when backing the G1 Prix Morny and the entire undercard on one of Deauville's major summer Sundays.

“The long-term plan is to establish it as a top-tier brand,” says Le Forestier. “First of all, the boss sees himself as a breeder, and every venture he makes into the business is breeding-orientated. He has a very long-term view about things and it impacts everything in the company, be it horses in training or stallions. For instance, when we take in a new stallion prospect, the first client, the first user of the stallion would be Mr Bizakov himself. We're trying our best to make people understand that the brand is a multi-dimensional operation and that we stand behind our customers in the stallion business because we are our primary customers.”

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A winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic, Prix du Jockey Club and International S. to go with five other Group 1 placings, the 7-year-old is joined by French Champion Juvenile Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who won the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and the Criterium International among other contests. He will stand for €9,000. The second Group 1-winning juvenile and third new stallion overall is Sumbe homebred Belbek (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who also triumphed in the Lagardere. His fee has been set at €7,000.

Rounding out the roster is G1 Commonwealth Cup hero Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}), who has first yearlings next year at €6,000; and De Treville (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a half-brother to leading first-season sire Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who will hold court for €3,000. The latter has already sired the stakes winner Gregarina (Fr), who was second in the G3 Prix Quincey and two other group horses.

“I am proud to announce that in 2024 Sumbe will offer two new exciting stallions Angel Bleu and Belbek,” said Sumbe's Nurlan Bizakov. “They are both champions by proven sires of sires and with deep, distinguished pedigrees. Mishriff needs no introduction and I am confident that he will receive strong support from French and international breeders in the new season. We have also adjusted the fees for Golden Horde and De Treville to make them even more attractive. The Sumbe team will be happy to show all our stallions and discuss any potential plans with breeders.”

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One of five who stayed far side swinging for home, the 4-1 shot subdued stablemate Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) passing two out and kept on to secure the success by half a length from the stand's-side group's “winner” The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) as the 9-10 favourite Tribalist wound up two lengths further away in third.

Bizakov and Sumbe's racing manager Mathieu Le Forestier revealed that Belbek is off to the Stud now. “He's been unlucky at times and it's lovely that he bows out with a thrilling win,” he said. “He was our first group 1-winning homebred and is the first Showcasing and first stallion from the Hasili line to stand in France. Hats off to Andre, as he instructed his jockeys to stay on the inside rail even though all the races so far had been won on the stand's side–it was the right decision.”

Split across the track! Former Group 1 star Belbek is back to winning ways in the Group 3 Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud, with old favourite The Revenant second… pic.twitter.com/nez5u9ayjw

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 22, 2023

Pedigree Notes
Belbek, whose record also includes a win in the six-furlong G3 Prix du Bois at two, is the second foal out of Bee Queen (GB) (Makfi {GB}) who was an inspired purchase at just 50,000gns from Juddmonte's draft in the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. A daughter of Trojan Queen (Empire Maker), she is therefore a half-sister to the talented G3 Hampton Court S. winner Sangarius (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and to the G3 Derrinstown Stud 1000 Guineas Trial-placed stakes producer Emergent (GB) by Showcasing's sire Oasis Dream (GB).

Trojan Queen is a daughter of Fabre's triple top-level-winning champion and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill), who produced the G1 Prix Prix Jean Romanet winner Romantica (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the dual listed scorer and G2 Prix Niel runner-up Ideal World (Kingmambo). As Le Forestier pointed out, the fourth dam is the legendary producer Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), responsible for so many of Juddmonte's stars including the GI Beverly D. S. winner Heat Haze (GB) by Oasis Dream's sire Green Desert. Bee Queen's unraced 2-year-old colt Baysangur (Fr) is by Gleneagles (Ire).

Sunday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX PERTH-G3, €80,000, Saint-Cloud, 10-22, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:43.93, vs.
1–BELBEK (FR), 123, c, 3, by Showcasing (GB)
     1st Dam: Bee Queen (GB), by Makfi (GB)
     2nd Dam: Trojan Queen, by Empire Maker
     3rd Dam: Banks Hill (GB), by Danehill
O-Nurlan Bizakov; B-Sumbe (FR); T-Andre Fabre; J-Bauyrzhan Murzabayev. €40,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 12-4-0-2, €385,863. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–The Revenant (GB), 127, g, 8, Dubawi (Ire)–Hazel Lavery (Ire), by Excellent Art (GB). O-Al Asayl France; B-Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €16,000.
3–Tribalist (GB), 129, c, 4, Farhh (GB)–Fair Daughter (GB), by Nathaniel (Ire). (130,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Godolphin SNC; B-Car Colston Hall Stud (GB); T-Andre Fabre. €12,000.
Margins: HF, 2, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.30, 5.60, 0.90.
Also Ran: Anthorus (Fr), Gregarina (Fr), American Flag (Fr), Arnis Master (Ger), Miramis (Ire), Nano Nagle (Ire), Foniska (Ire). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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A dual Group 1 winner at two, taking the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Criterium International after also winning the G2 Vintage S. at Glorious Goodwood, Angel Bleu was named the French Champion juvenile and was the second-highest-rated two-year-old in Europe in 2021. His distinctive Group 1 double was previously achieved by Blushing Groom in 1976 and Irish River two years later.

“Not only is he a tough, sound horse, but he looks the part, and he's from a real stallion family,” says Sumbe's manager Tony Fry while taking a break from yearling inspections at Arqana. “The dam side is full of Group 1 performers. We followed him as a two-year-old and liked him, but the deal couldn't be done, and then two years later it has been done. Sometimes it's worth the wait.”

To date, Angel Bleu, who was Dark Angel's highest-rated juvenile, has won seven of his 17 starts, including the G2 Celebration Mile in August. His pedigree has plenty of depth, too, as his dam, Cercle De La Vie (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is a full-sister to the Group 1 winners and stallions Highland Reel (Ire) and Idaho (Ire). His third dam is the Australian Oaks winner and champion broodmare Circles Of Gold (Aus), whose sons Elvstroem (Aus) (Danehill) and Haradasun (Aus) (Fusaichi Pegasus) were both globe-trotting Group 1 winners and stallions.

Reflecting on the career of Angel Bleu, his trainer Ralph Beckett said, “As well as being really talented, Angel Bleu is a very tough individual, whose race record shows he took his racing very well and kept coming back for more. To do it at two, three and four is a rare thing nowadays.” 

Belbek followed Angel Bleu on the list of winners of the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, and it is a roll of honour which includes the names Siyouni (Fr) and Wootton Bassett (GB), who have made such an impact on the French stallion ranks in recent years. A son of the Makfi (GB) mare Bee Queen (GB), who was purchased by Bizakov from Juddmonte, his third dam is the brilliant racemare and black-type producer Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill), sister of the stallions Dansili (GB), Champs Elysees (GB) and Cacique (GB), making his fourth dam none other than the blue hen Hasili (GB) (Kahyasi {Ire}).

“He'll always be very special, whatever he does,” says Fry of Belbek. “Again, as a son of Showcasing, he'll be popular. He's a Group 1-winning two-year-old. Things just didn't quite go his way this year through no fault of his own. But he's a beautiful-looking horse, and again it's a Juddmonte family through and through. I don't think you can ever really go wrong with those.”

Though Mishriff joined Sumbe last year, a foot injury sustained after retirement ruled him out of his first covering season, meaning that the farm is launching three new stallions. As a winner of the Prix du Jockey Club, followed by the Saudi Cup, Dubai Sheema Classic, and Juddmonte International for Prince Faisal, Mishriff needs little introduction, but the breeding fraternity will need a small reminder that he is essentially a new stallion in 2024.

“A lot of people were with us for the journey last year,” Fry says. “We had to disappoint them. I don't think anyone was more disappointed than us, the boss, and Prince Faisal, obviously.

“But he's back, he's healthy, he looks fantastic. He's let down, and you have to remember what a good racehorse he was. And I think anybody that saw him before the setback said what a beautiful-looking horse he was. He really fills the eye. People have just got to go back, look at his races and realise that it's just a wonderful opportunity to have a horse like that in France. And again, people are very quick to knock horses being retired, but he stood three years of training and racing.”

He adds, “Prince Faisal had eight mares for him last year. He was very patient. He bought a couple of expensive mares for him, including [dual Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed] Oscula. He's still keen and the horse is very dear to his heart. So he'll be sending a good batch of his broodmare band to Mishriff.”

That home support for the Sumbe stallions also holds true for the G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Golden Horde. With an average just above €43,000 for his eight yearlings sold at Arqana in August and the V.2 Sale, he has another nine members of his first crop to be sold this week.

“We've got 18 by Golden Horde at home and I could open the gate and show you those and there's nothing I'd be hiding because they are just solid, attractive horses,” says Fry.

“To send 18, 20 mares to Golden Horde, everybody knows the success rates of stallions. That's the big belief that we have in that horse.” 

He adds, “Our broodmare band now numbers 50 or 50-plus, and we'll be in the market to look at mares for our stallions. As I have said on a number of occasions, it's very easy to go out and sell the stallions; you can be a salesman and you can sell your nominations but we want to say 'We believe in this horse. We are backing him with our own mares. We're behind you. We want him to work for us and the breeders.' So we will be investing in mares for all of our new stallions and our existing stallions. That's important.”

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The eventual winner lobbed along in third through steady early stages, but slipped to fourth when brake-checked and impeded approaching halfway in this debut. Full of run along the rail when encountering heavy traffic passing the quarter-mile marker, he found an open lane inside the final 300 metres and unleashed a powerful turn of foot to win, going away, by a length from Ouro Preto (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Casapueblo becomes his sire's third Rising Star and he joins G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Commes (Fr) and G3 Prix de Guiche third Another Sky (Fr) on the list.

“He had been working well in the mornings and we hoped to see him confirm it on the racecourse,” said Godolphin's Louise Benard. “We really liked what we saw and no doubt he will stay further in due course. Anthony Stroud liked him at the Arqana October sale and bought him, even though this is not the type of horse Godolphin is looking at in a sale. It has paid off and we will now see what Mr Fabre wants to do with him.”

Casapueblo is the latest of five reported foals and fourth scorer from as many runners produced by a winning half-sister to MGSP sire Urban King (Ire) (Desert King {Ire}) and the dual stakes-placed Victoria College (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). Victoria College, in turn, is the dam of G2 Prix Chaudenay and G3 Prix de Lutece placegetter Lucky Look (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}), G3 Prix de Conde runner-up Millfield (Fr) (Whipper) and Listed Prix Volterra third La Poutanesca (Ire) (Falco). Casapueblo's G3 Premio Umbria-winning second dam Uruk (GB) (Efisio {GB}) is a half-sister to stakes-winning G3 Chester Vase and G3 September S. runner-up All The Aces (Ire) (Spartacus {Ire}). The April-foaled bay is a half-brother to G3 Prix Miesque victrix Dame Du Roi (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

5th-Chantilly, €30,000, Mdn, 9-13, 2yo, c/g, 9fT, 2:00.09, sf.
CASAPUEBLO (IRE), c, 2, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Uruguay (Ire), by Authorized (Ire)
2nd Dam: Uruk (GB), by Efisio (GB)
3rd Dam: Lili Cup (Fr), by Fabulous Dancer
(€130,000 Ylg '22 ARQOCT) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €15,000. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Godolphin; B-Eric Puerari & Ecurie Ades Hazan (IRE); T-Andre Fabre; J-Mickael Barzalona.

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The move will see Recorder join Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling (GB), Rajsaman (Fr) and more at the County Tipperary stud. 

Recorder raced just three times in a career that did not extend beyond a juvenile campaign. But it was a successful one to the extent that he carried the Queen's colours to victory in the G3 Acomb S. at York for trainer William Haggas. 

He has sired four black-type performers all told, including Enola and Hot Queen, and stood in his final season in France at a fee of €3,000.

Sumbe Tweeted on Saturday, “Fair winds and following seas to Recorder who is leaving us after six great years of service at Haras de Montfort to stand in Ireland. 

“Our gratitude goes to all the breeders who have supported him over the years and to the Royal Studs for their extended trust. So long, champ!”

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The leading breeze-up handler, who also plays a major role in the Amo Racing operation, flew back to Ireland following inspections but lot 48 clearly made a lasting impression with Aguiar, who saw off stiff opposition for the Highclere Stud-drafted colt remotely.

Speaking after the sale, Aguiar said, “He really reminded me of Bucanero Fuerte when I bought him as a yearling. He's got a good loose walk, he's very athletic and has a good pedigree. If he works out I think he could be another Bucanero Fuerte. I see a lot of value in this horse at that price.” 

Bucanero Fuerte cost €165,000 at last year's August Sale at Arqana. He became an important first Group 1 winner for Amo Racing when landing the Phoenix S. at the Curragh and is as short as 8-1 with some firms for next year's 2,000 Guineas. 

Aguiar revealed that a number of options are open to his latest acquisition by the stallion and said the half-brother to Flying Childers S. winner Trillium was a standout for him in the sale. 

“I bought him for myself at the moment but we'll see, maybe later on I could have a partner in the horse,” he said. “I'll get him home, break him in and see how he's going before deciding what I do with him. He could breeze or race but I like him a lot and for me he really stood out in this sale.” 

Wootton Bassett continues to go from strength to strength and the Coolmore-based stallion's exploits on Tuesday came after a sensational August Sale at Arqana where 21 were sold for an average of €378,810.

Like Arqana, the trade at Doncaster was strong, with the opening day top lot one of 18 horses to make six figures. Of the 218 lots offered, 183 sold at a clearance rate of 84%. The aggregate was up 1% on last year at £9,082,000 while the average climbed 10% to £49,629 and the median stood at £36,000. 

!@Robsonadeaguiar goes to £200,000 to secure Lot 48, the @JakeJWarren consigned Wootton Bassett half-brother to the G2 winner TRILLIUM. #GoffsPremier pic.twitter.com/KO8e7nTmmQ

— Goffs UK (@GoffsUK) August 29, 2023

Johnston Snaps Up Sister To Sacred Angel

Sacred Angel has proved herself one of the best horses in Charlie Johnston's stable this season in winning the G3 Princess Margaret S. at Ascot and the trainer went to £175,000 to secure her sister from Yeomanstown Stud. 

Last seen finishing fourth behind Vandeek in the Prix Morny, Nurlan Bizakov's Sacred Angel will now be aimed at the Cheveley Park, and her little sister was purchased on behalf of the same owner. 

Johnston explained of lot 160, “She's for Nurlan Bizakov who now owns Sacred Angel. Things have gone fantastic since he acquired her and we were delighted with her run in the Prix Morny. She will almost certainly go to the Cheveley Park next and let's hope lightning can strike twice as we were keen to get the sister.”

He added, “I think there are similarities and this filly is a bit more backward than Sacred Angel was at this time last year. She will get broken in fairly quickly now and then get turned away. She has the same athleticism as Sacred Angel. Delighted to get her.”

Sacred Angel came out of this sale last year and was originally knocked down to John Dance's Manor House Farm for £52,000. She won her maiden at Newmarket in the colours of the Titanium Racing Club before switching ownership to Bizakov. 

The Sumbe boss reaped immediate rewards when Sacred Angel landed the Princess Margaret and was then beaten just under five lengths by Vandeek (GB) in the Morny, a race which is sponsored by the French stud. 

Explaining how the relationship came about, Johnston said, “This is Sumbe's first year sponsoring the Morny and Nurlan was keen to have a runner in it. They were on the hunt for suitable horses in the months leading up to the race and Richard Knight [bloodstock agent] got in touch off the back of her winning her maiden at Newmarket.”

He added, “Could I have said to him that the filly was capable of holding her own in Group 1 company at that point? No. But we were already thinking that her next start would be in the Princess Margaret. It was a bit of a punt with regards to the Morny but it worked out fantastically well.”

Sacred Angel is out of Sacred Aspect (Ire) (Haatef), herself a speedy two-year-old for Ken Condon back in 2013 when landing a listed event over five furlongs at Tipperary.

The @YeomanstownStud consigned Lot 160, a Dark Angel own sister to the Group 3 winner SACRED ANGEL, is knocked down to @Johnston_Racing for £175,000. #GoffsPremier pic.twitter.com/9iZrYtJHtz

— Goffs UK (@GoffsUK) August 29, 2023

'The Sire Is Absolutely On Fire' – Williamson Keen On Havana Grey Colt

Vandeek (GB) has flown the flag for the breeze-ups this season with a scintillating two-year-old campaign that featured Group 1 glory in the Prix Morny earlier this month and Norman Williamson pushed the boat out to secure what he hopes could be the next top colt by Havana Grey {GB}) for £120,000. 

Bought alongside Mags O'Toole, Williamson had to fend off a strong challenge from Roderick Kavanagh, who transformed Vandeek from a 42,000gns yearling purchase into a 625,000gns breeze-up sensation at the Craven Sale. 

Williamson has never breezed a Havana Grey before but said he was keen to snap up the colt from Whitsbury Manor Stud with a view towards the premier sales in the spring. 

“He has been bought to breeze and we all saw what Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) did this year,” Williamson said. 

“The sire is absolutely on fire and I'm delighted to get him. He looks as though he might need a little bit of time but he's a great mover and he has size and scope.

“I haven't breezed a Havana Grey before–I haven't been able to buy one. We had to stretch to get this lad but that's what it has been like at all of the markets. The better ones are making a premium.”

Asked if the colt being by Havana Grey played an important part in the buying of lot 91, Williamson replied, “It is very important at the other end. Of course they have to breeze well but, the plus here–which gave me an extra kick–was the fact he is out of a Pivotal (GB) mare. That's a plus. But he has a lot of size and scope to him and I think in the spring he will turn into a fine horse. Hopefully.”

• Who said the smaller sums don't make a big difference? For Billy Kelly, son of bloodstock agent Peter, his £36,000 Tasleet (GB) filly represented a sizable profit given he bought the horse for just 6,000gns as a foal at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale. The 18-year-old completed his leaving certificate this year and owned the Tasleet [lot 147] in partnership with Paul Winters. Asked what he planned on doing with the proceeds of the sale and Kelly's reply was “go again”.
• David Loughnane has a £180,000 Blue Point (Ire) colt to look forward to next year after Ed Sackville purchased lot 197 on behalf of an unnamed British owner. The colt was consigned by Longview Stud and is out of the listed-placed So Hi Society (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}). Sackville said, “He was a real standout and the sire needs no introduction. He's out of a fast race filly and the pedigree goes back to a lovely Wildenstein family. He will be trained by David Loughnane, who has a good record with two-year-olds.”
• Alastair Donald has had great success purchasing on behalf of PK Siu, notably with Stormy Antarctic (GB) (Stormy Atlantic) and more recently G3 Hampton Court S. winner Waipiro (Ire) (Australia {GB}). The top agent added lot 84, an Eathlight (Ire) filly from Jamie Railton's draft, for £160,000 on behalf of the owner.
• Anna Sundstrom's good run continued when lot 60, a Havana Gold (Ire) colt purchased with Filip Zwicky at the Goffs November Foal Sale for €44,000, rocked into £85,000 to Howson and Houldsworth/Jamie Insole. The sale came off the back of a bonanza of results at Arqana for the Coulonces operator that included a €1 million Wootton Bassett colt to Yoshito Yahagi. Interestingly, Insole is the former assistant trainer to Charlie Hills and has recently joined Dr Richard Newland on the licence. The pair will operate a dual-purpose training facility.
• As well as signing for a host of horses for his father Richard and landing the buy of the day in the shape of lot 121, Peter Fahey enjoyed a productive session in purchasing on behalf of Karl Burke, Kevin Ryan and Clive Cox. Fahey landed seven yearlings all told on Tuesday to the tune of £419,000 which represented something of a breakout sale for the young agent.
• One of the more interesting stories to emerge from this sale last year was the strength of Richard Hughes and the trainer once again flexed his buying power by signing for four yearlings for £330,000. Hughes bought 11 yearlings for a total of £744,000 last year and his Tuesday purchases were headed by a £160,000 Sea The Stars (Ire) filly from Barton Stud.

Lot 197, the @longviewstud consigned colt by leading FSS Blue Point (@DarleyEurope) out of a G2 placed mare is purchased by @SackvilleDonald for £180,000 at #GoffsPremier pic.twitter.com/7aZxPk35tz

— Goffs UK (@GoffsUK) August 29, 2023

Bromley Lands “Wish List” Mehmas For New Client And Classic-Winning Owner 

Classic-winning owner Phil Cunningham snapped up the services of ace agent Anthony Bromley of Highflyer to secure five yearlings for £422,000, headed by a Mehmas (Ire) colt from Tally-Ho Stud for £145,000.

The brief, according to Bromley, was simple; “fast ones,” for Cunningam, who owned 2,000 Guineas winner Cockney Rebel (Ire). In lot 97, the agent picked up a speedy-looking colt for Richard Spencer to go to war with next season. 

Standing alongside the trainer, Bromley said, “We've got three so far today. Two-year-olds and fast ones, that's the plan. Mehmas was on our wish list if we could get one. This looked like the archetypal Mehmas–all square, good bum on him, walks well, speedy family and the dam has had a good record. She was fast and there are some good ratings out of the dam.”

He added, “It just ticked all the boxes apart from the fact he was getting expensive! I don't normally spend that high but he was a proper two-year-old type and we really hope he can do well for Phil. Excited.”

Bromley also picked up a Mohaather (GB) colt from Barton Stud for £70,000 and an Advertise colt from Lynn Lodge Stud for £40,000 on behalf of his new client and praised the stock on offer at the sale. 

He said, “The vendors have really supported the sale well and they are being rewarded with what looks to be pretty decent trade. It must be said that the sales race [Harry's Half Million] is a great incentive.”

After purchasing the Mehmas, Bromley and Spencer landed another colt Mohaather (GB) [lot 185 for £95,000] and one by Kodiac (GB) [lot 156 for £72,000].

Buy Of The Day

The River Boyne (Ire) colt that Peter Fahey sourced from Tara Stud for just £15,000 looks well bought. 

A ball of speed, he is exactly the type of yearling that Henry Beeby spoke of as being synonymous with this sale. 

By first-season sire River Boyne, who won his Grade I in America before returning home to Tara Stud, the colt will be trained by the agent's father Richard. 

At £15,000, he can run in the lower class maidens in the north of England and he looks early so can be expected to be out in the first few weeks of the season. 

He's not that light on pedigree, either. Out of a Manduro (Ger) mare Princess Eva (Fr), herself a half-sister to Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), she has already produced a black-type winner, albeit in Italy. Given the strength of the trade at Doncaster on Tuesday, the River Boyne colt looks decent business. 

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Oliver St Lawrence bought a quality-looking Mohaather filly from Barton Stud for £75,000. 

Although above the average for the Tuesday trade, lot 125 boasts a good pedigree being a half-sister to the listed winner and Group 2-placed Sir Boris (Ire) (Due Diligence).

The filly was one of the nicest offerings by Mohaather to hit the sale ground this week and one to keep track of, for sure.

There is a strong chance, however, that the best transaction of the day did not happen on the sales ground at Doncaster, but a couple of miles down the road in an antique shop in the town centre. 

For just forty quid, bloodstock agent Peter Kelly unearthed a vintage top hat that should have cost many multiples of that initial outlay. Hats off, Peter!

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