Prominent French Sire Le Havre Pensioned

Le Havre (Ire) (Noverre), winner of the 2009 G1 Prix du Jockey Club and one of France's leading sires, has been retired at the age of 16 at Sumbe's Haras de Montfort et Préaux in Normandy. He has been hailed as “the most important horse of my life” by his owner Gérard Augustin-Normand.

In a statement released on Saturday, Sumbe manager Mathieu Alex said, “Due to health issues which occurred at the end of last year, the decision was made to end his stallion career. We owe him so much and our priority is his wellbeing. Le Havre is a true champion. Winner of a magnificent Prix du Jockey Club, he was a leading stallion from his debut at stud.”

He added, “The sire of 50 Stakes winners, including two dual winners of the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane, Le Havre is a source of French pride. We know how rare these horses are. He gave us the most beautiful emotions. We have lived with him for more than 10 years and are enjoying every moment.”

Bred by the Sundstrom family under their Team Hogdala banner, Le Havre was the first foal of his dam Marie Rheinberg (Ger) (Surako {Ger}), a half-sister to the Group 1-winning sprinter Polar Falcon (Nureyev), whose later accolades include being the sire of Pivotal (GB). 

Le Havre was bought by his trainer Jean-Claude Rouget for €100,000 at Arqana's August Sale and became the first major flag-bearer in Thoroughbred racing for his prolific owner. He won his first two starts as a juvenile and was clearly held in high regard by Rouget, who then ran him in the G1 Critérium International, in which he was seventh, beaten less than three lengths.

The trainer's confidence was well founded. Le Havre won the Listed Prix Djebel on his 3-year-old debut, beating the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère winner Naaqoos (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) into second. The pair finished in the same order on their next start in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, but this time it was in second and third behind Silver Frost (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}). Le Havre had his revenge a month later, however, when delivering a commanding performance to win the Prix du Jockey Club in its fifth year at the reduced distance of 2,100 metres.

His retirement to what was then known as Haras de la Cauvinière in 2009 prompted a significant foray into the breeding world by Augustin-Normand, who through his former racing manager and bloodstock advisor Sylvain Vidal bought a decent array of mares to support his exciting young stallion. Le Havre's arrival on the French scene came at a time when the country's stallion ranks had been quite seriously depleted with the deaths or retirement of some significant names such as Anabaa, Highest Honor and Linamix (Fr). Around the same time, Kendargent (Fr) and Siyouni (Fr) also retired to Normandy studs, and the trio has made a significant contribution to the resurgence of France's breeding industry over the last decade. 

Vidal's judgement in those broodmare purchases for their new stallion, who was the first to stand at the farm he ran with his former wife Elisabeth, soon became apparent and Le Havre was arguably the first of the three to make an impact. A well-named filly from his first crop, Avenir Certain (Fr), bred by Elisabeth Vidal, became Le Havre's first Classic winner in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and swiftly followed up in the Prix de Diane. Two years later the Augustin-Normand-bred La Cressonniere (Fr) completed the same Classic double, with both fillies having been campaigned by Augustin-Normand and Antonio Caro and trained by Rouget. 

Augustin-Normand told TDN on Saturday, “Le Havre has been the most important horse of my life. He was the beginning and it's very emotional for me. I wouldn't have been in the breeding business if he had not been there. Everything began with Le Havre and I wouldn't have started breeding horses without him.”

He continued, “When he went to stud I wanted to give him the best chances, everything he needed to succeed. I was so grateful to him for what he had given me, and that has not stopped. To have won two Poules and the Prix de Diane twice [with his daughters] is incredible.”

Paying tribute to the team that contributed to Le Havre's success on the racecourse and at stud, Augustin-Normand added, “I am very grateful to Jean-Claude Rouget, I think it was his first win in the Jockey Club, and it was a wonderful year for us. I am also very grateful to Christophe Lemaire, Sylvain Vidal, Mathieu Vidal and all the team. I must also say a word for Anna Sundstrom, the breeder of Le Havre. His story was the beginning for her also, and it will not be the end. Anna is a wonderful woman and is very important to me.”

Le Havre's first crop also included Suedois (Fr), who became his first colt to win at the top level in the GI Shadwell Turf Mile, while Villa Marina won the G1 Prix de l'Opera, and Wonderful Tonight (Fr), bred by Sylvain Vidal and Mathieu Alex, won the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and the G1 Prix de Royallieu among her five stakes wins for David Menuisier and Chris Wright. 

To date, Le Havre is the sire of 20 group winners and 30 listed winners, and features as the broodmare sire of G1 Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}). A number of his daughters have been exported to Japan, including both his French Classic winners. Avenir Certain's first of two foals before her untimely death, Des Ailes (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), won last year's G2 Hanshin Himba S., and has struck early in 2022 with victory in the G3 Aichi Hai. Le Havre's daughter Sea Front (Fr) is now the dam of the Grade 2-winning juvenile Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}). 

Le Havre will remain at Haras de Montfort et Préaux in retirement. Of his decision to bring the curtain down on the horse's stud career, Augustin-Normand said, “It has not been easy but it is the right thing to do. We love him so much and he has given us the biggest emotions. I went to Montfort last week to see him and it was really emotional. I hope he will stay with us as long as possible.”

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Trade Strong At Arqana February

The two-day Arqana February Sale came to a close on Tuesday with figures up across the board. After a strong opening session on Monday led by the €250,000 AQPS gelding Hardi Du Mesnil (Fr) (Masterstroke), the sale continued apace during Tuesday's session of fillies, mares and yearlings and was topped by the 5-year-old Princess Isla (GB) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 309), who was bought by Anne-Sophie Yoh of Yohea for €110,000 on behalf of Xavier Marie of Haras de Hus. Marie is a more recent investor in racing stock and bought Anabasis (Ger) (High Chaparral {Ire}), the dam of Grade I winner A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), for €320,000 at Arqana December. Princess Isla is in foal for the first time to dual Group 1-winning sprinter Ten Sovereigns (Ire).

“I've bought her for Xavier Marie of Haras de Hus,” said Anne-Sophie Yoh. “He's a new owner that is well-known for investing in sports horses, who is now turning towards racing. We really liked the mare's pedigree and she is the only one in foal to the sire in the catalogue. We're very happy. We don't know yet who she'll be covered by next–she'll go to the stud first.”

Bred by Dayton Investments, Princess Isla was a winner in March of 2019 at Deauville for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. Her second dam is Peinture Bleue (Alydar), whose four stakes winners are headed by the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Classic winner and sire Peintre Celebre. Princess Isla had been a €420,000 buyback at the Arqana August Yearling Sale of 2017, and Langlais Bloodstock had purchased her for €62,000 out of Arqana's Summer Sale of 2019. Her elder sister Persian Sky (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was bought by Mandore International Agency for €65,000 at the latest edition of Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale.

At the end of Tuesday's session, figures for the two-day sale reflected positive trade. A total of 261 horses were sold for €3,028,000 at a clearance rate of 80.8%-a big improvement over last year's clearance rate of 66%, when 239 horses were sold for €2,331,100. The average and median were likewise up, by 18.9% (€11,602) and 37.5% (€5,500), respectively.

It was another 5-year-old mare, Jet Setteuse (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) (lot 315) who found favour on Tuesday with Sylvain Vidal, and she is set to visit Le Havre (Ire) for her first covering after being scooped up for €95,000. A winner in her lone start at two for trainer Francois Rohaut, Jet Setteuse was placed in the G3 Prix Imprudence and a pair of listed races at three and was last seen winning a seven-furlong conditions race at Dax last June, after which she was a €90,000 buyback at the Arqana Summer Sale. Jet Setteuse is out of the listed-placed Pretty Panther (Fr) (Hurricane Run {Ire}).

“She's a lovely mare from a nice family of sprinters that were very tough on the racetrack,” said Vidal. “She'll go to Le Havre.”

BBA Ireland was the name on the ticket for the 10-year-old mare Honor Bound (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) (lot 233), who was sold for €60,000 by Haras des Cruchettes on behalf of Al Shahania Stud. Honor Bound won Lingfield's Listed Oaks Trial S. at three but beat just one home in the G1 Epsom Oaks and never won again. Her first foal, Rowland Ward (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), was a winner over the flat and jumps, while her second foal, the now 4-year-old Bound Edition (GB) (Dansili {GB}), is unraced. Honor Bound has a 2-year-old filly by Sea The Stars, a yearling filly by Lope De Vega (Ire) and is empty for 2021.

The G1 Prix Jacques le Marois winner Al Wukair (Ire) has his first runners this year, and it was a mare in foal to him who found favour with Artemis Bloodstock Investments for €50,000: Swan Valley (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) (lot 330). Unraced herself, the 6-year-old Swan Valley comes from a top-class family, her winning dam Saga d'Ouilly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) being a full-sister to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sagamix (Fr) and the G2 Prix de Malleret scorer Sage Et Jolie (Fr), and a half to G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}) and to Shastye (Ire) (Danehill), the dam of Group 1 winners Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Swan Valley's first foal, a filly by Sidestep (Aus), died as a yearling, and she has a yearling daughter of Pedro The Great (Fr).

Trois Rivieres's Leaf Blower (Hat Trick {Jpn}) (lot 238) was another young mare offered in foal to a stallion with his first runners this year, in her case Caravaggio, and the winning full-sister to the dual Grade III winner Tricky Escape was picked up by Mandore International Agency for €44,000. The 6-year-old is carrying her second foal, having produced a colt by Karakontie (Jpn) last year. That colt, bought in utero by Samuel Blanchard when the mare was picked up for $13,000 at Keeneland November in 2019, was sold for €28,000 at Arqana December last year to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock.

Upon the conclusion of trade for the Arqana February Sale, Arqana President Eric Hoyeau said, “We're extremely pleased with this first sale of the season. The market showed itself to be dynamic throughout the two days, and aside from the final figures, there was also a real atmosphere. These results are very encouraging at this stage in the year, when the entries for the yearling sales are taking place and we're putting together the Breeze-Up catalogue. All the racing countries of Europe were represented with both buyers and vendors. The bidding online also worked very well. There has been real progression in the activity online since the Autumn. We have adapted it as we have evolved. This has borne its fruit and should continue to progress.”

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John Hammond Appointed Racing Manager for Gerard Augustin-Normand

Trainer John Hammond, who trained G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heros Montjeu (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and Suave Dancer (Green Dancer), has been appointed racing manager to Gerard Augustin-Normand, Jour de Galop reported on Wednesday. Sylvain Vidal remains an advisor to Augustin-Normand, who raced Le Havre (Ire) (Noverre) and stands him at Haras de Montfort et Preaux. The rest of the staff maintain their current positions.

Augustin-Normand told the JDG regarding the appointment, “I always appreciated and followed the work of John Hammond. More recently, I have appreciated his human qualities. He has a great deal of experience training and a taste for breeding. After 10 years of activity, I thought it was time to breathe new life into our organisation.

“John Hammond is responsible for the entire workforce, breeding and training. He is also in charge of horse purchases and sales. The rest of the organisation remains unchanged. Sylvain Vidal is retained in an advisory role and I am on very good terms with him. At Haras de Montfort et Preaux, the daily activities are overseen by Mathieu Alex, assisted by Laure Frappat. Francois Le Corno retains his organisational and coordination activities, while Stephane Soussan remains the accountant.”

Said Hammond, “I am very honoured by the confidence of Gerard Augustin-Normand, but also very happy to be part of his team. At the same time, I’m going to continue my work for OTI Racing.

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