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New sires galore and plenty else besides to take in on the Route des Etalons

Aisling Crowe plays tour guide on a bright and breezy journey around some of the studs on the French Stallion Trail

Charyn won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Charyn (Silvestre de Sousa) wins the QEII Stakes Ascot 19.10.24 Pic: Edward WhitakerCredit: Edward Whitaker

The annual Route des Etalons – French Stallion Trail – attracts plenty of British and Irish visitors and takes place this Friday and Saturday, incorporating 20 studs and around 90 stallions.

If it's new sires you're in hot pursuit of in Normandy, there's a route just for you taking in picturesque farms and their exquisite hospitality.

Start off at the timber-framed barns of Haras de Bouquetot to see the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano winner Al Hakeem, who was also fourth to Vadeni in the Prix du Jockey Club.

Al Shaqab's son of Siyouni – Vadeni's studmate at Haras de Bonneval and France's most expensive sire – is bred on the same cross as St Mark's Basilica.

Then head south towards Haras de Montfort et Preaux, which is home to the Sumbe stallions.

You can make a detour to Lisieux, where, if you're a breeder in need of some divine inspiration for mating plans this year, you can pop into the Basilica de Sainte-Therese, before picking up a delicious pain au chocolat and cafe au lait at one of the town's pretty patisseries.

Sumbe's stud is the base of Group 1 winners Angel Bleu and Mishriff, but the star attraction on Friday and Saturday will be Charyn.

The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Anne Stakes winner, who after competing in Japan in November was retired to Normandy, scene of his Prix Jacques le Marois triumph, is one of the most exciting new stallions in Europe this year. 

He is also one of the priciest at €35,000 but, as a triple Group 1 winner by Britain and Ireland's champion sire Dark Angel, Charyn boasts an impeccable profile.

Another of the Group 1 winners at Sumbe is Belbek, while just south-east of Montfort et Preaux is Haras du Taillis, where Gamestop, who was runner-up to the son of Showcasing in the Jean-Luc Lagardere, begins his stallion career. 

Bred and raced by the Wertheimers, he is the first son of Lope De Vega at stud in France.

Make your way across to Haras de Grandcamp, where there are two new Group 1-winning stallions awaiting your arrival, namely Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Big Rock and Zagrey, successful in the Grosser Preis von Baden.

Metropolitan: Will head back to Ascot for the QEII Stakes on Qipco Champions Day
Metropolitan: Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner will stand at Haras d'Etreham upon retirement from racingCredit: Edward Whitaker

Zagrey was the first Group 1 winner by Zarak and was also third to Equinox in the Dubai Sheema Classic, while Big Rock, who at €12,000 stands for double the fee of Zagrey, chased home Ace Impact in the Prix du Jockey Club and was runner-up in two other top-level races.

Then head a little south in the direction of Argentan, for in close proximity lies one of France's leading farms, Haras de Montaigu, where this year Nietzsche Has joins a line-up that is headed by No Risk At All. 

Fresh from his impressive victory in Chepstow's Finale Juvenile Hurdle, the son of Zarak is out of a Martaline full-sister to Grade 1 winner and young sire Nirvana Du Berlais.

After making his acquaintance, there's a quick pitstop in the offing at Karwin Farm, where you can see the divinely named Listed winner by Siyouni, God Blessing.

There's a little bit of cross-country driving, so make the most of the scenery and consider stopping off to purchase some of the delectable Normandy cider or Calvados as you head towards Bayeux. 

Before getting to the pretty town, which was the first secured by the Allies after D-Day and is the home of the eponymous tapestry, you'll come across Haras de la Hetraie, which has three new stallions for this year.

Kingman's Grand Prix de Paris winner Feed The Flame is the star recruit from the Flat, while Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Leon Du Berlais was announced as a new addition only last week. The son of Authorized joins Riocorvo, by the late Pastorius, on the National Hunt-oriented roster.

Next up and close to Bayeux is the beautiful Haras d'Etreham, which this year welcomes Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan, yet another son of Zarak to retire to stud.

We're on the home stretch now and the car is pointing towards Deauville, where Puchkine, the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat winner by Starspangledbanner, has taken up residence at Haras de Beaumont.

Finally, it's on to Haras de la Huderie to see German 2,000 Guineas winner Mythico, by Adlerflug, and Wootton Bassett's Coventry Stakes winner River Tiber.

For further details and stud opening times, click here.


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