Almanzor to Zarak: how French-based sires with their first yearling crops fared

It may soon become almost banal to read about the difficult economic conditions which face the racing and breeding industries.

But for Normandy stallion farms 2020 presents added complication, since the 2018 breeding season featured an almost unprecedented number of horses recently retired to stand in France.

Almanzor delivers

As 2016's European champion three-year-old, Almanzor was eagerly anticipated at stud, while a starting fee of €35,000 ensured he would be aimed at international as well as French-based breeders.

His results at Arqana deservedly garnered plenty of headlines and he ended the three-day Select Yearling Sale with an impressive average of more than €126,000 across his 19 horses to sell.

But his is far from the only success story among the newcomers.

Those that stand and have invested in all 12 stallions to have had debut yearlings at the sale will have some cause for optimism that their horse might achieve velocity, even if their launch year coincides with a challenging market.

Both the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Broadhurst Agency went to €280,000 for horses by Almanzor, while 13 in total made six figures.

The Almanzor filly out of Sefroua who made €280,000 to the Broadhurst AgencyCredit: Alice.lemal

Almanzor must now fill the void at Haras d'Etreham left by his own sire, the recent Coolmore acquisition Wootton Bassett.

Etreham's commercial director Franck Champion said: "It's fantastic what has happened, given this Covid-blighted year. To have a stallion's first crop in a year such as this, where there are so many difficulties in selling, and for it to turn out so well, is great.

"His average was more than €125,000 for a crop conceived at €35,000, and you have to remember he is one of the first European champions to be retired straight to France."

Champion added: "He was very well supported, not only by ourselves and the other partners in the horse but also by other breeders, and he had around 130 foals on the ground his first year.

"What you've seen with his yearlings is great consistency, he really stamps them. They may not be very precocious but they look like racehorses, as well as being mentally very straightforward and so hopefully easy to train."

Lot 101 pedigree
Lot 231 pedigree

Bouquetot to the power of four

Al Shaqab's Haras de Bouquetot have a bumper crop of four debutants, though as director Benoit Jeffroy points out, despite their differing careers, all earned their way to stud on the track.

Prix Jacques le Marois winner Al Wukair produced the most consistent performances in the Arqana ring, while each of Brametot, Ectot and Zelzal showed signs of promise from limited lots.

Jean-Claude Rouget will train a €70,000 son of Zelzal for Al Shaqab (lot 127), while Henri-Francois Devin will be taking delivery of one of only two Brametot yearlings offered at the Select Sale (456).

This son of Zelzal, out of Kestria, was an Al Shaqab buy at €70,000

"We didn't have too many from our stallions and they were not from international breeders," said Jeffroy. "You will see more from the four of them in October.

"We have plenty of them but they were all champions so they all have a chance. But they will have to make it the hard way, they don't have the biggest profiles at stud. They will have to show they get racehorses, but they all earned their right on the track."

Lot 254 pedigree
Lot 354 pedigree

Whitecliffsofdover: the single strike

Haras de la Haie Neuve scored a notable success with lot 417, the already-named James Bere and the only yearling offered by their stallion Whitecliffsofdover, who went to Rouget for €135,000.

James Bere, the only offering by Whitecliffsofdover at the sale

"For us the main objective, more than the price, is where the horses end up," said Haie Neuve's Tanguy Saliou. "If the yearlings don't go to the right trainers, you can't make the stallion. There are trainers who trust us and that is a big help in launching a stallion.

"Whitecliffsofdover isn't with us by accident. He was born at Claiborne Farm, is a son of War Front and the dam is a full-sister to Pulpit from the family of Tale Of The Cat and Johannesburg.

"He is a magnificent-looking horse and he has covered 200 mares in three years. It is a partnership between Alain Regnier, Emmanuel de Seroux, the Haras de la Haie Neuve and Coolmore.

"We have plenty in the October catalogue and some really good-looking ones at that."

Lot 417 pedigree

Zarak: a strong finish to the week

The Aga Khan Studs have a blueblood pedigree to go to war with in the shape of Almanzor's contemporary Zarak, the first produce of Zarkava to reach the track, a son of Dubawi and a Group 1 winner at four.

In terms of his sales at Arqana, both parts of the catalogue produced some very solid results, with his top seller going to Rouget for €100,000 on the final day.

Lot 433 Zarak x Piedra Haras des Capucines 18/08/2020, photo: Zuzanna LupaCredit: Zuzanna LUPA

Eight of the 11 Zaraks offered across the three days - conceived for a fee of €12,000 - were sold for an average of €53,000.

Aga Khan Studs director Georges Rimaud said: "As we are in such a challenging year it would have been difficult to foresee such good sales for Zarak’s first yearlings.

"Everyone was uncertain as to how the sale would go, and undoubtedly we might have hoped for better in different circumstances. But they were a good looking bunch who on the whole were pretty well-bred.

"The buyers recognised that, with Jean-Claude Rouget buying several as well as Prime Equestrian. It's very promising to have good judges on the buyers' list and we are delighted."

There is never an easy time to launch a new stallion, and a combination of an unprecedented economic climate and a near-surfeit of competition from new blood in France all but ensures that not all the newcomers can be successful.

However, the signs so far are that the market has an appetite to try something new.

Lot 433

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