Brametot and Ectot bolster burgeoning Bouquetot roster

Al Shaqab Racing has made two further additions to its burgeoning stallion roster at Haras de Bouquetot, with both Brametot and Ectot to take up covering duties at the Normandy farm next year.

That makes five new faces at Bouquetot for 2018, with Al Wukair and Zelzal already signed up, and Toronado making the move from the National Stud in Newmarket.

Brametot grabbed the headlines earlier this year when completing a Classic double in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains at Deauville and Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly. On both occasions he showed a tremendous attitude and turn of foot to come from an unpromising position to land the spoils in the dying strides. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt recorded a career-high Racing Post Rating of 121 when fifth to Enable in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

After his Classic double Cristian Demuro, who rode Brametot in all ten of starts, said: "It wasn't easy to come from behind the way he did. This is where Brametot showed his true colours, those of a champion. When a horse is in front of him, he wants to beat him at all costs. He won as a fighter."

Brametot, who was bought into by Al Shaqab prior to his defeat of Le Brivido in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, also proved himself a high-class juvenile, winning three of his four starts at two, including the Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux over a mile.

By some way the best performer by Rajsaman, Brametot is out of the German-bred Law Society mare Morning Light, a winning half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and leading sire Monsun. This lineage makes him a complete outcross option for the likes of Sadler's Wells, Danzig and Nasrullah-line mares.

Brametot will be introduced to breeders at a fee of €10,000.

Ectot (maroon cap) leads the field home in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic StakesCredit: Robert Mauhar/APRH

Joining Brametot will be Ectot, a Group and Grade 1-winning son of Hurricane Run. The hardy six-year-old began his career in France with Élie Lellouche, for whom he won four times as a two-year-old, a campaign he rounded off with success in the Group 1 Criterium International.

Ectot progressed at three, adding wins in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau and Group 2 Prix Niel to his CV.

Before his five-year-old season he was bought into by Al Shaqab and transferred to the stable of leading US trainer Todd Pletcher, who trained him to land the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes by five lengths.

"From the day Ectot arrived in my stable he was a consistent professional and displayed a high level of enthusiasm for his job," said Pletcher. "To get a Grade 1 win in the prestigious Joe Hirsch Turf Classic was a great feat, but to beat Flintshire, who many regarded as one of the best turf horses to race in America in the last 10 years, by five lengths was an unforgettable moment."

Ectot was bred by a partnership of Skymarc Farm and Ecurie Des Monceaux out of the Linamix mare Tonnara, which makes him a half-brother to St James's Palace Stakes winner and Coolmore sire Most Improved.

Ectot will stand at a fee of €5,000.

There is a link between the new additions, with both having been purchased as yearlings by Sylvain Vidal, with Brametot having cost €26,000 in 2014 and Ectot having fetched €75,000 in 2012.

The growingly important Haras de Bouquetot roster also includes Group 1 winners Shalaa, Olympic Glory and Style Vendome.

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