Prix Ganay winner Haya Zark to stand at Haras de la Haie Neuve for 2025

This year's Prix Ganay winner Haya Zark will stand at Haras de la Haie Neuve for 2025. 

A son of the in-demand Zarak, the five-year-old has been a consistent performer over four seasons, winning six of his 20 starts and placing in a further seven. 

Tangi Saliou, director of Haras de la Haie Neuve, commented: "I’m delighted to be entering into a partnership with Madame Odette Fau [owner-breeder of Haya Zark], who believes passionately in the horse.

"The distance he has thrived at brings a different dimension to our stallion roster and to be able to welcome a Group 1 winner here for his first season shows that we are continuing to progress as a farm."

In recent years, the farm near Rennes has welcomed Seahenge, Taj Mahal and Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner Ebro River to its Flat roster, while its National Hunt team is spearheaded by Bande and Montmartre.

"He’s one of the best sons of Zarak to retire to stud while he’s from a very good maternal line, one which throws up an Arc runner every generation," Saliou said.

They include Subotica, who won the race in 1992 and is a full-brother to Haya Zark's third dam, and Haya Landa, fourth to Solemia in the Arc and she is a half-sister to Haya Zark's dam Haya City. The Lando mare was also third in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud as well as fourth in the Prix de Diane and was bought by Northern Farm for €400,000 at Arqana in December 2013.

Saliou added that Odette Fau would be lending her support to her homebred Group 1 winner in his next career.

"Mme Fau and her associates have turned down fortunes for the horse and they have the means to support Haya Zark with their broodmares, current and future, and to race his sons and daughters."

Successful at two for Adrien Fouassier, Haya Zark landed his first stakes race in the Listed Prix Ridgway the following year, having closed Erevann down to a neck on his seasonal reappearance at Saint-Cloud and placing fourth to Onesto in the Group 2 Prix Greffulhe at the same track. 

On his first start at four, Haya Zark landed the Group 3 Prix Exbury by three lengths from Skalleti and then added the Group 3 Prix d'Hedouville to his name two starts later. He was also third in the Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville last season. 

Haya Zark returned better than ever this year, winning the Group 3 Prix Exbury for a second time before his career highlight in the Group 1 Prix Ganay. There, he beat a host of other top-level winners including Feed The Flame, Al Riffa and Fantastic Moon, while he backed up that effort when a half-length third to Mqse De Sevigne in the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan. His most recent start saw him finish second in the Group 3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte. 

"He is a wonderful-looking horse who measures 167cm and has a great physique," Saliou added.

A fee for Haya Zark will be announced at a later date.

Read more

'You have to know when to back off and when to kick on' - debut consignor Hannon looks forward to Tattersalls Ireland