Six must-see sires on Normandy road trip

Pedigree 11yo bay Diktat-Land Of Dreams (Cadeaux Genereux)
Stands Haras de Grandcamp

A visit to Haras de Grandcamp offers the opportunity to view a horse who made headline news on the track and has proved a more than capable sire at stud.

Dream Ahead is one of few who could claim to have been an equal of Frankel – at two at least, when he was recognised as Europe's joint-champion juvenile alongside the future dual world champion after landing the Middle Park Stakes by nine lengths.

At three the son of Diktat played his part in turf history when he was partnered by Hayley Turner to win the July Cup, becoming the first outright Group 1 scorer ridden by a female jockey. Later that season he added the Haydock Sprint Cup and Prix de la Foret – at the expense of Goldikova – to his resume.

Initially retired to Ballylinch Stud he has supplied Group 1 hero Al Wukair, talented sprinter Donjuan Triumphant and last season's impressive Vintage Stakes winner Dark Vision. He has been leased to stand at Grandcamp since 2017, so his first French-conceived crop are yearlings.

18yo bay Danehill-Circles Of Gold (Marscay)
Haras du Petit Tellier

It's surprising what you can stumble upon, driving around Normandy on the Route des Etalons. At Haras du Petit Tellier you will find a bona fide superstar of the Australian racing scene in Elvstroem.

The son of Danehill won the Victoria Derby, Underwood Stakes, Caulfield Cup and CF Orr Stakes down under and proved his mettle on the international stage when he took the scalps of Alexander Goldrun, Alkaadhem and Right Approach to land the Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba.

Elvstroem has supplied Group 1 winner Hucklebuck and Group 2 scorers Carrara, Go The Knuckle and Outback Joe from his early career standing in Australia, and he moved to France in 2016.

His first French-bred yearlings went through the ring last year and they made as much as €100,000, the amount Gerard Larrieu paid for a half-brother to Listed winner High Alpha at Arqana in October.

20yo bay Garde Royale-Kaprika (Cadoudal)
Haras de la Hetraie

Kapgarde has long been recognised as a fine source of jumpers and his fee in 2019 has risen to €12,000 – a hefty sum for a stallion standing in this sphere. The price is warranted when you consider he has supplied the likes of Alisier D'Irlande, Garde La Victoire, Milord Thomas, Mr Thriller, Ubak and Ultragold.

But recently Kapgarde's reputation has risen to a new level. That is because he is the source of Clan Des Obeaux, the easy winner of the King George VI Chase last month, and that horse's stablemate Flic Ou Voyou, who has won his last two starts in comprehensive fashion.

Also over the Christmas period the stallion's son Cuneo took a valuable handicap hurdle at Leopardstown for Henry De Bromhead, while earlier in the month the same trainer's A Plus Tard was an eye-catching winner of a beginners' chase at Naas.

The sire is a half-brother to the high-class hurdler Geos and another of their siblings, Kap Rock, stands alongside Kapgarde at Hetraie.

Kap Rock has provided Guillaume Macaire's smart pair Onsaijamais and Sharock as well as Alan King's dual bumper winner Criq Rock.

Clan Des Obeaux: latest jumps star for KapgardeCredit: Alan Crowhurst

17yo brown Monsun-Mandellicht (Be My Guest)
Haras du Logis

A true great of the turf – a world champion, no less – is available to view at Haras du Logis, where Darley's French-based stallions are headquartered.

Manduro was deemed the best racehorse on the planet in 2007 after storming to victory in the Prix d'Ispahan, Prince of Wales's Stakes and Prix Jacques le Marois, and throughout his career he showed rare versatility to win Group races between a mile and 12 furlongs on going ranging from good to firm to very soft. No wonder Andre Fabre hailed him as one of the best he had ever trained.

The son of Monsun has not set the world alight as a stallion, but he is the source of popular stayer Vazirabad among five European Group 1 winners – a group that also includes Manduro's studmate at Logis, Ultra.

Manduro is, unsurprisingly considering his profile, emerging as a useful sire of jumpers. Just last month son Man Of Plenty landed a Listed handicap hurdle at Sandown, while Anemoi and War Brigade impressed when scoring in novice hurdles.

He is also the damsire of last year's surprise 1,000 Guineas heroine Billesdon Brook.

9yo bay Henrythenavigator-Glatisant (Rainbow Quest)
Haras de la Haie Neuve

Pedro The Great proved to be one of the surprise packages among the young French stallion brigade. By one 2,000 Guineas winner – Henrythenavigator – and a half-brother to another in Footstepsinthesand, his first two crops bred from modest chances have yielded Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks heroine Fatale Bere, Listed winner Feralia and narrowly beaten Prix Marcel Boussac fourth Lagrandecatherine.

Another notable runner by the stallion is the Kevin Ryan-trained The Great Heir, a €33,000 Arqana V2 yearling purchase by Stephen Hillen who scooped a £150,000 pot for winning the Weatherbys Racing Bank £300,000 2yo Stakes at Doncaster's St Leger meeting in September.

Pedro The Great has earned a fee increase to €10,000 at Haras de la Haie Neuve for 2019, up from an opening price of €3,000 and €6,000 last year. He looks set to receive a decent book of mares in terms of quality and quantity.

Haie Neuve boasts an intriguing roster of exciting young names by notable sires. Whitecliffsofdover, a son of War Front, and Magneticjim, by Galileo, retired there in 2018, while Seahenge, a Champagne Stakes winner by Scat Daddy, is introduced this year.

Big payday: The Great Heir (right) wins the Weatherbys Racing Bank £300,000 2yo StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

4yo bay/brown Scat Daddy-Curlin Hawk (Curlin)
Haras de Saint-Arnoult

Stallion masters across the world have been busy snapping up sons of Scat Daddy as the late Kentucky phenomenon has looked like a potential breed-shaper.

Not only was Scat Daddy an exceptional conduit of class in his own right – his runners in 2018 included US Triple Crown laureate Justify and Group 1-winning juvenile filly Skitter Scatter – but his first significant son at stud, No Nay Never, was Europe's champion first-season sire last year and delivered the unbeaten Middle Park Stakes winner Ten Sovereigns.

Haras de Saint-Arnoult has this year managed to secure the services of Seabhac, who beat the classy pair Voting Control and Maraud to land the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park for Todd Pletcher at two.

Seabhac has more in his pedigree to recommend him than just the identity of his sire, as he is out of a mare who is by the excellent Curlin and is a half-sister to Preakness and Belmont victor Afleet Alex.

Seabhac's fellow newcomer to Saint-Arnoult, the well-bred German Group 1 winner Dschingis Secret, will also make a trip to the stud worthwhile.

More from the Route des Etalons:

Highly rated Cloth Of Stars an exciting newcomer at Haras du Logis

Scat Daddy’s Seahenge boosts US influence for speed