Wings Of Eagles colt sells to Australia as Brummitt bemoans lack of support

There was understandable excitement when 2017 Derby hero Wings Of Eagles was retired to stand at his birthplace, the Haras de Montaigu.

A first Epsom winner to be bred in France since Sea-Bird 52 years before him, Wings Of Eagles remained for just one season before Coolmore sent him to join his sire Pour Moi on National Hunt duties.

That sole French crop are now yearlings and on day three of the Arqana October sale three breeders who chose to use him were well rewarded, while the calibre of agent that bought the trio should be a hint in itself.

Michel Zerolo gave €50,000 for a colt out of the Brazilian Grade 2 winner Notting Hill bred by Haras de Bourgeauville.

Wings Of Eagles pictured ahead of the 2018 covering season at Haras de Montaigu, since when he has been relocated to Beeches Stud in IrelandCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

Later in the session the Haras de Hoguenet sold another son of Wings Of Eagles from the family of Sagamix and Shastye, with Tina Rau winning out at €60,000.

That was also the price Jeremy Brummitt went to early in the day for a grey colt presented by the Haras des Granges.

He is out of the Red Ransom mare Mixfeeling, whose two-year-old son by No Nay Never, Mexico City, finished third in the Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown last weekend.

"I think this colt would have stood out well on the first day and I don't believe we've dropped our standards at all by taking him," said Brummitt, who confirmed the horse had been bought to race in Australia. "I would have bought him even without the update."

Jeremy Brummitt pictured at Tattersalls earlier this monthCredit: Laura Green

Brummitt said he had supported Wings Of Eagles in his only year at Montaigu and felt there was plenty of blame to go around the breeders that did not follow his example.

"I think it’s shameful that the stallion didn’t receive a better reception and more mares," he said. "He won the Derby, he was the best racehorse standing in France and when you look at some of the sires here, breeders must be nuts if they don’t want to use a Derby winner. That’s my view and it’s not just France.

"I sent Flat mares to him and if he can win the Derby he should be getting a good book of Flat mares. Those people who don't agree should try to win a Derby."

Out of the Kendor mare Ysoldina, he won at Killarney at two before bookending his Epsom victory with placed efforts in the Chester Vase and Irish Derby.

France Galop currently list 40 yearlings from Wings Of Eagles' sole French crop, which was conceived at a fee €12,000.

According to Weatherbys' records, in stark contrast, he covered 237 mares in 2019 and 241 in 2020. His fee this year at Coolmore's Beeches Stud was €6,000.

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