Kitten Roars Into Deauville

KITTEN ROARS INTO DEAUVILLE
By Sue Finley 
For years now, the offspring of Kitten’s Joy, the 2013 champion sire in North America, have been staples at American sales, but despite his prowess as a turf sire–he currently leads the North American turf standings in virtually every category–his progeny almost never appear at European sales. 
It has been several years since Europeans saw a sprinkling of Kitten’s Joy weanlings and yearlings at English and Irish sales, and that was long before he established his reputation as one of America’s perennial leading sires. 
The first Kitten’s Joy to sell in Europe for at least the past four years and the first-ever to sell in France is lot 3 on the first day of the Arqana August Yearling Sale tomorrow, and is offered by Haras du Quesnay. 
A rare French-bred Kitten’s Joy, he is out of Red Diadem (GB), a black-type winner in the U.S. who has produced three foals. 
“We are selling this horse for Haras de Manneville, which is the French extension of Fares Farm in America,” said Vincent Rimaud, Le Quesnay’s stud manager. Red Diadem was bred in England by Cheveley Park Stud, and was the winner of the Daisycutter H. at Del Mar in 2007 for Dolantori Racing. Acquired by the Fares family after her racing career, her first three foals were bred in the U.S. before she was brought to France in foal to Kitten’s Joy. 
“That’s why we now have the only Kitten’s Joy that is French-bred,” explained Rimaud. “As such, he is eligible for the French premiums.” Those very lucrative premiums were detailed in Kelsey Riley’s Arqana preview in the 8/7 TDN (clickhere). 
“He’s a very nice bay colt, with no white,” said Rimaud. “He’s very well-balanced, tall, and walks well and has a very nice head with lots of expression on him. He’s a very racy, classy-looking horse.” 
He should attract some attention, said Rimaud, “because not only is he by Kitten’s Joy, but he’s a nice individual, so we’re very fortunate to have both. Sometimes you expect to have a nice horse based on the pedigree, but don’t, but I think here, even the people who weren’t interested in looking or buying will have a look.” 
A good sale, of course, would boost his sire’s reputation as an international stallion. “I suppose people will start to bring some to Europe, but why they haven’t until now, I don’t know. He’s producing very well on the turf, so now there’s a fair chance you’ll see more. But right now, this is a rare opportunity to have one here.” 
His position as lot number 3 has Rimaud hoping that the crowd is paying attention right from the start. 
“It’s always the question, isn’t it?” he said. “I would have perhaps been more comfortable to see him going as number 30 or something. On the other hand, there’s no next Kitten’s Joy. If you have 20 Galileos or Sea the Stars, if you get beat on hip 3 or hip 5, you can have another one. If you get beaten here, you don’t have another chance.”