Almanzor

SF Bloodstock is one of the largest and most successful investors in stallions in the Thoroughbred business worldwide. So when SF throws it support behind a young sire, it's worth taking notice. SF owns stallions in the U.S., Australia and Europe, and this year the group will find out if its backing of the 2016 champion 3-year-old Almanzor (Fr) will bear fruit, with that three-time Group 1 winner soon set to be represented by his first runners. Meanwhile, SF has continued its patronage of the French breeding business, and in...

Continuing our series featuring feedback on the European stallion with first runners this year, bloodstock agent Ghislain Bozo of Meridian International shares his view with a particular focus on the French scene. He said, "Generally speaking it is always tough to get a strong idea of the first-season sires at this stage but of course we are always keeping our ears open. I'm always a little but careful when the talk is too hot but this time there has been no strong word like we might have had in the...

The wait is very nearly over for the young pretenders we will examine in this fourth installation of our multi-part Value Sires series: stallions with their first runners in 2021. While the full verdicts must be delayed until these are given a fair shake with their first full seasons with 2- and 3-year-olds, the reality is that the first juvenile races in the coming months will be akin to a perpetual Christmas morning in the bloodstock world, with each of us eager to unwrap the packages we have been examining...

It has been a year of change at Haras d'Etreham. In August it was announced that the farm's flagship stallion Wootton Bassett (GB) had been sold to Coolmore. The dominant Irish operation was wise to catch a rising tide but it is Etreham, and in particular Nicolas de Chambure, who must be credited with establishing the increasingly popular stallion.  If we accept the conservative estimate that only one in ten stallions really make it, then it is clear that finding Wootton Bassett's replacement will be no easy task. Perhaps Etreham...

More than ever, in the commercially unforgiving world of bloodstock, getting off to a fast start is crucial. Wootton Bassett (GB) did that twice, both as a racehorse and as a stallion. And in a particularly noteworthy year for his runners, the 12-year-old arrived in Ireland on Sunday to start the second phase of his stud career, having been bought by Coolmore from the farm that started him off so successfully, Haras d'Etreham. The standard-bearer for the first crop of his popular sire Iffraaj (GB), Wootton Bassett sailed unbeaten through...

Coolmore has purchased champion racehorse and sire Wootton Bassett (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}-Balladonia {GB}, by Primo Dominie {GB}) to join its stallion roster. The 12-year-old has stood at Haras d'Etreham in Normandy since retiring to stud in 2012. Bred by Laundry Cottage Stud, Wootton Bassett was a £46,000 yearling purchase by Bobby O'Ryan from the St Leger Sale in 2009. Trained by Richard Fahey, he went unbeaten through his first four starts in the UK before capping his 2-year-old campaign with a victory in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and thus...

Trainer Freddy Head will prepare George Strawbridge's Another Sky (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) for the Prix du Jockey Club after the colt made an impressive debut at Chantilly to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star.' The half-brother to 2016 G1 French Derby and G1 Champion S. winner Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) delighted the trainer, as he made most of the running and coasted home by 4 1/2 lengths, despite being eased down in the closing stages of the 1800-metre event over the all-weather track at Chantilly. Head revealed it...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a half-brother to champion 3-year-old Almanzor. 2.25 Chantilly, Debutantes, €25,000, 3yo, c/g, 9 1/2f (AWT) ANOTHER SKY (FR) (Le Havre {Ire}) is an intriguing newcomer on the card which sees the Dubai World Cup trials as a half-brother to the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and...

As Siyouni (Fr) embarks on his 10th season at the Aga Khan's Haras de Bonneval, his fee has increased in line with his profile. From a relatively lowly €7,000 starting price to being France's most expensive stallion at €100,000, it is a rise closely mirroring that of his own very successful sire Pivotal (GB). As of this year, Siyouni now has two sons at stud—Le Brivido (Fr) at Overbury Stud in Britain and City Light (Fr) at Haras d'Etreham in his native France. They will doubtless be joined in the...