TDN Weekend

est in a French stallion line-up devoid of stellar names back in 2010, has become one of the great marketing success sto- ries within the European breeding indus- try. That year, almost 30 stallions stood their first season in France, either new to stud completely or having been trans- ferred there from Britain or Ireland. The loss through death or retirement of such internationally recognised sires as Lina- mix, Anabaa, Bering, Highest Honor and Kendor meant that, while France did not lack for stallions numerically, it did lack pulling power, with many of the country's best breeders sending their mares overseas to be covered. The call went up to try to entice more for- eign breeders to re- ciprocate by sending their mares to France, and with the country's generous premiums system highlighting ongoing prize-mon- ey issues in Britain and Ireland, that call is now being answered by those looking for greater value among stallions and a chance for a better return on their blood- stock investments. The excellent team at the France Racing and Breeding Committee (FRBC) in part- nership with Christine Dutertre of Haras du Mezeray set the ball rolling by encour- aging 27 farms in the greater Normandy region to open their doors to breeders across one weekend, initially at the begin- ning of February, but now taking place in January. Among those first farms to open was the then-fledgling stallion operation Haras de la Cauviniere with just one horse to show. What the organisers could not have dared to hope for at the time was that that horse, the 2009 Prix du Jockey Club winner Le Havre, would swiftly rise to being one of the most talked-about stallions in Europe, propelling his farm and France's stallion scene generally into the spotlight. He didn't do this alone, of course. While Le Havre took up cov- ering duties at the now scarcely believ- able fee of €5,000, another new sin- gle-stallion farm re- tired its first recruit at a tenth of that price. Classic winner Le Havre was well supported in his de- but season, but Ha- ras de Colleville's Kendargent received predominantly only mares from his own- er Guy Pariente. His subsequent success from a first book which numbered just 19 has seen him also elevated to a status of international repute and, like Le Havre, syndicated among an array of major own- er-breeders. The retirement the following year of Si- youni to the Aga Khan's Haras de Bonne- val, which would later take the bold step of flying in Australian superstar Redoute's Choice for two seasons, also contributed ...There is indeed a very appealing alternative to the Alps in January and it takes us right back to Normandy. " 09

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