On the roads of Normandy: Five nuggets from my weekend on the Route des Etalons

After a year’s hiatus when the Route des Etalons was forced online, breeders, pedigree enthusiasts and journalists spent the weekend criss-crossing Normandy as the annual French stallion trail returned in full force. France correspondent Scott Burton gives us his five takeaways from the event.

1Siyouni among world's best

At €140,000 and officially full up, 15-year-old Siyouni has become a genuine global stallion based in France. And with St Mark’s Basilica and Sottsass now standing at Coolmore, he will have a good chance to prove himself a sire of sires. His sons in France will also be given every opportunity to succeed: City Light was up against three very impressive physical specimens in Almanzor, Persian King and Hello Youmzain at every Haras d’Etreham show over the weekend, and in no way looks out of place, while if any farm in the country can improve Le Brivido’s standing through hard work, it is Haras de la Haie Neuve.

2Infinite variety

As someone who has been following the Route for nearly a decade, I can never remember such variety among the Normandy stallion ranks. Among the increasing number of genuine Group 1 sprint recruits, it was impossible not to be taken by Middle Park runner-up Golden Horde at Sumbe's Montfort et Preaux base, while Abbaye hero Wooded has developed into a monster (in the best sense of the word) for Al Shaqab. The same team will also be looking to get behind classy newcomers Romanised and Armor, a rare French recruit at the end of his two-year-old career.

Wooded strikes an impressive pose at Al Shaqab's Haras de BouquetotCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

3Colleville kicks on

At the other end of the spectrum, Guy Pariente has never been afraid to swim against conventional wisdom and his decision to stand Soft Light - primarily as a Flat stallion in the hope of breeding middle-distance horses in that discipline - can only be applauded. With Galiway having made a spectacular Group 1 breakthrough and Goken producing plenty of speedier types, the house that Kendargent built is in safe hands.

4Darley invested

The arrival of Victor Ludorum at Haras du Logis shows that Darley continue to support France’s breeding industry in a real and meaningful way. Some might have wondered how Logis would cope with the sale of Authorized, but the son of Shamardal now joins Cloth Of Stars - whose first two-year-olds will be on track in 2022 - while the ex-Mark Johnston-trained Bow Creek may be one to watch for those looking for a horse to break out at a fee of just €4,000.

5Flintshire frisson

Part of the sea-change in Normandy has been the way top stallion prospects can now be retired direct to a farm here, rather than having already been tried elsewhere. That said, there is a real frisson of excitement around Flintshire’s arrival at Haras de Montaigu, just as his US-bred offspring are beginning to click. A son of the late Dansili, he banked more than $9 million on the track and, while it may not sound very scientific, it seems improbable to me that such a good racehorse will not get some decent offspring.

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