Ecurie des Monceaux welcomes notable new foal amid French sales uncertainty

Ecurie des Monceaux received some relief from the ongoing concerns over this year's sales season when it welcomed a foal out of one of Europe's most exciting young broodmares on Wednesday.

The Normandy nursery was blessed by the birth of a Dubawi filly out of Starlet's Sister, an 11-year-old daughter of Galileo whose first three foals are all Pattern winners – seven-time US Grade 1 heroine Sistercharlie (by Myboycharlie), Group 3 scorer My Sister Nat (by Acclamation) and last year's Prix du Jockey Club victor and Arc third Sottsass (by Siyouni).

“She's a bit special,” said Ecurie des Monceaux manager Henri Bozo of the newborn. “We're just very fortunate that as well as having that pedigree she's also a really nice physical – she looks strong and has very good bone.”

The foal is the second Dubawi filly out of Starlet's Sister to be born in as many years, and Bozo added the stud would likely keep one of the daughters to secure the bloodline for the stud.

“Her yearling filly by Dubawi is also very nice,” he said. “We don't have a daughter of the mare to breed from ourselves yet so we'll definitely try to keep one of them. I don't know which yet; that will be a tough decision for the future.”

Starlet's Sister is returning to Haras de Bonneval for a date with Siyouni next, in order to produce a full-sibling to Sottsass – who looks set to stand at Coolmore at the conclusion of his racing career after the operation bought a half-share in the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt at the turn of the year.

Her foal is one of a number of beautifully bred newborns at Monceaux this year, along with a half-sister to Intellogent, a half-brother to Devant and a colt out of Golden Valentine, all by Dubawi.

There is also a half-sister to Wind Chimes by Galileo; a half-sister to National Defense by Siyouni; and a Kingman filly out of Birch Grove, a Listed-winning daughter of Galileo and Danehurst bought for 700,000gns at Tattersalls in December.

The birth of foals is usually a great source of hope for the future but this year they have arrived into a world of uncertainty, with citizens in lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus and the bloodstock industry grappling with how to hold sales that need to be postponed and re-imagined to maintain restrictions on social distancing.

Bozo described an air of optimism at the stud, with Emmanuel Macron having declared that lockdown in France will likely continue until May 11.

“We've been as busy as ever, we've been able to walk in mares and have had farriers here while observing government restrictions,” he said. “Everyone is pulling together to make it work and the beautiful weather has kept spirits up.”

However, the status of this year's yearling sales is of acute importance to the commercial operation Monceaux, which perennially dominates Arqana August – a boutique auction that benefits from a party atmosphere as the racing world converges on Deauville for top-class racing and blue-chip young stock.

Monceaux was the leading vendor at last year's renewal by a huge margin, with 30 horses sold for gross receipts of €10,331,000. It consigned the three highest priced lots, headed by a Dubawi filly out of Prudenzia, the dam of Group 1 winners Chicquita and Magic Wand, knocked down to Godolphin for €1,625,000.

“We're in ongoing negotiations about the Arqana August Yearling Sale to come up with a solution, and we hope to have something in place soon,” reported Bozo. “We have to do something to make it easier for agents to see the yearlings while still being manageable for the breeders.”

Bozo stressed no decisions about the sale had been made but he acknowledged that it was doubtful whether it could take place in its traditional manner, with France's exit from lockdown likely to happen in stages with the possibility of large gatherings and the opening of hotels and restaurants being restricted until the summer.

the Dubawi filly out of Prudenzia sold to Godolphin for €1,625,000 at Arqana last yearCredit: Patrick McCann

“It's important we have a Plan B for the August Sale as there's a good chance it will come too early,” he said. “We have to accept that it's going to be a different year, it won't be a year for record prices; the aim will be to manage to sell our yearlings and keep the show on the road.

“It will be important for sales companies to put any rivalries to one side to make sure the calendar can work for everyone.

“In an ideal world we would still have foreign buyers able to come to a sale in France so we have also looked into whether a yearling sale could be held around the Arc, with people then heading to Newmarket for the Tattersalls sales, if the need arose.”

Bozo added that Monceaux and other French studs would likely be increasing their online presence to compensate for any obstacles to physical inspection of yearlings being carried out.

“We'll do everything possible to provide more photos, as well as videos, and will be open to welcoming prospective buyers to studs to see horses at a time convenient to them,” he said.

Monceaux will have another draft of regally bred lots to present at this season's Arqana August Yearling Sale, in whatever form it is held, with the 2019-foaled Dubawi filly out of Starlet's Sister among the possible entries.

The farm's yearling crop also includes a Galileo brother to Magic Wand and other colts by the Coolmore phenomenon out of Golden Valentine and Secrete, as well as a Dubawi half-brother to recent US maiden winner Lashara and Siyouni half-sisters to Intellogent and Polydream.

Bozo issued a rallying cry to his fellow Arqana yearling vendors by saying: “Whatever date is chosen, it's important that consignors have a strong selection of yearlings to help attract people. That will make the market.

“It's a time for co-operation; we need to help each other, we can't give up.”