Barbottiere strike while the iron is hot with Dabirsim brother

Haras de la Barbottiere in the Sarthe region of western France is striking while the iron is hot with one of its new stallion recruits for 2018 - Shaiban, an Invincible Spirit half-brother to this year's first-season sire revelation Dabirsim.

Shaiban was a €320,000 purchase by Al Shaqab Racing at the Arqana August Yearling Sale in 2015 but made only one start for trainer Philippe Sogorb, running fifth in a three-year-old debutants' race at Bordeaux in May.

The colt was reportedly thought highly of by Sogorb but his career was curtailed due to an accident, and he was bought for just €8,500 at Arqana in July.

Dabirsim has supplied 16 winners from his debut crop of two-year-olds this year, including the Albany Stakes scorer and Cheveley Park Stakes runner-up Different League, Maisons-Laffitte Listed winner Coeur De Beaute and Prix Morny fifth High Dream Milena.

The son of Hat Trick has been responsible for two yearlings this autumn who have commanded prices of €500,000 in the ring, and his covering fee at Haras de Grandcamp has been increased to €30,000 for next year's breeding season from just €9,000.

Not only does Shaiban's pedigree hold stallion appeal on the distaff side, but he is also by Invincible Spirit, whose stock as a sire of sires continues to rise through proven sons I Am Invincible, Lawman, Mayson and Zebedee and exciting young guns such as Charm Spirit, Kingman and Zebedee.

Shaiban will stand at Barbottiere at a fee of €1,200 alongside fellow newcomer Slickly Royal (€1,400), Nicaron (€2,000) and Monitor Closely (€1,500).