Normandie Stud to offer selection of stock at upcoming sales

Buyers will be able to get their hands on blue-blooded yearlings from the prestigious Normandie Stud for the first time in years, as owner Philippa Cooper has decided to downsize her operation to rationalise numbers.

The last time yearlings from the West Sussex nursery went under the hammer was in 2006, when a draft of six included future Irish St Leger winner Duncan, who was retained at 100,000gns, and Lancashire Oaks third Queen Of Naples, who sold to John Ferguson for 190,000gns.

Cooper has selected the cream of her yearling crop to go on offer at Tattersalls in October, despite admitting that bad memories of ten years ago had made the decision a difficult one.

She said: “It's a difficult thing - having Duncan rejected in 2006 put me off greatly. I'm selling desirable yearlings and hopefully people will like them. It's a case of needs must, as I'm trying to bring some money in.”

The Normandie Stud yearling draft will be prepped and consigned by Norris Bloodstock.

“They do such a good job,” Cooper said. “The yearlings are heading off next week, which will help me as it won't be as painful letting them go.”

The four heading to Book 1 are a Dubawi colt out of Coronation Stakes heroine Fallen For You, a New Approach half-brother to Fallen For You, a Shamardal colt out of the New Approach mare Deborah and an Intello colt out of the Listed-winning Zafonic mare Soft Centre.

Cooper said she has selected horses who are perhaps more forward than some types she is known for racing herself.

She added: “I'm very careful with the ones I sell now and the ones I'm taking to the sales are the ones who aren't going to take forever.

“That was why I stopped selling - maybe I didn't prepare them well enough or they were too backward and I expected people to see through that and imagine what they were going to be like.

“I'm selling the best, there's no question of that. I'm actually leaving myself with the ones who aren't saleable, in a sense. I've got two Dalakhanis and they're from Duncan's staying family – nobody will want those.

“I'm expecting maybe to have to bring some back. I don't want to but if it happens, it happens.”

Cooper is also offering another three lots at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

The stellar Normandie Stud broodmare band that is home to the likes of Nassau Stakes winner Sultanina and Fallen For You will also be trimmed down, with ten of Cooper's mares destined for auction.

Among those set to be offered for sale this winter include the dual-winning Exceed And Excel mare Close At Hand, who is in foal to Lope De Vega, Tutti Frutti, a Teofilo half-sister to Sultanina in foal to Lawman, and Ethel, an Exceed And Excel half-sister to Duncan's dam Dolores, who is in foal to Nathaniel.

They will be consigned by Normandie Stud, as Cooper believes it will give small breeders the chance to talk to her about the families and the matings that have been made previously.

Cooper said: “I've got far too many mares and have got myself in a bit of a pickle, really.

“I have 31 mares at the moment and I need to get down to about 18 or 20 so I'm going to sell at least ten.

“Selling the mares will be unbearable, especially as they've all been born on the stud, and I'm just so worried where they're going to end up.”

Cooper said the thought of selling has weighed heavily on her mind and she added: “Since the beginning of the year I've been dreading it.

“I know for my team at Normandie they want me to do this and if I don't, it's going to ruin the whole stud.”

Cooper's pink and white silks have become a familiar sight on the racecourse and they have been carried with distinction this year by Loving Things, winner of the Listed Pontefract Castle Stakes and a close third in the Lancashire Oaks.