Le Havre given a pay rise to €50,000 at Montfort et Preaux next year

Son of Noverre has enjoyed another fine season with his progeny

Le Havre strikes a pose at Montfort et PreauxCredit: Zuzanna Lupa

Le Havre, the flagship stallion at Montfort et Preaux in Normandy, has had his fee increased from €45,000 to €50,000 for next year's breeding season.

The 13-year-old son of Noverre is enjoying another good year with his progeny, headed by Villa Marina – since sold to race in the US – becoming his fourth Group/Grade 1 winner in the Prix de l'Opera.

In the past 12 months he was also responsible for Japanese Grade 2 winner Pourville; Prix Greffulhe scorer Roman Candle; Park Express Stakes victress Normandel; Prix Saint-Alary runner-up Olendon; Group 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Platane; Suedois, successful in the Supreme Stakes and third in the Shadwell Turf Mile; Rymska, a Grade 2 winner and multiple Grade 1-placed in the US; and stakes scorers Surrey Thunder, Tapisserie, Urwald and Volskha.

Le Havre has also had success in the sales ring, with Rymska sold to White Birch Farm for $1.05 million in Wednesday's opening session of the Keeneland November Breeding-Stock Sale and the sire's yearling filly out of the Group 2-placed Galileo mare Phiz sold to Coolmore for 825,000gns.

“Le Havre is having a great year in 2019 thanks to seven Group 1 performers including Prix de l’Opera winner Villa Marina on Arc day,” said Montfort et Preaux's Mathieu Alex.

“With 13 individual black-type winners, he ranks among some of the best European sires. His yearlings proved very popular with three sold for more than €500,000 and altogether averaging €200,000.

“Thanks to the support of many European breeders, Le Havre has been covering high-quality mares which is very exciting for the future.”

Le Havre's studmate Recorder, the Acomb Stakes winner by Galileo whose first foals were born this year, has been given a small fee reduction from €6,000 to €5,000.

Alex added: “Recorder has been very popular since retiring to us in 2018. This good-looking son of champion sire Galileo was a very talented and precocious two-year-old and we're absolutely delighted with his first foals.

“They have strength, scope and a great attitude. We will most definitely continue to support him with some of our best mares.”

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Martin StevensBloodstock journalist

Published on 6 November 2019inNews