Mkfancy ready for dual-purpose role at Saint-Arnoult as brother wins Listed race

The stars don't always align so perfectly but, as breeders in Deauville enjoyed an early chance to view Haras de Saint-Arnoult's latest stallion recruit, Mkfancy, his brother boosted the family fortunes in no uncertain style in landing the Listed Prix Herod at Saint-Cloud.

The Val d'Or racecourse has become a happy hunting ground for the sons of the Muhtathir mare Fancy Green, as Mkfancy enjoyed his career highlight when landing the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud for owner Abdullah Al Maddah.

Saint-Arnoult's Larissa Kneip has been showing Mkfancy at Clairefontaine racecourse, a short drive from the Arqana sales complex, and said she had not intended to add to the stud's roster in 2022 having taken on Elarqam and Yafta 12 months ago.

"I wasn't looking for a new stallion as I thought it was too soon, ideally you don’t want a newcomer every year," said Kneip. "But the owner insisted I went to see him and I fell in love with him.

"Maybe it might be a good year to do it because we won’t have a lot of new stallions in Normandy in 2022."

A son of Makfi - and therefore grandson of Dubawi - Mkfancy will be given plenty of support by Al Maddah to establish himself in the Flat ranks, while Kneip is convinced he has plenty to offer National Hunt breeders too.

A son of Makfi, Mkfancy will cover both National Hunt and Flat stallions at the Haras de Saint-ArnoultCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

"This is a good opportunity for French jumps breeders because he offers a complete outcross for those who are swimming in blood from Sadler’s Wells, Linamix and Kendor," she said.

"His Mastercraftsman brother Fancytastic is very well regarded by Isabelle Gallorini, who feels he is up to winning a Group race at Auteuil, while My Fancy looks to have Classic potential for next season."

Kneip added: "The owner has mares with Anna Sundstrom and he has two who can go to Mkfancy, so he is busy trawling the catalogues ahead of the breeding sales and intends to buy 15 or 20 more to support the stallion.

"The fashion with new jumps stallions in France in recent seasons has been to retire horses that have run only in that sphere and have thrived at Auteuil.

"I have a more classical outlook and the fact he ran to a high level on the Flat is important to me. Look at Poliglote, he was a real dual-purpose stallion who topped the list in both codes.

"And Martaline began by producing black-type horses on the Flat as well as over jumps, and would have continued to if he'd been given the opportunities."

While Kneipp is hoping that breeders who see Mkfancy in the flesh this week and - along with Elarqam and Yafta - during the Arqana Breeding Stock sale next month will fall in love as she did, the victory of his half-brother by Myboycharlie, My Fancy, could hardly have been timed better.

Maxime Guyon bounced him into an early lead in the seven-furlong Prix Herod and he showed a fine attitude on the heavy ground to hold the late charge of Rose Premium by a head.

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