Monsun, Muhtathir and sons dominate festive jumps action

Monsun, grandsire of three of the five Grade 1 winners on Wednesday, and Muhtathir, grandsire of Kauto Star Novices' Chase-winning mare La Bague Au Roi, were not to be outdone by their sons with each of them supplying a top-flight winner on Thursday.

Aramon powered clear in impressive style in the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown to give his first elite winner over jumps since the 2014 Challow Novices' Hurdle scorer Parlour Games.

The late Gestut Schlenderhan stallion - who died in 2012 at the age of 22 - was noted as an important source of stamina on the Flat as well as class with two winners of the mile Prix du Moulin in Maxios and Vadamos.

He is also well established as a sire of National Hunt stallions, and among his jumps sire sons to record an elite winner on Wednesday were , whose six-year-old son Hardline won the Matchbook Exchange Novice Chase at Limerick, and , whose five-year-old son Le Richebourg took out the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

Monsun's son also fired in his first Grade 1 winner when Verdana Blue sprung a surprise to deny Buveur D'Air in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

A possible tilt at the Melbourne Cup for Verdana Blue is particularly intriguing given that Monsun sired three recent winners of the race in Fiorente, Protectionist and Almandin.

Getaway: Grange Stud resident could have a Melbourne Cup runner next year in Verdana BlueCredit: Coolmore

Monsun's daughters have also produced a slew of top-class runners on the Flat including runaway German Derby winner and sire Sea The Moon, Waldgeist and Wild Illusion.

Verdana Blue was one of two mares to win a Grade 1 at Kempton on Wednesday with La Bague Au Roi successful in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase for her sire Doctor Dino, also the progenitor of Master Dino, Sceau Royal and Sharjah.

Doctor Dino, who won the Hong Kong Vase twice, is a son of the Elmaamul stallion , whose three-year-old son Quel Destin got the better of the odds-on favourite Adjali in the Grade 1 Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow.

Muhtathir is also emerging as a broodmare sire of note with the likes of Flat stars Robin Of Navan and Holdthasigreen to his name.

He will stand the 2019 breeding season at Haras du Mezeray at a €5,500 fee, while his son Doctor Dino will be offered to breeders by Haras du Mesnil at a €12,000 fee.

Of Monsun's sons, Arctic Tack Stud resident Arcadio will have his fee available on application, Getaway will be a €7,500 option for breeders at Grange Stud next spring and Network will stand privately at Haras d'Enki.

The other Grade 1s on Wednesday and Thursday were won by Simply Ned, a son of Fruits Of Love, who posted back-to-back wins in the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown at the remarkable age of 11, and Clan Des Obeaux, who gave his sire Kapgarde an important first Grade 1 winner outside of France by winning a vintage renewal of the King George at Kempton.

Grade 1 winners in Britain and Ireland on December 26-27

Name, sire, grandsire

La Bague Au Roi, Doctor Dino (Muhtathir)

Verdana Blue, Getaway (Monsun)

Clan Des Obeaux, Kapgarde (Garde Royale)

Le Richebourg, Network (Monsun)

Hardline, Arcadio (Monsun)

Quel Destin,Muhtathir (Elmaamul)

Simply Ned, Fruits Of Love (Hansel)

Aramon,Monsun (Konigsstuhl)

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