Raided Peruvian stud Haras Barlovento to close its gates after seven decades

Haras Barlovento, one of Peru's leading thoroughbred studs, is to disperse all its stock and close its doors after being the victim of a horrific raid on Saturday which resulted in its four resident stallions being killed for their meat.

The attack claimed the lives of The Lieutenant, a Grade 3-winning half-brother to Justify; Cyrus Alexander, a Grade 3-winning half-brother to Super Saver; Timely Advice, a son of A.P. Indy who had sired South American Classic winners; and Kung Fu Mambo, an Argentinian-bred son of Giant's Causeway who was an impressive winner of the Peruvian Derby.

It sent shockwaves around the world with bloodstock agent Marette Farrell, a close associate of Haras Barlovento owner Boris Schwartzman, saying in a recent Bloodhorse report that it could “freeze” the North-South American shuttle market due to insurance companies fighting shy of insuring stallions.

Schwartzman posted to Instagram on Christmas Eve giving further details of the raid and reporting his understandable disillusionment with breeding and plans to wind down the business.

The emotionally charged message, originally written in Spanish, read: “Following different versions of events that people without any knowledge have written on social media, which has led so many others to comment, we will communicate the following.

“Haras Barlovento is about to turn 68 years old. We are the oldest stud in Peru, and one of the most traditional in the country. Our passion for the thoroughbred and love of horses has led us to make big investments in stallions and broodmares, including five shuttlers from Kentucky and New York.

“On Saturday, eight people entered our stud, overcoming our employees and security guards with the sole purpose of going after the horses. Barlovento's stallion housing is spacious and completely enclosed, which facilitated the unscrupulous activities the criminals undertook for 11 hours.

“The stallion housing is located next to the widest road of the stud so as it is easily accessible in case one of the stallions should need to be transferred to the veterinary clinic. The attackers' truck was parked there so that the meat could be loaded to taken to sell at market.”

After outlining the achievements of the stallions who were slaughtered, the message continued: “These fabulous and helpless animals were killed by ignorant, evil and unscrupulous people.

“Not only did the criminals kill them, they killed our illusions, motivation and passion; they took our dreams. At a single stroke they destroyed the hobby we have pursued for seven decades.”

The post went on to say it would now sell its three remaining generations of horses and that it would close the doors of the stud.

“Our hope is that champions will emerge from those crops so that Barlovento can leave in the manner it should: in style,” it said.

A further Instagram post on Christmas Day listed some of the sires of the mares who will go on sale in the coming year: “Harlans Holiday, Giant's Causeway, Smart Strike, Candy Ride, Unbridled, Johannesburg, Kitten's Joy, Malibu Moon (two), Exchange Rate (two), Quiet American, Freud (three), Broken Vow, Vindication, Dynaformer, Violence (two), Mineshaft, Lookin At Lucky, Stormy Atlantic, Forest Wildcat, Sky Mesa, Pure Prize, Grand Slam, etc.”

The dispersal will bring to an end a glorious history for Barlovento, which was founded in the early 1950s by ship builder Augusto Maggiolo Cavenecia, who also chaired Peru's owners and breeders' associations and was a director of the country's Jockey Club.

"Breeding and raising horses was their passion, not their business," Becky Thomas of Sequel Stallions, the northern hemisphere home of The Lieutenant, said about Barlovento's present custodians in a Bloodhorse report on Monday.

"The people who run this farm are wonderful. They did everything right and had every precaution in place."

Read more...

Stallion killings in Peru could shake the global shuttle market

Justify's half-brother The Lieutenant among four stallions killed in Peru attack