Rising star Zarak to have his first son at stud

Group 3 winner Lavello is the first son of rising star Zarak to embark on a stallion career.

The three-year-old will stand the 2023 season at Haras du Lion but will first contest the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Bayern next month before potentially ending his racing career outside of Europe.

In a deal brokered by Richard Venn, Haras du Lion bought into Gestut Hof Ittlingen's homebred grandson of Dubawi prior to his comeback second in the Group 3 Land Trophy at Baden-Baden last weekend, and it is the first time that the farm has partnered with another in the racing career of a stallion.

Francois Thomas, commercial director of Haras du Lion, explained how the deal had come about.

"An agreement was reached at the start of autumn with Lavello's owner-breeder Manfred Ostermann, who had already worked out a programme for the horse's four-year-old career. Thanks to the assistance of Richard Venn during the negotiations, Lavello will race until the end of this year and retire to stud in 2023."

Lavello began this season by defeating subsequent Deutsches Derby and Grosser Dallmayr-Preis winner Sammarco in the Group 3 Bavarian Classic.

The three-year-old hails from Ittlingen's outstanding L family; his dam Laura is a winning Montjeu half-sister to Grade 2 Sky Classic winner and Grade 1 United Nations Stakes runner-up Lauro by Monsun and to the Group 3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Love Academy, who is the dam of Group 2 winner and Classic-placed Longina.

His second dam Laurencia is a half-sister to none other than the brilliant ten-time winner and sire Lando, whose Group 1 successes include the Japan Cup and Deutsches Derby. Laurencia is also a half-sister to another Deutsches Derby winner in Laroche.

It was this combination of bloodlines with that of the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud-winning son of the outstanding Zarkava which Thomas believes can launch Lavello to successful career as a National Hunt stallion.

"On his maternal side, Lavello has excellent references for a National Hunt stallion. His mother is by Montjeu and as well as that, he has the bloodlines of Mill Reef twice through his son Shirley Heights, as he is on both sides of Lavello's pedigree," said Thomas.

Although Zarak's oldest crop is just three and therefore with limited opportunities to take to National Hunt racing, he is already the sire of two winners from three runners over jumps in France. They are the Grade 3 Prix Aguado third Carlton Du Berlais and Bo Zenith, who was sold to continue his racing career abroad after his debut success at Auteuil.

"Lavello is healthy and sound, with impeccable x-rays and scans. A fee for him will be announced at a later date," Thomas added.

He joins a roster that is led by Balko, sire of Grade 1 winner Le Listrac amongst others, and includes young sires Hunter's Light, Group 1 Jebel Hatta winner by Dubawi, Clovis Du Berlais and Castle Du Berlais.

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