'They set a very high standard' - Henri Bozo discusses Monceaux mating plans

There are plenty of reasons for optimism in French bloodstock circles, not least the rise of promising young sires Zarak and Zelzal to supplement the might of top dog Siyouni, and Ecurie des Monceaux's director Henri Bozo is certainly full of positivity, including for his stud's powerful broodmare band.

Bozo said: "There is a lot of dynamism at the moment in the French breeding industry and there are some very shrewd operators who are investing in stallions, buying mares and breeding well.

"I think there is a good platform for French stallions, and that it will be a great period for the French racing industry."

The Normandy powerhouse is once again set to use the services of some of the best stallions in Europe for its blue-chip mares, as well as up-and-coming young sires.

Bozo continued: "The stallions who operate at the highest level, like Dubawi, Frankel, Wootton Bassett and Siyouni, we're using as much as we can because they set a very high standard. We're trying to go to proven sires as much as we can.

"We're also using stallions such as Night Of Thunder, Dark Angel, Mehmas, Camelot, Sea The Stars, Starspangledbanner, Sea The Moon and others.

"They're all very proven, while there are a number of young stallions showing a lot of ability, such as Zelzal, Time Test and Zarak.

"There are also plenty of young sires who are unproven but exciting that we're using, such as Kameko, Zoustar, Palace Pier, Too Darn Hot, St Mark's Basilica and Sottsass."

Leading the way as far as the fairer sex is concerned is undoubtedly the prolific Starlet's Sister, who will once again venture over to the UK for a familiar mating.

Pure Dignity. Starlet Sister's Dubawi filly, who topped the Arqana Select Sale in 2020Credit: Zuzanna LUPA

The 13-year-old daughter of Galileo has emerged as one of the flagbearers for Monceaux, having produced Prix du Jockey Club and Arc hero Sottsass, the now Coolmore stallion who has his first foals this term, seven-time Grade 1 winner and American champion turf mare Sistercharlie, and triple Group or Graded winner My Sister Nat.

That astonishing record could be further enhanced through the three-year-old Dubawi filly Pure Dignity, who sold to Oliver St Lawrence and Fawzi Nass for €2.5 million at Arqana's Select Sale in 2020, and a two-year-old filly who is also by Darley's supersire.

Bozo reported: "Starlet's Sister is in good shape and is in foal to Siyouni, while she has a Siyouni yearling colt. She's due in April and will then go back to Dubawi.

"We're so lucky to have her, she's exceptional. I think her two- and three-year-old fillies by Dubawi are very promising, while her yearling is quite outstanding.

"It's a blessing to have a mare like her, so we want to give her the best chance."

Another mare who needs little introduction is Prudenzia, a daughter of Dansili and Platonic who has produced celebrity names such as the globetrotting Magic Wand, Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita, at €6 million the most expensive horse sold at public auction in Ireland, and last year's Group-winning Prix de Diane runner-up Philomene, in whom Monceaux and Skymarc Farm retained a 50 per cent share after the Dubawi filly sold to Godolphin for €1,625,000 at Arqana in 2019.

The 17-year-old half-sister to Lingfield Derby Trial winner English King and the Group-winning Pacifique has not had much luck with her last two pregnancies, but this season she is set to visit one of the most appealing first-season sires.

Bozo said: "Prudenzia has had two unfortunate years so it's been disappointing, but she seems to be in good shape at the moment.

"We've decided to send her to St Mark's Basilica, who's a really exciting young stallion and one we have a lot of faith in."

A yearling is paraded in the yard of leading vendor Ecurie des MonceauxCredit: Patrick McCann

Bozo also had news of Prudenzia's half-sisters Pacifique and Mul, as well as full-sister Prudente.

He added: "Pacifique is in foal to Pinatubo and is going to Mehmas, while Mulan has a beautiful Dubawi yearling colt and will go back to him after foaling to Night Of Thunder. Prudente is due late to Camelot so she's going to be rested."

Pacifique, in turn, has two daughters in the broodmare band in Psara and Paix, the latter a Group 3-winning daughter of Muhaarar and overall a three-time winner from seven starts.

Bozo revealed: "Psara is in foal to Dubawi and goes to Siyouni, while Paix has just foaled a nice colt by Dubawi and will be covered by Night Of Thunder."

Angel Falls is another big name set for a star-studded mating, with the daughter of Kingmambo best known for being the dam of Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner and Irish National Stud resident National Defense.

She will be joined on a visit to Banstead Manor Stud by Secrete, a daughter of Cape Cross and the dam of three black-type performers, including Rumi, Al Shira'aa Farms' daughter of Frankel who stays in training this year for Carlos Laffon-Parias.

"Angel Falls is going to Frankel, as is Secrete," said Bozo. "It's a mating that's done really well, Rumi is a very good filly who won a Group 2 and Group 3 last term, hopefully she can do even better this year."

Right Hand is another well-related individual, being a Lope De Vega half-sister to Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand, Prix Jean Romanet third Romanciere and the stakes-winning Bilissie.

Bozo added: "Right Hand has just foaled a very nice filly by Dubawi and goes to Siyouni."

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