Why Birchwood's commercial profile can help him stand out from the crowd

Breeders are most comfortable using familiar names and therefore many members of the stallion ranks in Britain and Ireland will have a strong connection to each country. It is much the same for France.

Big hitters Almanzor, Le Havre and Siyouni were all trained there, for example, while Al Shaqab Racing's top-class colts have been retired to Normandy even when their racing careers played out primarily on the other side of the Channel as the operation's hub is Haras de Bouquetot – see Olympic Glory, Shalaa and Toronado for evidence.

Then there are those names who had no immediately obvious link to France but have been relocated after their progeny excelled there, such as Dream Ahead and Motivator.

In that respect, one sire in Normandy sticks out like a sore thumb. Birchwood, who stands at Haras de la Huderie at a fee of €5,000, is young and unproven – his first foals are arriving this year – and has the sort of conspicuously commercial profile you might more expect to see in a brochure of a British or Irish stud.

He is by breeders and buyers' favourite Dark Angel, source of seven Group/Grade 1 winners including Battaash, Harry Angel, Lethal Force, Mecca's Angel and Persuasive, out of a winning mare by another popular stallion in Exceed And Excel.

Richard Fahey trained Birchwood to win three races at two, including the Superlative Stakes, and he also finished third in the National Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf that season. The horse was also a seven-furlong Listed scorer at Chester at three.

So how did Birchwood arrive in Normandy? Huderie manager Beranger Bussy explains.

“We were looking for a young, precocious horse, who could provide speed and precocity to French mares,” he says. “It was in our mind to have a stallion from the Dark Angel line, but of course they aren't easy to find and are even harder to get.

“After some searching with Ghislain Bozo from Meridian International, we found Birchwood at Godolphin. They were unsure if they really wanted to sell him, but after some time they finally decided to put him on the market.

“Lots of European breeders were interested in buying the horse and we had to fight to get the final bid.”

Bussy emphasises that it was Birchwood's sprinting and miling ability that made him a precious commodity for France.

“That was our target: we wanted a horse with precocity in his pedigree, with performances and speed over seven to eight furlongs,” he explains. “French mares need this. As you can see for yourself, the most successful stallions in France are mostly two-year-olds and milers, and not Classic distance horses.”

BIRCHWOOD – THE FACTS AND FIGURES

Pedigree 6yo bay horse Dark Angel-Layla Jamil (Exceed And Excel)

Race record won four of 19 starts inc Superlative S-G2, City Plate-LR; also 3rd National S-G1, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf-G1

Best RPR 113

Standing Haras de la Huderie

Fee €5,000

The ascent of Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winners Dabirsim, Siyouni and Wootton Bassett add weight to Bussy's argument.

And the market response to Birchwood in his first breeding season last year appeared to endorse the Huderie team's calculations.

“We had a very good, positive response from breeders,” Bussy continues. “We offered 25 shares and they were sold in less than 48 hours. The stud kept the other 25 shares. Lots of professionals and breeders liked the horse and in this price range there aren't many stallions like him in France.

“Thanks to Ghislain, the syndication was very successful. We offered shares to breeders we knew would support the horse on a long-term basis and understand the need to send him the right mares.

“Some of the shareholders, including Jean-Baptiste Brice and Haras de la Huderie, bought some mares explicitly with the view of supporting Birchwood. We also contacted owners of suitable speed mares and other breeders to encourage them to use our new stallion.”

The result was a healthy debut book of mares.

“It turned out to be a very competitive year as many new stallions arrived at stud in Normandy in 2018. But there were few with Birchwood's commercial profile and he covered 93 mares,” says Bussy.

“None came from Britain or Ireland as we didn't advertise the horse overseas, but plenty of British and Irish breeders who board mares in France used the horse.”

Bussy's pitch for more interest from outside France runs as thus: “At a €5,000 covering fee, we have priced him very competitively on the European market.

“The stud is very close to Deauville – just a ten-minute drive away – and it's easy for breeders to come and see him. Of course everyone knows about the French premium system and the cost of breeding in France is also very competitive.

“We don't have many precocious mares in France and it’s quite a new sport for us. The success of British horses in our two-year-old races was phenomenal last year. So it could be a good opportunity for British or Irish breeders to send precocious mares by the likes of Kodiac, Kyllachy, Pivotal, Showcasing and so on to Birchwood.

“That way, they could produce two-year-old winners eligible for French premiums and receive a bigger and quicker investment return, as well as enjoy the French 'art de vivre'!”

It has to be said, though, that the lure of premiums and general buoyancy of the French market has led to an overabundance of new sires in France – more than 40 last year alone. Any breeder wishing to use a stallion in the region is spoilt for choice; surely there can't be room for all of them to thrive.

Bussy acknowledges the issue but remains confident Birchwood will stand out from the crowd.

“Obviously, way too many stallions have retired to Normandy, but few of them are as attractive as Birchwood, few of them have such a commercial profile and few of them are so close to what the market wants,” he insists. “Statistically, a stallion who did not win at two and ran over ten furlongs can hardly succeed in France.

“I don't know whether there will be enough business for all of those new names here, but it says a lot that Birchwood managed to cover 93 mares last year in that environment – simply because he's what breeders are looking for.

“We're convinced he is the kind of stallion French breeders need: he’s got three of the best stallions with speed and precocity in his pedigree, he's a Superlative Stakes winner who clocked an excellent time, he was twice Group 1-placed, he's from a family with speed and precocity. Last but not least, he’s a very good mover and such a nice looking horse.

“Those breeders who entrusted their mares to him in 2018 are very enthusiastic about his first foals and are coming back to him in 2019. The Birchwood foals I've seen all have a good, broad head and have lots of strength and vitality.

“Haras de la Huderie will support his progeny and we hope for the best!”

It is evident that not only does Birchwood have a CV redolent of a British or Irish commercial prospect, but he also has a correspondingly marketing-savvy team behind him determined to make him a success.

The large number of beanie hats bearing the stallion's name seen being worn by pilgrims on the recent Route des Etalons stud tour in Normandy attests to that fact.

It will be fascinating to see whether this Anglo-Irish expat in France can live up to the weight of support behind him.