Petite Etoile line flourishing with Helene Paragon's success

Listed winner Polan sired just two foals during his stud career while Group 2 winner Santiago has yet to be represented by a crop greater than 20. The impediment of such limited numbers means that some stallions are often finished before they even start yet in the case of Polan and Santiago, it has failed to prevent both from siring valued international performers.

Between them, their progeny earned approximately £720,000 across the international stage at the weekend. Polan five-year-old Helene Paragon, who was Group 1-placed in France as Sir Andrew, landed his second Group 1 of the year in Hong Kong for trainer John Moore when denying stablemate Able Friend in Sunday’s Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup at Sha Tin while Chopin, who has long acted as a fine advertisement for the late Gestut Graditz stallion Santiago, ran away with Saturday’s Emir’s Trophy at Doha in Qatar.

Chopin is from a first crop of just eight foals by Santiago, a tough Group 2 winner by Highest Honor, himself probably an underrated influence in pedigrees. He initially drew attention to his sire back in 2013 when landing a German Group 3 by eight lengths en route to an unplaced run in Ruler Of The World’s Derby. He was later fourth in the Lockinge Stakes but never quite lived up to his promise after that and was sold to Ahmed Habib Ahmed Alanzoor for just 9,000gns at the 2015 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.