ENGLISH TEXTS
G. Which stallion would be your personal favourite?
N. de L. I have had several favourites among stallions, but I claim a special preference for Karaktar. Showing flashes of brilliance as a three-year-old, particularly in winning the Prix Noailles( Gr. 2), he quickly impressed me. His genetic potential unites the leading sires Mill Reef of course, but also Sadler’ s Wells, Nijinsky, Top Ville, Caro, Blushing Groom... I was absolutely determined to buy him when he went through the sales after leaving training, where he was knocked down for € 110,000. He was then syndicated in less than a week with the Haras de Cercy and its members. Thanks to his first foal crops, his reputation soared incredibly. At the beginning of last year, crazy offers from Ireland were turned down. His first progeny immediately showcased his potential as a sire with numerous Group horses: Il Est Français, You’ re The Boss, Karakta, Incollable, Moka de Vassy, Janeiro Verde, Jagwar... After a record year in 2023( 243 mares), he covered fewer and of lesser quality in the following years, but things will inevitably pick up again. He will definitely establish himself among the best NH stallions in the years to come.
G. What would be your ideal cross to make a stallion?
N. de L. Just like the vision I had when buying Chamisene and breeding her to Cadoudal with the aim of producing a National Hunt sire who became the leading stallion Saint Des Saints, he could be the one to bring together the bloodlines of Sadler’ s Wells( via Frankel, Galiway, Montjeu, or Poliglote), Mill Reef( Cokoriko), Dubawi( via Zarak). His dam will need to have been an excellent race mare, of Classic level on the flat, with good conformation and a dominant dark bay coat. This“ prospect” must have raced without physical issues, shown courage and heart, had flawless conformation, especially a good shoulder and depth, without white markings. To breed for jumps, I attach more importance to temperament and conformation than to performance. I would also prefer him to have won at Classic level on the flat, rather than over jumps, at the Classic distance of at least 2,100 m to 2,400 m. Good stallions are recognised by their ability to quicken and give everything at the end of a race. I hope this stallion will exist, or already does. And not only in my imagination...
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3. ARA- BIANS
� PAGE 64
By Serge Okey
“ DENOUSTÉ IS THE MOST FAMOUS OF THEM ALL”
Who better than Martial Boisseuil to speak about the studbook of Purebred Arabians? A breeder turned right-hand man of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his French breeding operations, the former manager of the stock of the late Emir of Abu Dhabi and first President of the United Arab Emirates knows by heart the pedigrees of the“ Prince of the Desert.”
Galorama. Can you remind us of the history of the Purebred Arabian in racing in France?
Martial Boisseuil. In France, it was introduced at the end of the 19 th century. For a long time, it was under the care of the National Studs, and its history is linked to the Southwest, around Pau, Tarbes, Rodez, Aurillac and Pompadour. Purebred Arabian racing was interrupted from 1957 to 1974. While many breeders turned to the Anglo-Arab, Guy de Watrigant, father of Jean-Marc, kept his mares and got ahead of everyone else. The enthusiasm grew gradually. Investments by Middle Eastern owners in France obviously marked a
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