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in mounted trotting, he was purchased by the National Stud in 1862 as a stallion. Though he sired only 66 trotters, according to Jean- Pierre Reynaldo he was“ one of the most important sires of the 19 th century.” His line endured through his son Reynolds, then Fuschia, a major foundation sire.
Fuschia: Continuity Fuschia was leading sire fourteen years in a row, from 1893 to 1906, a record that remains unequalled. Through his male line, he passed on the line of Narquois and his descendants: Beaumanoir, Koenigsberg, Bolero, as well as Loudeac and Fandango. From Bemecourt came Ontario and Hernani III, the latter sire of Quinio and Kerjacques, and Intermede, sire of the mare Uranie, and thus, through continuity, of the champion Jamin. There was also, via his dam, the less developed but still significant branch of Quo Vadis.
Kerjacques: In Fuschia’ s Footsteps Kerjacques, born in 1954, was a son of Quinio. Purchased by the National Stud in 1960, he stood at stud for 21 years, 11 of which he was elected best stallion of the year( 1970 – 1980). From his 21 years at stud came numerous champions, both male and female: Toscan, Une de Mai, Eleazar, Jorky, and above all Chambon P. For ten years, from 1981 to 1990, he was the best sire in France, succeeding his father and allowing his line to dominate French trotting for twenty years. From Chambon P came Képi Vert, Le Loir, and Sancho Pança, himself leading sire in 1997. Kerjacques was also an outstanding broodmare sire, with daughters who produced many champions. For example, Ua Uka, who became the matriarch of the“ Vivier” dynasty, dam of the stallions Fakir du Vivier, Hadol du Vivier and Jet du Vivier. Fakir and Jet both became leading sires and broodmare sires. From Fakir du Vivier came, among others, the crack stallion Coktail Jet through his sire Quouky Williams, and also the champion mare Vourasie. If Conquérant is indisputably the main founding father of the French Trotter breed, Phaëton too left his mark.
Phaëton: The Other Master Line Born in 1871 near Carentan in Normandy, Phaëton was by the Thoroughbred The Heir of Linne, a male-line descendant of Darley Arabian from whom Phaëton inherited his“ class,” and out of the mare La Crocus, a half-sister to Conquérant. Phaëton was also the nephew of Lavater, another founding sire of the breed. Purchased by the National Stud, he stood at stud until his death in 1896. From 1886 to 1889, he was leading sire. According to Sport universel illustré of March 23, 1901,“ among the stallions who contributed most to the formation of the trotting breed in France, Phaëton was considered by all breeders to be the one whose loss was most regrettable […].” In 1901, of the 38 stallions offered by the Haras du Pin, 18 descended from Phaëton. His line was carried on by remarkable stallions such as Quioco and his sons Jiosco and Nodesso. The French Trotter is the heir to a centuries-old history, forged by the patient selection of French breeders. Yet the influence of American blood is ever-present. According to a 2005 INRA study by Anne Ricard, all the recent input of American trotter genes came via just twenty stallions born between 1947 and 1985, in successive waves.
Star’ s Pride and Speedy Crown: Masterpieces from Across the Atlantic Star’ s Pride, born in 1947, was the sire of the celebrated Florestan, who appears 4x4 in the pedigree of the late Ready Cash. He also sired Nevele Pride, whose influence on the French studbook was major, as his male line produced Viking’ s Way. Born in 1987, just as the studbook opened to American blood, Viking’ s Way was among the top two stallions five times, sire of many cracks including Jag de Bellouet, Indy de Vive( sire of Ready Cash), and Imoko( sire of Timoko). Nevele Pride was also the sire of Kimberland, a very good broodmare sire, whose daughter Tahitienne, bred by Jean-Pierre Dubois, produced Goetmals Wood, leading sire in 2009 and leading broodmare sire from
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