By Loïc Stecher Chocron
Winning a Group 1 flat race as a breeder is already a feat in itself. Doing so with a broodmare band of just about fifteen mares is even more remarkable, especially when beating the world’s most prestigious stables. Interview with Patrick Lemarié of French-based Haras de Magouet, breeder of Gr.1 Prix Jean Prat winner Woodshauna.
Could he ever have imagined beating Wertheimer, Juddmonte, or even Godolphin in a Group 1 at Deauville? The answer is no. Not even in his wildest dreams. Patrick Lemarié is humble and down-to-earth. He keeps his feet firmly planted, even after reaching the top.
We catch up with him one evening in his pastures in Campbon, Loire-Atlantique. Patrick Lemarié has been breeding there for 47 years. “The day after Woodshauna’s victory, I woke up the same way. I literally put on my boots to go feed my horses. I don’t think the Abdullah or Maktoum families do the same,” he explains. “Then my vet came by. It was just the start of another ordinary day. What changed, though, was the value of Woodshauna’s dam. Suddenly, insurers and buyers were interested. Honestly, I’m going to take my time. Should I sell her or not? I’ll make that decision with a clear head.”
For Patrick Lemarié, the story of Woodshauna began with the purchase of her dam, Tosen Shauna, for €51,000 - a daughter of Alhebayeb, himself by Dark Angel. “I really liked her pedigree, but what truly made the difference was her conformation. She was a beautiful mover, isn’t very big, and has a lovely hindquarter. Plus, she was black type. Her yearling by The Grey Gatsby will go to sale in October. She currently has a foal by Galiway and is in foal to Big Rock,” he notes. “I chose to breed her to Wooded for several reasons. First, Wooded is a son of Wootton Bassett with exceptional talent. Second, he was a brilliant racehorse. With Tosen Shauna, I was either going for a first-season sire or an established one. And he’s also now the sire of his first Group 1 winner.”
Loyalty and integrity, those are two more traits that define Patrick Lemarié. Even before Haras de Grandcamp was established, he already placed his trust in Éric Lhermite. It was Lhermite who presented Woodshauna as a yearling in the ARQANA ring. Lemarié recalls: “I always work with the same people. For example, Éric Lhermite and Arnaud Chaillé-Chaillé for NH racing. My breeding is half flat and half NH. I now have 70 hectares and 17 broodmares, 15 of which are in foal for next year.”
From the sales rings to Group 1s
Bought as a yearling for €70,000 by Al Shaqab Racing to support stallion Wooded, Woodshauna was later sold for £625,000. He now runs in the colors of Resolute Bloodstock, for whom the Prix Jean Prat marked a first Group 1 win in Europe. John Stewart, already co-owner of Goliath and a partner with Coolmore in the mare Believing, winner of the Al Quoz Sprint (Gr.1) in Dubai, is behind the colors. Patrick Lemarié also shares a word of praise for the trainer and jockey. “I’d like to congratulate Francis-Henri Graffard for the masterful work he’s done with Woodshauna. He’s an exceptionally kind person… and also Christophe Soumillon. He’s a phenomenon. He told me the colt gave him a turn of foot he rarely experiences.” And the final word? It goes to Patrick Lemarié: “Let’s talk about the small breeders, who are the foundation of racing. They’re the ones getting up at night, raising foals for at least a year. And I want to thank my wife, Marie, we handle the foalings together.”