French Racing News

3 minute read

First Season Sires.

The obvious starting point is Cotai Glory following Atomic Force's exceptional performances in the G3 Prix du Bois (1200m) and the G2 Prix Robert Papin (1200m). Atomic Force is one of twenty-two European winners sired by Tally-Ho Stud's Cotai Glory, a number that sees him clear at the head of the GB and Ire first-season sire standings. The stallion has fielded two other stakes performers besides Atomic Force in G2 Coventry Stakes (1200m) runner-up Eldrickjones and Listed Windsor Castle Stakes (1000m) second Dig Two. However, it should be noted that his progeny has spent the majority of their time in GB and Ireland with just the one other runner taking to France. 

It is interesting that Birchwood tops the first-season sires' standings in France currently in comparison to being well down in the table in GB and Ireland. However, it is not all that surprising given the high-class two-year old currently stands at Haras de la Huderie, just outside of Deauville. The son of Dark Angel has already had a healthy fifteen runners in France which although does not sound impressive, it is only a number surpassed by Recorder thus far. It is slightly surprising that Recorder, a son of the late Galileo, has already seen nineteen individual runners hit the track given his profile. Although it would appear he has passed down his precociousness shown as a two-year-old in contrast to that of his great father. 

Zelzal currently sits in second place and although runners are scarce that is understandable as a son of the wonderful Sea The Stars. The Al Shaqab-owned G1 Prix Jean Prat (1400m) winner has sired up to now three winners from just six runners in France and it can be expected for his progeny to improve with time and age. 

As anticipated the National Stud's G1 Prix de la Foret (1400m) winner Aclaim has made a bright start to his stallion career with a good strike-rate in France and GB and Ireland. A key point in his favour is that he is by Acclamation whose sons Dark Angel and Mehmas, are already proven as excellent sires of two-year-olds. Aclaim has already sired the speedy unbeaten Jacinda. The Jérôme Reynier-trained filly showed plenty of early pace when scoring at Marseille-Borely last month. 

As for those first-season sires not amongst the top-ten it is expected that the champion three-year-old colt and multiple Group One winner Almanzor will begin to make an impact towards the latter end of the season. The Haras d'Etreham inmate currently stands for €30,000. 

First-season sires in GB and Ire

First-season sires in France