nh stallions: fr
NH stallions en Français Martin Stevens casts his eye over the major NH sires at stud in France Read in full at: www.martinstevensbloodstock.com
O
NLY FOUR FRENCHBREDS struck at the meeting this year — the lowest number since 2013. The dearth of winners carrying the FR suffix seemed really odd, as there had been a double-figure tally of them in each of the past three years, hitting a high of 14 as recently as 2019. French breeders still had cause for cheer, though, as this year’s festival haul did include one of the most impressive winners of the week — Allaho, who delivered a command performance in the Ryanair Chase — and another Grade 1 scorer in Vanillier, who took the Albert Bartlett by 11 lengths. French-breds also finished second and third in the Champion Hurdle (Sharjah and Epatante) and Gold Cup (A Plus Tard and Al Boum Photo), as well as second in the Stayers’ Hurdle (Sire Du Berlais). The likes of Concertista, Fusil Ra es and Petit Mouchoir also put up commendable placed efforts. And it isn’t all about Cheltenham, of course. It should be remembered that French-breds Abacadabras, Bravemansgame, Chacun Pour Soi, Envoi Allen, Franco De Port, Frodon, Gaillard Du Mesnil, Kemboy and Min had all landed Grade 1 races in Britain or Ireland this season before falling or being beaten at the festival. The evergreen Bristol De Mai and exciting Energumene missed the meeting altogether. All things considered, that underwhelming total of four French-bred winners at Cheltenham 2021 looks a little anomalous. There should be no reason for breeders,
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traders and stallion masters across the Channel to panic. So which French sires should breeders and traders be looking out for? This year’s Festival winners are a good place to start our search, in particular the awesome Allaho.
Allaho a fine example
He is by Haras de Montaigu resident No Risk At All, a 14-year-old son of My Risk and half-brother to high-class chaser Nickname, who was a dual Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed in the Prix d’Ishapan. The chestnut stallion is hot property,
having also sired Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante, Grade 1-winning novice chaser Esprit Du Large and a number of domestic stars — not to mention big-priced Irish point-to-point graduates Keskonsisk and Papa Tango Charly. Breeders will need to act fast to get into No Risk At All as he is limited to 130 mares each season and has been booked out well in advance of February for the last few years. His €10,000 covering fee has not put many off using him, which is hardly surprising when he has come up with Allaho, Epatante, Esprit Du Large and others from his first crop alone.
No Risk At All: is limited to 130 mares each season and recently has been fully booked by February
