German pedigrees in N.H. racing (2)

Last week we looked at the influence of German bloodstock in the French N.H. scene, which continues to be quite significant. In the list of French N.H. sires published regularly by the Thoroughbred Stallion Guide we find that five sons of Monsun figure in the top 50 (by number of winners): Network, Bathyron, Masterstroke, Manduro and Noroit; in addition Masked Marvel (Montjeu) is in 14^th place, and Nicaron (Acatenango) and Anzillero (Law Society) also figure, all with strong German elements in their pedigrees. If we look at the figures for the U.K. and Ireland, then the picture is even more striking. That list (by number of winners) is headed by Fame and Glory (Montjeu) and Getaway and Shirocco, both sons of Monsun, in third and fourth place. Three more sons of Monsun are in the top 50, Arcadio, Schiaparelli and Ocovango, while the list also includes Doyen, Sholokhov and Black Sam Bellamy, who all started their stud career in Germany and were all by Sadler´s Wells, as well as the Fährhof-bred Malinas (Lomitas) while the number one is currently Fame and Glory (Montjeu), whose own sire Sadler´s Wells is the only sire more strongly represented than Monsun.

Fame and Glory is not German-bred; rather he is another son of Montjeu, was bred by Coolmore and won the Irish Derby in 2009 and the Coronation Cup in 2010; he was then switched to long distance races and won the Ascot Gold Cup at five in 2011. His grandam is the 1985 German 1,000 Guineas winner Grimpola (Windwurf), who was later sold to leading English breeder Lord Howard de Walden. This family has done very well and another classic winner is Legatissimo (Danehill Dancer), winner of the 1,000 Guineas and whose dam Yummy Mummy was an own sister to Fame and Glory. Lord Howard and his stud manager Leslie Harrison were great fans of German breeding and also bought the Schlenderhan-bred Sayonara (Birkhahn), who bred the Epsom Derby winner of 1985 Slip Anchor (Shirley Heights) for them and also did very well at stud; he was sire among many others of Stowaway, a leading 3yo of 1997 who won the Great Voltigeur and Gordon Stakes. Stowaway died in 2015 after standing at Whytemount Stud in Ireland but has been a huge success as a N.H. sire and had two winners, Monkfish and Put The Kettle On, at Cheltenham last year while an earlier son Champagne Fever also won there in 2013.

Whytemount in Co. Kilkenny was one of 30 Irish studs that took part in the Irish Stallions Trail last week, which featured no fewer than 143 stallions. These stallion shows are extremely popular, although the current pandemic is a major problem. The German version, which would normally have been held at Gestüt Röttgen at the end of this month, has been cancelled, while the Irish Stallion Trail was held only online last year and last week was restricted to industry professionals only, with the general public not allowed to take part. This weekend we have the French version, the Route des Etalons in Normandy, with visitors obliged to follow strict hygiene regulations.

Last week´s Stallion Trail, despite the pandemic restrictions, makes ot clear what a paradise Ireland is for lovers of the thoroughbred. There are stallions for every taste, for every purse and for every distance. Coolmore, the leading Irish stud, listed 16 stallions at their main stud in Fethard, Co. Tipperary, as well as 5 N.H. stallions, including Getaway and Vadamos, at their Grange Stud in Fermoy, Co Cork and another 18, mainly N.H., including Maxios, at the nearby Castlehyde Stud and 8 more a The Beeches in Co. Waterford, including Ocovango and the extremely interesting newcomer In Swoop (Adlerflug); the 2020 German Derby stands there for only 4,500 euros, which could well look a bargain in a few years´ time. Coolmore also stand 14 stallions at their U.S. stud in Versailles, Kentucky and also have a major presence down under.

Breeding specifically for N.H. racing is an Irish speciality and has become big business in recent years, with “store” horses, i.e. inexperienced and usually unraced 3yo´s and 4yo´s fetching six figure sums at the sales. Coolmore have become more and more involved in this sector and have certainly latched on to Monsun as an important source. Maxios, who was a Group One winning miler for his breeders, the Niarchos family, started his stud career at Fährhof but was sold to Coolmore after only two seasons in Germany, and has made an excellent start; he has already had two Cheltenham winners, including Triumph winner Quilixios. Vadamos, who was also a Group One winning miler and was bred by Haras de Saint Pair, has a similar profile and could well emulate him.

Although Monsun´s sons at stud are now being promoted, especially by Coolmore, as N.H. stallions, in fact most of them are dual purpose sires who have also had plenty of top class winners on the flat. Maxios is also the sire of German Oaks winner Diamante, while Shirocco, the 2004 German Derby winner, who stands at Rathbarry Stud in Co. Cork, sired 2018 German Derby winner Windstoss, now himself embarking on a new career as a stallion, as well as the brilliant Champion Hurdle winner Annie Power. Manduro, probably the best son of Monsun and officially rated the best horse in the world in 2007, sired numerous winners under both codes, including multiple Group One winning stayer Vaziribad on the flat and many winners over hurdles; he died in 2020 after spending most of his stallion career at Sheikh Mohammed´s Haras du Logis. Samum, a member of Monsun´s first crop, won the German Derby in 2000 and died in 2018; he had winners over both codes, including Group One winners, as has his son Kamsin, himself winner of the German Derby; Kamsin sired the Grand Steeplechase de Paris winner On The Go during his stay in France and now stands at Annshoon Stud in Co. Kilkenny, together with another German-bred Night Wish, a new arrival and an own brother to German Oaks winner Night Magic and out of a Monsun mare. Night Wish´s son Odiango won a listed race over hurdles at Auteuil two months ago.

A quick hop across the Irish Sea now to Co. Powys on the Welsh border, where the Futter family´s Yorton Farm has become a major N.H. stallion station; they stand six stallions, including two sons of Monsun, Gentlewave and Masterstroke, as well as Shirocco's son Arrigo. The first-named is already sire of champion cross-country performer Easysland, bit it seems certain that many more winners over jumps will follow. Then on to Newmarket, the major English racing, training and breeding centre. Flat racing is the name of the game here, but we also have a potential top sire in both codes at Kirsten Rausing´s Lanwades Stud in Sea The Moon (Sea The Stars), already well-established as one of the top young sires on the flat but now also beginning to have decent winners over jumps as well, including Tritonic, a good winner of a Grade Three race over hurdles at Ascot before Christmas. He is out of a Monsun mare and looks sure to have many more winners over jumps.

Monsun himself died at Schlenderhan in 2012. He was an excellent racehorse, winning 12 of his 23 starts, including three Group Ones, but has done even better as a stallion and was six times champion sire Germany, twice posthumously. Three sons of his won the Melbourne Cup and his influence is going to continue to grow for generations to come, not only in Germany, but wherever thoroughbred races are run, and not only in flat races but also, and possibly even more so, over jumps.

David Conolly-Smith