Its January in Normandy, and its Philippe Gasnier who throws open the gates of Haras de Bonneval to all thoroughbred enthusiasts in celebration of Route des Etalons 2025.
As the newly appointed Manager of The French Studs, Pierre Gasnier proudly presents his four-stallion roster headed by the near-legendary Siyouni, again as French Champion Sire in 2024.
In following his 2020, 2021 Champion Sire tiles, last year he had the 5yo home bred Mqse de Sevigne win three Group 1s with back-to-back victories in the Prix Jean Romanet and Prix Rothchild.
Now the sire of 80 stakes winners of over 150 stakes races, Siyouni had his Shambolic filly, a half-sister to Ylang Ylang, sell to Godolphin for $3.7mGns at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
A Bay at 16.1½ hh, he’s by top-line sprinting sire Pivotal, and in winning the Prix de Jean-Luc Lagardere at 2 years he’s half-brother to Siyouma and to dam of Siyarafina, being the family Slickly.
And such is the success of Siyouni that he had Sottsass win both the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Prix du Jockey-Club, and in seven seasons has sired the winners of another seven Classics.
Today his World Champion 3YO Sire son St Mark’s Basilica shuttles between Coolmore Ireland and Australia, with his first crop yearlings selling up to €1.7m in France and $700,000 in Australia.
Not only once, but twice last season the green and red silks of H.H. The Aga Khan scored Classic victories, with Metropolitan being the first for his sire Zarak in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains.
With Zarak also having Haya Zark win the Prix Ganay and Zagrey the Grosser Pris Von Baden last season, he had sired 13% stakes winners to runners and 72% lifetime winners to runners.
Winner of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Zarak was second in the Prix du Jockey Club, and at 16.1hh he’s by the legendry Dubawi from the Champion French 2YO and 3YO Filly Zarkava.
In being one of best young sires in Europe, he finished last season being second to his own sire Dubawi in percentage of Stakes winners to runners, and his yearlings selling to 550,000Gns.
This year is the second season at stud for Champion 3YO Vadeni, who in serving 128 mares last year has a pedigree free of Danzig, in combining both the blood of Galileo and of Monsun.
Certainly the best of Galileo’s English and Irish 2000 Guineas winning son Churchill, he’s a Bay standing 15.3½hh from the winning Monsun mare Vaderana out of Champion 3YO Vadawina.
As a record five length winner of the Prix du Jockey-Club and second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, he was the Cartier Champion 3YO Colt, and like Siyouni is of the Lagardere Family.
Also going into his second season is Group 2 winning miler Erevann who in taking out the Prix Daniel Wildenstein of 1600m was third in Prix Jacques Le Marois and fourth in Prix du Moulin.
With a pedigree free of Saddler’s Wells, and having covered 168 mare last season he is also by Dubawi, being a Bay at 16hh and is from Siyouni champion Group 1 winning daughter Ervedya.
Across the seas to Ireland at Gilltown Stud the all-conquering Sea The Stars continues to re-write the record books and as Leading Sire of 3YOs in Europe had Sosie win the Grand Prix de Paris.
Now the sire of 22 Group 1 winners, and with more than 135 Stakes winners of over 295 Stakes races today he has 13% Stakes winners to runners and 68% lifetime winners to runners.
As the 2009 European Horse of The Year he was undefeated in winning The Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and 16.2hh is half-brother to Galileo, by Cape Cross from blue-hen Urban Sea.
In fact, November saw the retirement of Georges Rimaud after 25 years in managing the French studs, with Pierre Gasnier now succeeding him at Normandy having previously been his assistant.
