Montjeu x First Breeze colt
Coolmore’s John Magnier (centre) is a visionary leader. With Michael Tabor (far left), MV Magnier, Paul Shanahan and Richard Henry (right)
Ireland is the latest country set to join the international racing arm of the China Horse Club (CHC)after a series of quality individuals were secured at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in Great Britain yesterday. Four outstanding Montjeu colts were secured with the club’s international breeding partner, Coolmore, while an athletic War Front filly was also added to the team.
The racing partnership between the CHC and Coolmore is an extension of a partnership that surfaced in Australia at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Salesearlier this year. In that instance three colts were secured by the champion sire Fastnet Rock. Yesterday it was the irrepressible classic influence of Montjeu that was singled out.
The late Montjeu is a sire of rare repute and one who has stamped himself as a sire of sires, Motivator’s Arc winning daughter Treve was a further reminder of that when streeting the world’s best classic performers by a widening five lengths.
“Coolmore’s record in securing outstanding yearlings is without peer and Aidan O’Brien has trained many of Montjeu’s best sons. The racing model Coolmore has in place is truly exceptional and the opportunity to be involved in this model is very exciting,” said CHC Chairman Teo Ah Khing.
“The CHC is a very strong supporter of Coolmore and Coolmore is a wonderful supporter of the CHC. Our partnership is very much in its infancy but it is a partnership that has already been exceedingly rewarding.”
“Coolmore’s support of the inaugural China Equine Cultural Festival last month saw three of the four international events taken out by Coolmore graduates, while all four events were taken out by progeny of Coolmore sires. We also share an international breeding partnership and an emerging international racing partnership.”
The CHC moved early when securing Lot 358, a War Front x Dawn Chorus filly, for 240,000 guineas. The elegant bay’s sire War Front is emerging as a world class sire and his quality is very evident in her athleticism and temperament.
The filly was a precursor to a notable day of trading for the CHC/Coolmore partnership. John Warren, a member of the CHC’s International Advisory Council, secured Lot 373(Montjeu x Ecoutila colt) for 375,000 guineas when bidding for the partnership. The bay is a full-brother to the stakes winner Enticement and a half-brother to the group winner Surfrider. Warren struck again an hour later when overcoming spirited bidding for Lot 394, a Montjeu x First Breeze colt, for 650,000 guineas. Demand for the naturally athletic colt was such that he proved to be the highest priced yearling by the champion sire.
Before the day was over the partnership struck on further two occasions. A Montjeu colt out of the young stakes winning mare La Sylvia (Lot 482) was snapped up for 420,000 guineas by MV Magnier while the steal of the day could well prove to be the Montjeu three-quarter brother to G1 hero Sans Frontieres who was pinched for only 50,000 guineas (Lot 501).
Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien will train the four Montjeu colts from the famed Ballydoyle and, in time, these yearlings will bid to join a long list of champion Montjeu colts who have graduated under O’Brien’s care including St. Nicolas Abbey, Camelot, Fame and Glory, Scorpion and Frozen Fire.
The War Front filly will join the camp of Ireland’s David Wachman, a mentor especially noted for his talents with juveniles.Wachman knows the War Front breed well having prepared Warning Flag (renamed Sweet Orange) to stakes success in Ireland before the gelding was purchased privately to race in Hong Kong and annexed the G1 Championship Mile. The War Front x Dawn Chorus yearling filly is bred on the same War Front x Unbridled’s Song cross as Sweet Orange.