Performance or pedigree? In an ideal world, a breeder would choose both when purchasing mares but, depending on budget, there is almost certainly a compromise. In recent weeks in TDN we heard from Mark Johnston about his selection process when buying fingerlings, in which he was particularly interested in a good rating for the dam. On the opposite side of the equation this week as a supplier, Andreas Putsch agrees.
“For us, it’s all about selection, mating, selection and trying to come up with new blood. When I read the interview with Mark Johnston, it was music to my ears because that was our approach. The form of the dam is important,” said Putsch, who is of Arqana, who will sell seven of the eight cubs born on his lavish Normandy-based Haras de Saint Pair last year.
Indeed, Putsch outlined this strategy when interviewed on these sites five years ago. At the time, he said of his early days in the livestock business, “I was raising livestock to sell. I was trying to buy mares with good pedigree who didn’t have such a good racing record. Some of their horses sold well so commercially it was a success, but what bothered me was that there weren’t enough good results on the racetrack with those horses. Then I read Joe Estes’ book which compares mares’ performances and I studied all the strokes of good stallions. I decided that the way to go was to buy performance instead of pedigree – it was very difficult to buy both. “
It is certain that the shift in that direction, which has been incorporated into the broader view at the Haras de Saint Pair, has been profitable on the track, both with the farm’s graduates who race in Putsch’s own colors, such as multi-group winner Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible God {Ire}), and those purchased by other owners.
It is no surprise that Saint Pair, just outside Cambremer, is capable of producing the finest racehorses as the ranch has a rich history, like its fields, dating back to 1883. Four men. the Arc winner was born there, and for the 15 years during which it was in the possession of Putsch, the Group 1 winner Vadamos (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}) was born and raised there with a number of Other notable group winners, including Glycon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), Waldbiene (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), Lucky Lycra (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) and Guildsman (Fr) ) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
Siblings of two of those mentioned can be found in the septet forming the August draft of the Haras de Saint Pair Arqana. The King (GB) colt out of Dardiza (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), lot 249, is half-brother to the American 3rd place winner Guildsman, who also finished third in G2 Coventry S. when coached by Archie Watson. It is a family descended from Aga Khan Studs and also has Classical winners Almanzor (Fr) and Darjina (Fr).
A pony and a dog died by KingBest friend of Frankel (GB) also features, with the son of G2 winner Rockfel S. Spain Burg (Fr) (Sageburg {Fr}) being the third horse sold on Sunday evening (lot 148). With the rest of the draft in focus on Monday, Frankel Dirty appears as lot 284 and was one of only three members of the same illustrious clan to make it to the round in four lots. Bred on a cross that has been successfully advertised by Group 1 winners Nashwa (GB), Cracksman (GB) and Hungry Heart (Aus), the chubby girl emerges from the Pivotal mare (GB). ) Girl Friday (Fr), two-year-old winner and half-sister to the aforementioned G2 Grand Prix de Deauville Glycon winner. Their smash Glorious Sight (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) is her own talent, as the winner of the List, who placed in both the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and the G1 Prix de Diane. Furthermore, she is a half-sister to another talented Pivotal mare, Beauty Is Truth (Ire), a Group 2 winner who made Group 1 winners Hermosa (Ire) , (Hydrangea (Ire) and The United States (Ire) from her repeated mating with Galileo (Ire).
The Frankel will be followed by a daughter of Wootton Bassett (lot 285), whose young winner Glad Eye (Fr) is Dansili’s in Glorious Sight, while being the third child of the family (287), and perhaps a draft Piece of Resistance is the full sister of Glycon, whose biological father Le Havre passed away earlier this year. With Glorious Sight a descendant bred by Kilfrush Stud of Mill Princess (Ire) (Mill Reef), this family has been strengthened in recent seasons by the feat of the group 1 winner. Tenebrism (Caravaggio) and her sister Statuette (Evenly).
Her proud breeder said: “Glycon’s full sister, definitely a superstar. “She will be very popular. And if you look at the pedigree update, in the mares that Coolmore has, the Hydrangea has a Deep Impact and two Dubawis, and the Hermosa has No, never and two Dubais. [Their Dansili half-sister] Fire Lily has two Galileos. Not many families have such support. Since Coolmore doesn’t sell it, it’s really almost a family exclusive. “
Putsch adds, “We have a very consistent draft, I would say. The horses are where they should be. Two ponies are also very popular, they are very strong, very strong, very well developed. I am very satisfied with them. All are ready. “
Only one of the 2021 crops is kept this year at the Haras de Saint Pair, for practical as well as perhaps emotional reasons, as Siyouni (Fr) filly is the last pony of another successful Singspiel mare for the stallion, Via Milano (Fr), the dam of the black trio Via Ravenna (Ire) (Raven’s Pass), Via Medici ( Ire) (Medicean { GB}) and Via Manzoni (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}). G3 Prix winner Lieurey Via Medici was later exported to Japan, where she produced 1st place double winner and young Shadai stallion Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn} ).
“We have to keep the dirt, because Via Milano is now retired in the lawns. But we’re really bringing our ‘A Game’ to the August Sale,” Putsch said. “Because we don’t know, nor do the buyers know, who will be the successful racers. If I had known that the Sicilian Defense was as good as her, I wouldn’t have sold her for 30,000 euros.
“If you look back at the numbers, Saint Pair actually generates a high percentage of winners year after year, but obviously we don’t know which ones are going to be 20/25% of those. won the bet – and in the end four years, with four or five crops, that’s what we produced, from small crops with an average of 11 ponies.”
He continued, “I think if you look at all these successful operations, they have a very good land-to-horse ratio, and that’s key on our land. We have a strict policy of a minimum of two hectares per horse, and that allows us to rest on the paddock. All of our lawns have a minimum of six months of rest annually, and we see very few horses. We see a lot of cows throughout the season, and empty fields. And I think that in terms of management and especially parasite management is absolutely key. I couldn’t do it any other way.”
As outlined in Saturday TDN by Freddy Powell of Arqana, there will be no shortage of international buyers stalking the sales districts of Deauville. Like many people in the business, Putsch can see both sides of the coin when it comes to the increasing globalization of the livestock and racing industries.
He said, “I welcome it and I care. First of all, I’m not the king of racing and breeding so I can’t change reality. And the fact is that now Europe has become huge. Looking at history, I think right now in terms of the quality of the supplies you have Europe and Japan are leading the world. Japan has different reasons, but the reason why Europe has historically been so good is the incredible rivalry between Coolmore and Darley, and Juddmonte also plays a phenomenal role.”
He continued, “This gives us stallions, which we eat and drink. And just because we were able to enjoy these wonderful stallions, we got a superior crossbreeding. I think that really power has, historically, always been led by steed strength. Where are the top stallions, you have the best mating. I strongly believe in that.”
Among the males responsible for the stallions in the Saint Pair draft, the champion males of France and Great Britain and Ireland, Siyouni and Frankelrepresented, along with the proven names of Le Havre, Kingand Wootton Bassett. There is only one person who has yet to prove himself, and that is freshman Darley Blue Point (Ire), who is present in this shipment (lot 311) appeared late in the sale and was the second pony of the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and the winner of the Irish Rookie (Ire) list (Azamour {Ire}).
Putsch explains, “I only used the first season stallions when I was really impressed with them as a racehorse. Obviously Blue Point wins twice in a week at Ascot, very few horses can do that. It needs a top horse to do it. And that convinced me to use Blue Point in his first season, but usually I prefer to go with proven studs. “
Returning to the topic of Europe’s current overabundance of elite studs, he added, “We have this situation in Europe, where we breed top because of the top stallions. But that doesn’t mean it will last forever, and now we have these very important breeders slowly disappearing with age, and it’s a whole new game. We also have ridiculous bonuses, and I include France, all over Europe. If you compare it with USA, Australia, Asia, Middle East, our bonus amount is a joke. And that’s the big deal, because we’re now becoming a supply incubator for international races. I had to look to the international market to market my horses. I have no other choice. And in the long run that can hurt.”
By winning Group/No. 1 in Japan and Hong Kong for promoting the power of the Saint Pair mother hen band’s achievement on a stallion no less than the Yoshida family’s Shadai operation, Putsch could also see benefit from this global fusion.
“It is also a positive thing,” he said. “We really try to get our horses into as many jurisdictions as we can. As young as we are, I have a lot of faith in this international market, and also the international race, and the prize money. If you look at all of our races except Classic races it’s really for breeding, but when the Classic season is over the best horses automatically go to races where there are more most money. I think the Japanese have shown us that they are much more advanced than us, but Europe is catching up, America is catching up. And today’s championship races are the major international races with the most prize money. “
He added, “So it’s important for me, as a breeder, to be represented at the big meetings. All in all, everything outside of these meetings is just less of a race, and it’s an important development. If you want to be a famous breeder, you have to make sure your horses are competitive in this type of company. “
