It has become a familiar occasion to open the Arqana August catalog and find a gift from broodmare Starlet’s sister (Ire), whose descendants have shined for many years here for the long leading shipper. year, Ecurie des Monceaux.
Most recently, Dubawi (Ire)’s dirty film Pure Dignity (GB) brought in 2,500,000 euros from Oliver St. Lawrence in 2020, and Parliament (GB), a pony of Fastnet Rock (Aus), sold for 700,000 euros in 2019. Only Pure Dignity took the first win for Roger Varian.
But the 2022 offer could be the most exciting: a full brother of the winning group Sottsass (Fr), the record-breaking world champion, winner of the French Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, is currently in first place at Coolmore in Ireland. Sottsass he himself sold here in 2017 to Michel Zerolo’s Oceanic Bloodstock on behalf of Peter Brant for 340,000 euros. And those who know Sottass well, they’ll tell you that his brother is almost a fucking jerk.
Michel Zerolo bought both Sottsass and Sistercharlie | Sue Finley’s photo
“If you compare this longing with Sottsassyou will find they are quite similar,” said Henri Bozo, who will sell Lot 154 under his Ecurie des Monceaux banner on Sunday. SottsassA regular pilot, said Bozo, has been to the ranch to see the 2021 version. “Cristian Demuro, the jockey, came to see him the previous morning, and he was surprised because they looked alike. to what extent. I think he has the same head, the same forehand, and the same confidence. I think that’s impressive for those who know Sottsass Good.”
One of those people, of course, is Michel Zerolo, both a buyer at Arqana and a seller under the Haras des Capucines banner, the farm and consignment he owns with partner Eric Puerari.
Zerolo acquired Starlet’s Sister’s first child, Sistercharlie (Ire), after her win in the G3 Prix Penelope in France, to owner Peter Brant. Zerolo says she caught his eye when she won the Class 1 race at Saint-Cloud in the previous start, when he introduced her for the first time. “She was very impressed that day,” he said. “She had a great foot switch.”
Zerolo will continue to be proven right; Sistercharlie will win 10 starts over four years, including the Breeders’ Filly & Mare Turf Trophy, to be named the Eclipse Award-winning cat and horse champion.
So when Sottsassher half-brother by Siyouni (Fr) on sale in 2017, Zerolo and Brant are back. Zerolo said: “Of course, he is an obvious person.
While watching the aspirational Starlet’s Sister’s 2021 movie, Zerolo said he also sees similarities.
“He is a beautiful horse,” he said. “He is probably an older version of Sottsass, very sporty. They are the same; Of course they are brothers. He’s more of a white, and a bit lighter chestnut, but other than that, there’s a lot of similarities. “
Bozo says that potential buyers in France visited the pony with others during the summer shipment, but of course now an international market has flocked to Arqana for sale. “We have seen all the suitable French people and now we look forward to seeing all the foreigners coming here. But they will be there. They will be inside. The market is doing well and this sale has been extremely successful and good value.”
Jour de Galop recently called Starlet’s Sister “Monceaux’s unicorn”, and Bozo took a moment to reflect on his luck at acquiring her. “We are very lucky and we mean it. Galileo (Ire) from a family we didn’t have would have been able to go after her, a mare with a good pedigree. We always invest in young mares, I have great confidence in young mares especially when they are of the right stallion. She’s not expensive, and Hubert Guy still reminds me of the time he called me about her, and I have to say, it was a life-changing thing. She was so wonderful. “
He said he was initially looking to breed her with a proven stallion at an affordable price. “That’s why we sent her to Myboycharlie,” he said. “He brings some power and speed. And that’s Sistercharlie. And the story continues. Surprised.”
But for Bozo, who looks like a man who could top this sale again, humility, gratitude and hard work seem to be the order of the day.
“We have to be grateful to the mares that put Monceaux on the map and we continue to strive to invest in new bloodlines to improve our work, improve our facilities,” he said. “And it’s a never-ending adventure.”
And Sunday will be another chapter?
Zerolo said he felt it was going to happen. “He has broad appeal, it’s a great cross, Siyouni on Galileo, and it worked. I would imagine he would appeal to some people. Good luck Henri. “
