Visit at Quesnay: Fuissé, Youmzain. Also, Mr Sidney and Dunkerque's first foals

There are 45 broodmares owned by the family company Haras du Quesnay. Most of them are bred to home sires. The stud must not make any mistake when chosing their new stallions, particularly when you know hat there is no warranty, which is the main aim of the game... Anabaa, first of all, then Highest Honor, Bering and Gold Away were the most recents flag bearers of the farm.

Vincent Rimaud is taking us to Quesnay' paddocks. Pictured here with Treasure, a Listed winner daughter of Anabaa with her son by Dunkerque

Following the death of the first two named horses, and the retirement of the third one, who now enjoys a peaceful time in his paddock next to the office, they have to count on youth. And despite stallions who cost more than €20,000 and who are historical exceptions in France, they just need to make "average" french breeders understand that Quesnay's gates are not only opened to Princes but are wide opened for them too. Same for the boarding mares all year round.

The new stallion Fuissé : a masterpiece...

Today, they have 7 stallions : we will not mention the "old" well known Gold Away and Sèvres Rose, while Kentucky Dynamite 's first generation of 2yos is highly expected on the track in 2011. " I don't have one in training but my brother Freddy has one that he likes a lot" explains Christiane Head-Maarek. " And also, I have heard few of my colleagues say good things about them. It gives me hope, particularly when we know how severe can trainers be with stallions ! "

Youmzain quickly became a covering machine

In 2010, Haras du Quesnay went through a changing phase. Few months after Anabaa's sudden death, the partriarch Alec Head gave the power of the house to his four children, but still with Vincent Rimaud in charge of the teams. During the winter, 2 new stallions arrived: Mr Sidney, a son of Storm Cat, Gr.1 winner bred from a great american maternal family, and the sprinter Dunkerque, 1st successor to Highest Honor at Quesnay, bred from a pure Head family.

A filly by Mr Sidney out of Dissertation, already dam of Dédication, Gr.1 winner in the Prix de la Forêt, and also dam of the sprinter Dunkerque, group winner and young sire at Quesnay

A 3rd horse, Full of Gold nearly made it to the stud but finally went near Limoges, at Haras de l'Abbaye with Jean-Charles Escalé where he covered 95 mares. Indeed, the arrival of his younger brother Fuissé was already planned. Son of the late Green Tune, the masterpiece Fuissé, runner up to Le Havre in the Prix du Jockey-club and winner of the Prix du Moulin in Longchamp, arrived in the stallion yard in 2011. As expected, he attracted a big book straight away and will cover around 80 mares this season.

A filly by Dunkerque out of Malaisie (Bering), dam of Maxwell

Next to him, a warrior : Youmzain. Following an incredible racing career where he ran in nearly 30 Gr.1s, won 2 of them, and finished 3 times in a row 2nd in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the son of Sinndar retired to stud at 8. His dance card is full. He has more than 100 mares booked, and might reach 130 even. "He is a machine. Before, we asked him to run: he ran on and on. Now, we ask him to cover mares, he keeps covering without any problem. " Actually, it is true, when you look at him in the covering shed, Youmzain follows the instructions "Straight to the point"... 

A filly by Dunkerque out of Rose Rose (Cozzene), 3 times winner in France

In the paddocks, the first foals of Mr Sidney and Dunkerque really get your attention. The lots are of course uneven and colorful. For the ones who say that all foals are pretty, they must look at them with closed eyes. But we can make rules. A kind of logic is respected. The foals by Mr Sidney have bones, typical americans where physique strength is an asset in breeding in view to the future tough work at 2 and 3.

A filly by Full of Gold out of Sienne (Nureyev), a niece to Allez France

As a proud sprinter, Dunkerque brings muscular power, and far hocks, a weird caracteristic given very often by Highest Honor. The latter produced mostly grey horses, but Dunkerque is bay and is progeny will be grey only if the mares are grey themselves.

A filly by Full of Gold out of Théoricienne (Kendor), sister to Théorique

Last spring, Haras du Quesnay took 3 mares to Full of Gold. He is chestnut but 2 of his foals are bay, 2 fillies, like most of the Quesnay's 2011 production which gathers mostly fillies.

A filly by Mr Sidney and Royalemixa (Linamix), a sister to Rouvres, winner of the Prix Jean Prat (Gr.1)

Finally, the Quesnay had a foal by Montmartre, a powerful type with great legs, like most of other foals by the young sire from Haras du Pin seen in the paddocks. Fast, Montmartre was not that powerful himself, a bit like his damsire Linamix. He seems to give size and bones to his foals; it may comes from his own sire, Montjeu.

A filly by Mr Sidney out of Mytographie, listed winner in Saint-Cloud in 2005

A colt by Dunkerque out of Dives, dam of Divin Honor

A colt by Dunkerque out of Treasure (Anabaa), listed winner

A colt by Mr Sidney out of Miss Alabama (Anabaa), sister to Milford Track and Matarun