MONSUN (by Konigsstuhl) was one of the all-time great German stallions, a sire who gave us 22 Group/Grade 1 stars among an overall total of 113 flat stakes winners. His sons Fiorente, Manduro, Samum (champion sire in Germany), and Shirocco have achieved some notable results with their progeny on the flat, whereas Novellist, Protectionist, and Vadamos are in early stages of their stud careers.
He has also made a considerable impact on the National Hunt sector, arguably a stronger one than he has achieved so far on the level, and along with the aforementioned Shirocco, his stallion sons of note include Aizavoski, Arcadio, Axxos, Getaway, Lauro, Network, Noroit, Schiaparelli, September Storm, and the promising comparative youngster Ocovango. Of course, Monsun’s stallion sons also include Maxios, a high-profile new addition to Ireland in 2020.
Maxios stayed 12 furlongs but was better over shorter, getting his top wins via victory against Planteur in the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan over nine furlongs on soft ground at Longchamp and, three and a half months later, a five-length defeat of Olympic Glory in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin over a mile at the same venue, also on soft. He was a pattern winner over a mile on heavy ground as a two-year-old and his good-ground successes included defeat of the classic star Reliable Man in the Group 3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte over 10 furlongs.
Maxios is out of the regally related mare Moonlight’s Box (by Nureyev), which makes him a half-brother to four blacktype earners, headed by the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe star Bago (by Nashwan). His dam’s siblings include the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner and Group 1 Prix de la Foret runner-up Denebola (by Storm Cat), and he is a grandson of Coup De Genie (by Mr Prospector), the Group 1-winning full-sister to Group 1 star and influential sire Machiavellian and half-sister to Group 1 scorer and successful dual-purpose stallion Exit To Nowhere (by Irish River).
These credentials made Maxios an exciting recruit to the team at Gestut Fahrhof in Germany. His first crop conceived there are now five-year-olds and he made the breakthrough at the highest level in 2019 when his second-crop daughter Diamanta won the Group 1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks). His blacktype earners also include the flat stakes winners Master Of Wine and Realeza, whereas his early National Hunt runners include the American stakes-winning hurdler Global Freedom, Grade 2-placed Ecco, the listed-placed Groupe Stage, and a string of hurdle race winners.
Those winning jumpers have come in Ireland, England, France and North America, and they include exciting prospects such as Wednesday’s Cheltenham Grade 3 scorer Aramax, plus Flat To The Max, Quilixios, Star Max, and Wild Max.
MAXIOS (GB), Bay 2008. Won eight races, £585,689, from 1 mile to 1 mile 2 furlongs, 2 to 5 years including, Prix d’Ispahan, Longchamp, Gr.1, Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, Longchamp, Gr.1, Prix d’Harcourt, Longchamp, Gr.2, La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte, Maisons-Laffitte, Gr.3, Prix Thomas Bryon, Saint-Cloud, Gr.3, also placed second in Prix Ganay, Longchamp, Gr.1, Grand Prix de Chantilly, Chantilly, Gr.2.
Retired to Stud in 2014, and sire of the winners of 148 races, and £1,951,145, including DIAMANTA (GER), MASTER OF WINE (GER), REALEZA (GER), Suada (GER), Conscious (GER), Alkuin (IRE), Mystic Sunshine (GER), Wild Max (GER), Nayala (GB), Area (GER), and sire of the winners of 22 races, and £317,096 under N.H. Rules, including ARAMAX (GER), GLOBAL FREEDOM (GB), Group Stage (GER), Ecco (GB)
Stands at: Castlehyde Stud, Fermoy, Co Cork, Ireland.
Contact: David Magnier, Tom Gaffney, Joe Hernon, Paddy Fleming, Cathal Murphy, David Walsh
Telephone: +353 (0)25 2531966
Email: info@castlehyde.com
Web: www.coolmore.com
Fee: €6,000