NEWS of the £410,000 sale of Belharbour maiden winner Dlauro at Cheltenham on Thursday was well-received in Navan where his sire, Lauro, a son of Monsun, is standing with Eamonn Duignan.

Bred in Germany by Gestut Hof Ittlingen out of the Shirley Heights mare Laurencia, the now 15-year-old bay was unraced at two but won three races at three, including the Prix de l’Avre (Listed) at Longchamp, and was second, beaten a length, in the Oppenheim-Union-Rennen (Group 2) at Cologne.

Late in 2008, Lauro was campaigned on the far side of the Atlantic, winning the Sky Classic Stakes (Grade 2) at Woodbine before finishing second in the Red Smith Handicap (Grade 2) at Aqueduct.

In July 2009, he was beaten two lengths into second by Presious Passion in the United Nations Stakes (Grade 1) at Monmouth Park.

Lauro was retired to the Haras National du Pin in 2010 but, in 2017, was standing at the Haras du Cercy.

“I looked at the horse before but missed him so, when I was told he was on the market again, I bought him and he arrived here in the second week of January,” said Duignan who will be standing a stallion for the first time as his Hayes House outside Navan.

Duignan is best known as a breeder through the three-time winner Johnny McGeeney, but his colours were carried to success by such good horses as Barker, Call The Police and Fionnegas.

Among the broodmares at Hayes House are a half-sister to Call The Police and two half-sisters to Fionnegas.

Duignan can be contacted on 087-9109101.