SAINTGODREL is the first son of Saint Des Saints (Cadoudal) to be available to breeders in Ireland. He has a couple of small crops in France, and should soon have his first runners as he has a number of three-year-olds in training, and a bigger crop of two-year-olds following on.

Few will need reminding that Saint Des Saints is the preeminent National Hunt sire in France, where he is covering this year at €15,000. A number of his sons are also popular with French breeders, and little wonder.

In this part of the world we know him best as the sire of Grade 1 National Hunt winners such as Protektorat who was placed in this year’s Gold Cup at Cheltenham, the Irish Grand National winner Burrows Saint, the Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Djakadam, Quito De La Roque, Quel Esprit, Gaillard Du Mesnil, Fusil Raffles, Le Rocher, Monmoral, Me Voici, Gelino Bello and a star of 2023, Gentleman De Mee.

This is in addition to five more French and Italian Grade 1 winners over jumps.

The lightly-raced Saintgodrel, who was placed, is out of the smart racemare Loumie (Loup Solitaire), and her 12 wins over jumps included a pair of listed races. She was runner-up in both the Grade 1 Prix Renaud du Vivier 4YO Hurdle and the Grade 1 Prix Maurice Gillois 4YO Grand Steeplechase. She was also a winner at three on the flat.

At stud Loumie is the dam of five winners, all of whom were successful on multiple occasions, and the best two performers on the track are the Irish Grade 2-placed chaser Nick Lost (Nickname) and the French listed-placed chaser Policy Jumper (Poliglote). Loumie was one of two foals, and the only runner, from Choumie (Caerwent), a three-time winner on the flat.

Choumie was one of five winners out of the winning American Prince (Prince Tenderfoot) mare Princesse Mimi, and her full-brother was the Group 3 winner Prince Ruffian (American Prince), winner of eight races in France and the USA. They also had a stakes-winning sibling, Tristan Le Grand (Highest Honor).

Choumie’s third dam High Cee (High Hat) bred the listed Auteuil hurdle winner Huit Reflects (Hul A Hul), and in the next remove of the family, there appears the names of many top-flight winners who will be immediately familiar here.

High Cee’s half-sister Armada Way (Sadair) was a leading two-year-old in Canada and went on to win a couple of stakes races in the USA. She bred the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Flamenco Wave (Desert Wine).

Bought by John Magnier, Flamenco Wave bred the French and Canadian Group/Grade 1 winner Ballingarry (Sadler’s Wells), the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes winner Starborough (Soviet Star), the Group 1 two-year-old winner Aristotle (Sadler’s Wells) and the Group 3 winning filly Spanish Falls (Belmez).

High-class winners to descend from Flamenco Wave include her grandson St Nicholas Abbey (Montjeu), winner of the Group 1 Coronation Cup three times, the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at two, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic. Flamenco Wave is also the third dam of another Group 1 juvenile winner, Charming Thought (Oasis Dream) successful in the Middle Park Stakes.

With the current success being enjoyed by French-bred runners, and the popularity of Saint Des Saints with trainers in Ireland and Britain, it will be fascinating to watch how breeders react to having easy access to a horse such as Saintgodrel.

SAINTGODREL (FR), Bay 2010. Placed once.

Retired to Stud in 2018, first crop now 4 year olds.

Stands at: Foxwood Stud, Mohera, Castlelyons, Fermoy, Co Cork, Ireland.

Contact: Donal White

Telephone: +353 87 7913509

Email: donalwhite78@hotmail.com

Fee: €1,500