Almanzor Half Brother to Debut at Chantilly
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Photo: COURTESY OF HARAS D'ETREHAM
Almanzor at Haras d'Etreham
George Strawbridge will look to continue what has been an enjoyable period for his racing interests when he sends out a half brother to European champion Almanzor March 2 on the Polytrack at Chantilly.
The American owner-breeder, who was the recent recipient of an Eclipse Award, had a valuable victory in Saudi Arabia when Call The Wind collected more than $2.5 million in Saturday's Longines Turf Handicap.
Almanzor was bred by Haras d'Etreham, where he stands as a stallion after QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) and QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (G1) wins and a Prix du Jockey Club (G1) in 2016. He is out of the unraced Aga Khan mare Darkova, who was acquired for just €16,000 ($21,424) at Arqana in 2011.
She is believed to have been bought privately by Strawbridge and Another Sky, by Le Havre, is the first foal she has delivered for him.
Now 3 and in the care of Call The Wind's trainer Freddy Head, he starts off over 1 3/16 miles in the Prix de la Traversiere, for unraced maidens.
He has an entry in the QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, G1) himself, while Darkova has subsequently produced a full brother to Almanzor (Wootton Bassett) and a yearling filly by Frankel.
Among Another Sky's nine rivals are Galawi, the Wertheimer family's son of Dubawi and Galikova, the Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1) winner and half sister to the incredible Goldikova. Her three previous foals have all been winners.
Khalid Abdullah's Classical Wave, with Henri Devin, has an Investec Derby (G1) entry and is a Gleneagles three-parts brother to Weekender, John Gosden's useful stayer.
Just over an hour later in the fillies' equivalent, the Prix de la Serpentine, the André Fabre-trained daughter of Australia, Petite Folie could well make a splash.
Ballymore Thoroughbred also used to own her half brother Persian King, who looked such an exciting prospect in landing the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1) in Godolphin silks last May. He was not seen after finishing second to Sottsass in the French Derby.