Redoute’s Choice has arrived safely in Europe, just as breeders announced the arrival of his first foals conceived in the Northern Hemisphere, during his inaugural 2013 season at His Highness The Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneval.
The Aga Khan Studs report that in Ireland, Ballymacoll Stud’s first foal of 2014 was a bay colt by Redoute’s Choice from Fleur de Cactus, a winning Montjeu mare and half-sister to Desert Bloom, the dam of the Ballymacoll-bred 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente.
Stud principal Peter Reynolds said of him, “The foal is a good strong sort and an excellent first foal and we are very pleased with him.”
At Haras de Bonneval, the first foal for Redoute’s Choice was a filly out of stakes-winning sprinter Kerasona (Oasis Dream).
Other Aga Khan mares due to foal to Redoute’s Choice include Champion Zarkava (Zamindar), dual Group 1 winner Shareta (Sinndar), Ashalanda (Linamix), Sagawara (Shamardal) and Tanoura (Dalakhani).
Also in France, the Wertheimer Brothers’ Haras de Saint-Leonard welcomed a filly foal out of maiden mare Monst (Monsun).
Stud manager Pierre-Yves Bureau commented, “This filly is full of quality and well -proportioned; she is a nice first foal. This augurs well for the future, as we have sent several mares to Redoute’s Choice, including Goldikova’s dam.”
Brookdale Farm welcomed a bay filly late last week in Kentucky, a first foal for the Niarchos-bred Visual Mind (Kingmambo), a half-sister to juvenile Group 1 winner Pathfork, who beat Casamento and Zoffany in the National Stakes.
Redoute’s Choice is due to arrive today at Haras de Bonneval where he will once again acclimatise before resuming stud duties at the start of the northern hemisphere breeding season next month. His 2014 fee in France is €60,000.
Redoute’s Choice topped last week’s Magic Millions Sale sire averages for ninth consecutive year with an average of $286,500 and a A$1 million top price paid for Newhaven Park’s colt out of Hades.