Leading jumps stallion Saint des Saints (Fr) has been pensioned from stud duties, it was announced on Wednesday.
A Grade 1-placed hurdler for Guillaume Macaire, Saint des Saints has divided his time between Haras d'Etreham and Haras de la Tuilerie since retiring to stud ahead of the 2003 breeding season. He produced the high-class staying chaser Quito De La Roque (Fr) from his very first crop, while he was represented by two top-level winners during the latest season in the shape of Fastorslow (Fr), successful in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase and the Punchestown Gold Cup, and Protektorat (Fr), who won the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Altogether Saint des Saints has sired 17 Grade 1 winners over jumps.
“We had noted the growing interest for the British and Irish for French sires and their progeny, and were on the lookout for a serious jumps prospect,” said Etreham's Franck Champion. “Saint des Saints, who was in training at the time with Monsieur Macaire for owners Jacques Détré and Nicolas de Lageneste, presented a very attractive profile. As a son of top jumps sire Cadoudal and out of a Group winner on the Flat, adding class and speed, his cross appeared ideal. That was over 20 years ago! Saint des Saints became a great sire and will always be an influential factor in pedigrees.”
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