By Emma Berry
DEAUVILLE, France — Haras de Beaufay is one of the new names on the list of consignors this August at Arqana and its debut draft of two yearlings is in line with the farm manager's ambition to take things “step by step” as the new team carves out a reputation in a competitive field.
The stud, based near Gace in Normandy, was bought in 2016 by Czech breeder Jiri Travinicek, who set about turning it into a semi-commercial broodmare farm for his own mares and those owned by clients. Three years ago that dream became reality when Haras de Beaufay became fully operational under the management of Emmanuel Talvard, who grew up nearby on his family's famed Haras du Cadran.
“Our main target now is improving the quality of the broodmares and welcoming new clients,” said Talvard during a quick break between showing yearlings at Arqana on Friday. “We have some German, French, and Czech clients. This is just the beginning. We have been in operation for three years but we are taking it step by step.”
From the original farm purchase, Travinicek, has subsequently added two new parcels of lands to expand Haras de Beaufay to 160 hectares spread across two separate farms.
“This is a new place and it is a lovely farm with nice barns and good pasture,” Talvard added. “We have 100 hectares for broodmares and 60 for yearlings. Mr Travinicek has a real passion for it. He visits regularly from Czech and he loves his horses. We are in touch every week.”
Talvard's own education in the thoroughbred business came not just under his father, Pierre, the breeder of dual Group 1 winner Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), but also at Haras du Logis.
“I worked for my father for 14 years; he was my mentor and he taught me everything I know,” he said. “He's a hard worker so you have to be a hard worker to work for Pierre. I also worked for Julian Ince for three years and it was great to see the stallion side of the business. They were two good schools for me.”
Haras du Cadran is one of the bigger consignors at Arqana, and is selling 25 yearlings over the next three days, but Beaufay will be starting with a more modest draft of two. Lot 80, a colt from the final French-conceived crop of Wootton Bassett (GB), is being sold on behalf of his breeders Gonzague Baijot and Jean-Jacques Rahier and is out of the winning Harbour Watch (Ire) mare Paradise Cove (GB), herself out of a half-sister to the Arc winner Peintre Celebre. The colt's half-brother Sheer Rocks (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) has added a third win to his tally since the catalogue was printed.
Beaufay is also selling a homebred daughter of Australia (GB), the only yearling by the stallion in the catalogue, as lot 301. A daughter of the listed-placed treble winner Holly Polly (Ger) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), she is a half-sister to two multiple winners from the mare's trio of racing age offspring, including the twice listed-placed Qaiser (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).
“The Wootton Bassett colt we have prepped for a client and the filly by Australia is homebred and she has always been my favourite since the beginning,” said Talvard, who foaled the bay filly himself. “They are both really good movers so fingers crossed for both of them. We'll see what happens tomorrow.”
He continued, “Right from Wednesday we have had lots of people looking. I thought that might have been a quieter day but it was not the case. It's really good news though for everybody, and the market is really high at the moment.
“It's a nice challenge and it is good to have been involved with Haras de Beaufay from the beginning. To be here in August after only three years is just very exciting for us. We know we have to find our place. There are so many big consignors here but we have to start somewhere and try to do a good job, and hopefully it will work.”
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