Benoit Jeffroy's Haras de Castillon, a burgeoning force on the French racing and bloodstock scenes, burst into international prominence in December when it consigned the Group 1-winning Grand Glory (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale, where she sold for €2.5-million. The quickly growing Castillon has only been in existence under its current guise since 2015, but the Jeffroy family has a history of breeding quality racehorses from their SCEA des Prairies, with just one recent example being Zelda (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), a listed winner last year at two bred by Castillon and SCEA des Prairies and raced by the Jeffroys in partnership with basketball star Tony Parker. Jeffroy is assisted at Castillon by Amelie Lemercier-and both also work at Sheikh Joaan's Haras de Bouquetot-and Jeffroy and Lemercier shared details of Castillon's 2022 mating plans.
TEXALOULA (FR) (m, 18, Kendor {Fr}-Texalouna {Fr}, by Kaldoun {Fr}), visits Sea The Moon (Ger)
Texaloula is the dam of Dubai Group 2 winner Frankyfourfingers (Fr) (Sunday Break {Jpn}). She is also the second dam of G3 Prix de Psyche winner and €1.2-million Arc sale topper Penja (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) and listed winners Taos (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}) and Texas (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) through two of her daughters. “Texaloula will visit Sea The Moon, a proven sire at good value, and we hope to have another filly,” said Castillon's Jeffroy.
TEXALOVA (GB) (m, 8, Dream Ahead-Texaloula {Fr}, by Kendor {Fr}), visits Wooded (Fr)
Texalova is an unraced daughter of Texaloula and is the dam of last year's listed-winning 2-year-old Texas. Texalova is currently in foal to Mehmas (Ire) and visits G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Wooded in his second season this year. “Wooded is by Wootton Bassett so we will try to breed on the same line to get a three-quarter sibling to Texas,” Jeffroy said. “Wooded was a talented sprinter and I believe he has a big chance to make it.”
JUST WITH YOU (IRE) (m, 10, Sunday Break {Jpn}-Texaloula {Fr}, by Kendor {Fr}), visits Zelzal (Fr)
Just With You, a daughter of Texaloula and a half-sister to Texalova, is the dam of Taos and Penja. “Just With You is probably our best mare,” said Jeffroy. “She has a beautiful Wootton Bassett yearling filly and she is in foal to Siyouni. She will visit Zelzal. We are big supporters of Zelzal, having bred Zelda and having invested into him. We will support him strongly again this year with eight mares.”
AWE STRUCK (GB) (m, 12, Rail Link {GB}-Aspiring Diva, by Distant View), visits Victor Ludorum (Fr)
Awe Struck is the dam of German Group 3 winner and GI Canadian International second Alounak (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) and is barren this year. “Awe Struck will be bred to Victor Ludorum, who should bring her some precocity and speed,” Jeffroy said. “He is from a great stallion family and had a terrific turn of foot as a 2-year-old.”
GALILEO'S MOON (IRE) (m, 11, Galileo {Ire}-Adoration, by Honor Grades), visits Toronado (Fr)
Galileo's Moon is a daughter of Breeders' Cup winner Adoration who was purchased for $37,000 at Keeneland November in 2018. Galileo's Moon is in foal to Blue Point and visits Toronado. “I think Toronado is the best value stallion on the French roster,” Jeffroy said. “I have done the same cross with a filly named Jouza and she is a very promising filly, a winner on her second start as a 2-year-old last year.”
NEKO (FR) (m, 9, Dansili {GB}-Epopee {Ire}, by Sadler's Wells), visits Zelzal (Fr)
Neko is the dam of the listed-winning and G2 Prix Eugene Adam second Caprice Des Dieux (Fr) (Declaration Of War), and her second foal, the 3-year-old Gemmyo (Fr) (Shalaa {Ire}), is a winner. She has a 2-year-old colt by Wootton Bassett and is in foal to Hello Youmzain. “She has got the walk but she needs some strength,” Jeffroy said. “Zelzal will inject some speed and strength.”
SPACE ANGEL (FR) (m, 4, Shalaa {Ire}-Space Quest {GB}, by Rainbow Quest), visits Ten Sovereigns (Ire)
A maiden mare from the family of Enable (GB) and Flintshire (GB) who ran three times last year, Space Angel will be bred to Ten Sovereigns for her first mating. “Space Angel showed a lot of potential in the mornings but was too keen in the afternoons,” Jeffroy said. “We have four nice foals on the farms by him [Ten Sovereigns], and I liked what I saw at the sales as well.”
SUNDAZE (FR) (m, 4, Shalaa {Ire}-Tropical Mark {GB}, by Mark Of Esteem {Ire}), visits Bated Breath (GB)
Sundaze is an unraced half-sister to the Group 1-placed Danza Cavallo (Fr) (Sunday Break {Jpn}), herself now the dam of Group 3 winner Cheshire Academy (Fr) (Flintshire {GB}). She visits Bated Breath, like Flintshire a son of Dansili, for her first covering.
ARLETTA (FR) (m, 4, Lethal Force {Ire}-Milena's Dream {Ire}, by Authorized {Ire}), visits Almanzor (Fr)
Arletta is a half-sister to GI EP Taylor S. winner Etoile (Fr) who was bought for €50,000 at Arqana in December in foal to Sottsass (Fr), a son of Etoile's sire Siyouni (Fr). She visits Almanzor in 2022.
AMARA (FR) (m, 4, Olympic Glory {Ire}-Lunaba {Fr}, by Anabaa), visits Hello Youmzain (Fr)
Amara is a half-sister to the dam of the GI Garden City S. winner Alterite (Fr) (Literato {Fr}) as well as the dual stakes-producer Dianaba (Fr) (Diktat {GB}). “She is from a great Louviere family,” said Jeffroy. “All her sisters who have been average race mares have been good producers including one who gave Group 1 winner Alterite. Amara has size and scope. She lacks strength behind so we will breed her to Hello Youmzain, who has plenty of speed and great, powerful conformation.”
RESTLESS (FR) (m, 6, Le Havre {Ire}-Reine Zao {Fr}, by Alzao), visits Romanised (Ire)
Restless is a half-sister to GI EP Taylor S. winner Reggane (GB) (Red Ransom) as well as to the dam of last year's G3 Prix des Reservoirs victress Rosacea (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). “She gave us a colt by Hello Youmzain as her first foal and will visit Romanised,” said Jeffroy. “We have five foals on the ground by him and I like them already.”
LEMON TWIST (IRE) (m, 14, Marju {Ire}-Lia {Ire}, by Desert King {Ire}), visits Ectot (GB)
Lemon Twist is the dam of G2 Prix de Malleret winner Al Wathna (GB) (Nayef). “Lemon Twist is a medium-sized, compact mare and Ectot is producing progeny with size and scope,” Jeffroy said. “He has started well with his first 3-year-olds.”
COMPLICATION (FR) (m, 4, No Nay Never-Sleek Gold (GB), by Dansili {GB}), visits Mehmas (Ire)
Complication is a winning and listed-placed half-sister to the Castillon-bred Ouraika (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}), who won the GIII Sweet Life S. at Santa Anita. Another half-sister, Simplicity (Fr) (Casamento {Ire}), is listed-placed. Complication visits Mehmas for her first mating.
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