Jimmy Two Times

France was the forerunner of the stallion trail, its La Route des Etalons having been launched in 2010, catching the rising tide of increasingly sought-after stallions in the country following a spell in the doldrums.  This popular weekend feature of late January was, like almost everything else, interrupted for a few years by Covid restrictions, but there is none of that to worry about now as the two days of touring around some of Normandy's most exquisite stud farms gets underway this Saturday morning.  The bright young things of TDN...

Haras de Montaigu will stand five stallions in 2022, for which the fees were revealed on Wednesday. Montaigu announced earlier this week that the 2019 G1 Prix Royal-Oak winner Technician (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) would join its roster for his debut season, and the former Team Valor International runner will stand for €3,000. The G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin scorer Dschingis Secret (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) moves to Montaigu after three seasons at Haras de Saint Arnoult, and he will stand for €4,000 with a special rate for National Hunt mares....

The Route des Etalons was established in 2010 in an attempt to stimulate a flagging French stallion scene. A little over a decade on, it could be said that it's 'job done'. That doesn't mean that the annual open weekend of Normandy studs has been shelved. Its popularity has grown year on year for breeders and bloodstock pilgrims alike, and it is only a global pandemic that has stopped it run in 2021. It will, however, be staged online across this weekend, with videos of the 108 stallions involved shown...