Montfort et Preaux

There was one certainty in Saturday's G2 Hardwicke S. and that was that Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) would love the underfoot conditions and despite trainer David Menuisier's misgivings about her readiness, Christopher Wright's G1 Prix de Royallieu and G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine was able to register an impressive win on her comeback. Keen initially for William Buick before being granted a lead, the 5-1 shot moved three-wide on the home bend and had plenty in reserve to seize the advantage two out en...

Nurlan Bizakov will unite his British and French studs, Hesmonds Stud and Montfort et Preaux, under the same name: Sumbe, for his birthplace in Kazakhstan. Bizakov said, "To understand this decision, you have to go back in time. I was born in Kazakhstan in the city of Sumbe. Nestling at the foot of the country's highest mountain, it's a region famed for its agricultural produce and the quality of its horse breeding. I think that these 'country' roots--embedded in an environment where the horse was very present--naturally influenced my decision...

Stephanie Nigge trainee Normandy Bridge (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) annexed a Sept. 3 ParisLongchamp newcomers' event going one mile in his only prior start and maintained his prefect tally with a game success tackling the same distance in Friday's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie at Saint-Cloud. The 32-5 chance was settled several lengths off the pace at the tail of the five-runner field as Godolphin's Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) established a substantial advantage by halfway. Sent wide off the home turn to plough a lone furrow...

Hesmonds Stud has listed for sale its yearling preparation base Tourles Farm at East Hoathly, near Lewes in East Sussex. The 114-acre farm has been the subject of significant investment as of late, and the facilities include a yearling preparation centre, a four furlong gallop, a 20 metre by 40 metre schooling ring, lunge ring, 25-box barn and a three bedroom cottage. Hesmonds Studs was purchased in 2010 by Nurlan Bizakov, who has made substantial investments in the property and also purchased Monfort et Preaux in Normandy, France last year....

A one-fiftieth share in top French sire Le Havre (Ire) (Noverre) brought €300,000 during Wednesday's Arqana Online auction. The winning bid was made by Montfort et Preaux acting as agent. Beginning at 11 a.m. this morning, the auction attracted 10 bids between five different entities, and ended at approximately 6:17 p.m. The sire of dual Classic heroines La Cressonniere (Fr) and Avenir Certain (Fr), Le Havre is credited with 34 black-type winners, 12 at the group level. In addition to his Classic winners, he has also sired fellow Group 1...

A share in leading French sire Le Havre (Ire) will be offered via Arqana Online on Mar. 11. It is just the third time that a share in the Montfort et Preaux resident has come up for sale. The 14-year-old Le Havre has provided 33 stakes winners headed by dual Classic-winning fillies La Cressonniere (Fr) and Avenir Certain (Fr), as well as GI Shadwell Turf Mile winner Suedois (Fr) and G1 Prix de l'Opera victress Villa Marina (Fr). He has 16 3-year-olds entered in this year's Classics and his 51...