Nicolas de Chambure

With France on Tuesday placed under a mandatory 15-day lockdown, whereby all but 'essential' outings are prohibited, the likelihood of the Thoroughbred breeding season continuing during the COVID-19 pandemic has been called into question. Though government directives are changing day-to-day-and rumours are spreading as quickly as the coronavirus itself-as of Wednesday afternoon it was business almost as usual at major studs in the Normandy region. "Things tend to change very quickly and there is a certain amount of [speculation] going around on Twitter and elsewhere suggesting the breeding season should...

As Siyouni (Fr) embarks on his 10th season at the Aga Khan's Haras de Bonneval, his fee has increased in line with his profile. From a relatively lowly €7,000 starting price to being France's most expensive stallion at €100,000, it is a rise closely mirroring that of his own very successful sire Pivotal (GB). As of this year, Siyouni now has two sons at stud—Le Brivido (Fr) at Overbury Stud in Britain and City Light (Fr) at Haras d'Etreham in his native France. They will doubtless be joined in the...