By Emma Berry
Over the last four decades, Pierre Talvard has developed Haras du Cadran into one of France's foremost nurseries spread across 400 hectares in Normandy. Among those raised on that land in that time are the Group 1 winners Qemah (Ire), The Grey Gatsby (Fr), Pretty Gorgeous (Fr), Marianafoot (Fr) and this season's G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Puchkine (Fr).
In recent months Talvard's son Emmanuel has returned from a tenure managing Haras de Beaufay to work alongside his father, with a focus on developing breeding partnerships with domestic and international breeders.
Emmanuel Talvard says: “I've come home and it's an exciting stud farm with some great broodmares, so it's a good time.
“We are looking forward to the August Sale. It's never easy to say we are confident but we are very pleased with our draft. There is no bad horse, that's the first thing, and the pedigrees are evolving year on year, as well as the sire power.
“It is especially pleasing to be selling a colt by Oasis Dream (GB) from the family of Qemah (Ire). It was a dream for us when Qemah won [the G1 Coronation Stakes and G2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes] at Royal Ascot and her dam Kartica (GB) is now in Japan and has already produced a Group 1 winner there [Ask Victor More].
“I used to work for my father more than ten years ago and after that I had years of experience at Haras de Beaufay. It was great to learn some new things there but now it is good to be back home to help my father in the family business as he works very hard.”
Pierre Talvard | Scoop Dyga
Draft highlights:
Lot 235, a colt by Oasis Dream (GB) out of Niedziela (Ire) (Henrythenavigator)
“He's strong and he looks like an early horse,” says Talvard of the colt out of a half-sister to Qemah. “And the mare has a nice colt by Blue Point for next year so the story is going on.”
Lot 193, a filly by Blue Point (Ire) out of Lanana (Fr) (Sepoy {Aus})
This is the first foal of the the Listed Prix Dahlia winner and Talvard notes, “She's our star, I would say.”
Lot 236, a colt by Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Night Music (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire})
Bred on the same cross as the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Unquestionable (Fr), this colt is described as “a typical Wootton Bassett – dark brown, great mover, really athletic.”
Lot 180, a colt by Zoustar (Aus) out of Koneko (Big Blue Kitten)
One of six yearlings by Zoustar in the sale, his dam is a three-parts-sister to the 2,000 Guineas winner and young Tweenhills sire Kameko.
Lot 258, a filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) out of Petite Noblesse (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
“This is one of the best movers that I have seen as a yearling,” says Talvard of the filly from the family of Lope De Vega (Ire).
“During July we have had lots of agents coming to see the horses and everybody said what a mover she is. She's incredible.
“For me the shows are a big part of the job and it helps to make the yearlings very professsional and get them used to people and cameras. It is great experience for them. It also means that more people get to see them at home. Once they get to Deauville it's a new place and much busier, but at the farm it's peaceful and it's great for people to see them at home through July and early August.
Last word: “Our main target at Cadran is always to buy quality mares and we are always looking for new partners. We already have some young mares in association with some Irish breeders and we are looking to capitalise on the good opportunities on offer in France, including some good new sires like Ace Impact and at Sumbe.”
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