Saturday, 19 July 2014

Montjeu as a sire of fillies.

Years ago breeders questioned Montjeu's ability to get a Group 1 class filly. While this champion Group 1 winner was siring plenty of high class colts, his inability to produce a top class filly led some breeders to worry. 

When Montjeu's first crop arrived on the scene he was awarded with derby winners Motivator & Hurricane Run. While other first crop sons included Walk In The Park second in the Group 1 Epsom Derby & Scrorpion winner of the Group 1 Grand Prix De Paris. 

Montjeu's best daughter that year was undoubtedly Dash To The Top. She won her 2yo maiden at the second time of asking & on just her third ever career start was beaten just over a length by Playful Act in the Group 1 Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile. Dash To The Top won her 3yo stakes debut before being a well beaten favourite in the Group 1 Irish Oaks. Her best performance at Group 1 level was when she was only beaten 1/2L in the Yorkshire Oaks. She was then retired after refusing to race in the Group 2 Prix De Royallieu Barriere. 

Two other first crop daughters of Montjeu were runaway Zetland stakes winner Ayam Zamen & the multiple LR & Group 2 winner Montare. Ayam Zamen was fatally injured in her Group 1 debut while Montare broke her Group 1 duck in the Prix Royal Oak

In the crops that followed, Montjeu had only one filly Montare, rated above 110+, he had sixteen horses in total rated above 110+ In the flat year of 2007. 

The next year didn't prove much better for Montjeu's daughters. His top rated daughter that year was Group 2 winner Albisola, she had proved dissapointingly in Group 1 level. She was rated 116+ that year while the seventeen other horses by Montjeu rated above 110+ were colts including Irish derby winner Frozen Fire & Grand Prix De Paris winner Montmartre who had a rating of 126+. 

The next few seasons brought top class colts Fame And Glory  & the ill-fated Saint Nicholas Abbey on the scene. Both were multiple Group 1 winners between them. 

Montjeu's Group 1 drought with his fillies finally ended in 2011 when he scored a Grade 1 double in America courtesy of Miss Keller (EP Taylor Stakes) & Sarah Lynx (Canadian International), Clowance was also narrowly beaten by her paternal 1/2 brother Saint Nicholas Abbey in the Coronation Cup. She had also been second to Alandi in the Irish St Leger. The year 2012 would prove to be a memorable one for Montjeu when his son Camelot scored in the 2000guineas and Derby double to remain unbeaten. He lost his unbeaten run when only beaten 3/4 of a Length by Encke in the St Leger, narrowly missing out on the Triple Crown. 

It would be two years till a daughter of Montjeu won a Group 1 when Chicquita ran out an impressive winner of the Irish Oaks, she later sold for €6,000,000 to Coolmore at that years Goffs Breeding stock sale. Montjeu has again made headlines this year siring the winner of the Ascot Gold cup in Leading Light & pulling off a rare fillies classic double when his regally bred daughter Bracelet ran out a game winner of the Irish Oaks today. 

While Montjeu had to wait a long time to get a Group 1 winning filly, his daughters have been quick to get him started as a broodmare sire. Daughters of Montjeu have produced Group 1 winners Obviously (Choisir), Charm Spirit (Invinvible Spirit), NZ Group 1 winner Lucia Valentina ( Savabeel) & Parish Hall (Teofilo). Group winners out of Montjeu's daughters include Australian Group winners Faciascura (Oratorio), Moozoon (Perfectly Ready), Malandrino (Darci Brahma) & French Group 2 winner Restiadargent ( Kendargent). 

Montjeu seems to have a clear liking for Green Desert mares which have produced Group 1 winners Charm Spirit & Bracelet. Montjeu's last crop which numbers 31 are yearlings this year. It would be something special if he can provide another memorable year for himself. He is a truly missed sire. 

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