Multi-millionaire and dual Group 1 star Protectionist began his stallion career at Gestut Rottgen in Germany. He was a Group 2-winning stayer in his native land before winning the Group 1 Melbourne Cup over two miles at Flemington.​

An extended stay in Australia did not work out for him so he returned to Europe in 2016 and added two more pattern wins to his tally, notably his two and a half length defeat of Nightflower in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin over 12 furlongs at Hoppegarten.

Stallion sons of the great German sire Monsun (by Konigsstuhl) are achieving some excellent results in both the flat and National Hunt sectors and Manatee is among the most recent to take up a berth at stud.

The Darley-bred six-year-old was trained by Andre Fabre, his final start was when finishing fourth to Silverwave in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, and his four wins feature the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly and Group 2 Prix du Conseil de Paris.

He began his new career at Haras de Hoguenot, in France, and there are 39 registered foals in his first crop.

Manatee is out of the Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes winner Galatee (by Galileo), that makes him a half-brother to listed scorer Gaterie (by Dubai Destination) and, more notably, to Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes winner Dartmouth (by Dubawi).

Dartmouth beat Highland Reel by a head that day, was third to that same globetrotting star in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes the following month, and rounded off the season with a one-length second to Erupt in the Grade 1 Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine. He covered 61 mares in his initial season at Shade Oak Stud his first foals will arrive in 2019.

Galatee is the better of two winners out of Altana (by Mountain Cat), an unplaced daughter of the Group 2-placed runner and notable broodmare Albertine (by Irish River), whose star son is the French-trained champion Arcangues (by Sagace), the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan scorer who sprang a record 133/1 shock in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in 1993.

His half-sister Agathe (by Manila) won the Group 3 Prix de Psyche and was runner-up in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) before going on to fame at stud where she became the dam of dual US Grade 1 star Artiste Royal (by Danehill), of Group 1-placed Australian stakes winner Annenkov (by Danehill) and, best of all, Aquarelliste (by Danehill).

That champion won the Group 1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks), Group 1 Prix Ganay and Group 1 Prix Vermeille, she chased home Sakhee in the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and was runner-up to Ange Gabriel in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase.

Afrique Bleu Azur (by Sagace), a winning full-sister to Arcangues, also did her bit for the family as she was the dam of Cape Verdi (by Caerleon), the filly who was so impressive when beating subsequent Oaks heroine Shahtoush by five lengths in the Group 1 1000 Guineas that she was sent off favourite for the Group 1 Derby at Epsom. She failed to stay the trip and came home ninth to High-Rise.

MANATEE (GB) – b.2011 – Monsun – Galatee, 4 wins inc Grand Prix de Chantilly (Gr2), Prix du Conseil de Paris (Gr2), 3rd Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (Gr2). Sire in France. First foals in 2018.

FOALS CATALOGUED:
Bf - Loriblue (by Lando)     Arqana     December     not sold
Bc - Risky Mix (by Al Namix)     Arqana     December     €2,500

Vadamos began his career as a middle-distance horse and was a three-length listed scorer over 12 furlongs at Vichy, but then a crucial decision was made and his profile soared. He dropped back to a mile, and a five-length victory in the Group 2 Darley Oettingen-Rennen provided him with his first pattern success.

He kicked off his five-year-old campaign by chasing home Solow over a mile on the polytrack at Chantilly, he finished down the field behind California Chrome in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan, but then bounced back to beat Ervedya by three and a half lengths in the Group 2 Prix du Muguet on turf at Saint-Cloud.​

Disappointing on heavy ground behind A Shin Hikari in the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan next time, he then took the Group 3 Prix Messidor by three lengths, was a half-length runner-up to Ribchester in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville and beat Spectre to take the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, this year run at Chantilly.
​
Vadamos then travelled to Australia where he ran twice, finishing fourth behind the brilliant Winx in the Group 1 William Hill Cox Plate at Moonee Valley and then fourth behind Awesome Rock in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington, both over 10 furlongs.

Vadamos is a son of the great German sire Monsun (by Konigsstuhl) and so is by the sire of the multiple Group 1 sires Manduro, Samum and Shirocco.​ He stands at Tally-Ho Stud in Co Westmeath, there are 108 registered foals in his first crop, and he promised to become a source of milers and middle-distance horses.

His stakes-winning dam, Celebre Vadala (by Peintre Celebre), is a half-sister to the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes and Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan star and Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) third Valixir (by Trempolino), and also to Vadaza (by Zafonic).

That stakes-placed winner has made her name at stud as she is the dam of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary winners Vadawina (by Unfuwain) and Vazira (by Sea The Stars) and also of the dual Group 3 scorer Vadapolina (by Trempolino).

The first named of that trio is the dam of the Group 1-placed middle-distance Group 2 scorer Vadamar (by Dalakhani) and of Group 1-placed pattern scorer The Pentagon (by Galileo), while Vadapolina is the dam of Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) runner-up Veda (by Dansili).

Vadlamixa (by Linamix), grandam of Vadamos, is a stakes-winning half-sister to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile hero and classic sire Val Royal (by Royal Academy) and her siblings also include the mare from whom Group 2 scorer and young Irish-based stallion Valirann (by Nayef) and also ill-fated Group 1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) star Valyra (by Azamour) descend.

If you go back to the fourth generation of the family then you will find a branch that leads to the incredibly lucky racehorse Vahorimix (by Linamix) – he was awarded both the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) and Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois in the stewards' room, but good fortune did not follow him to the breeding shed – and also to the Group 1 Irish St Leger heroine Voleuse De Coeurs (by Teofilo).

VADAMOS (FR) – b.2011 – Monsun – Celebre Vadala, 8 wins inc Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Gr1), Prix du Muguet (Gr2), Oettingen Rennen (Gr2), Prix Messidor (Gr3), Prix Frederic de Lagrange (L), 2nd Prix Jacques le Marois (Gr1). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2018.

FOALS CATALOGUED:
B/brc - Ailette (by Second Set)     Tattersalls     November     not sold
Bc - Air Maze (by Dansili)     Goffs     November     not sold
B/brc - Allez Y (by Rip Van Winkle)     Tattersalls     November     22,000gns
Bf - Artesana (by Mastercraftsman)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bc - Dalaway (by Dalakhani)     Tattersalls     December     not sold
Bf - Deira Miracle (by Duke Of Marmalade)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Deliziosa (by Iffraaj)     Goffs     November     €24,000
Bc - Dream Applause (by Royal Applause)     Tattersalls     December     not sold
Bc - Duchess Of Foxland (by Medecis)     Goffs     November     €35,000
Bf - Eager Beaver (by Duke Of Marmalade)     Tattersalls     December     not sold
Bc - Echo River (by Irish River)     Goffs     November     €16,000
Bf - Fitzalea (by Galileo)     Goffs     November     €2,500
Bf - Forgotten Wish (by Lilbourne Lad)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
B/brc - Guiletta (by Dalakhani)     Goffs     November     €8,000
Bf - Hajmah (by Singspiel)     Goffs     November     €5,000
Bc - Haleniya (by Azamour)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bc - High Regards (by High Chaparral)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bf - Hiya Dee (by Nathaniel)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - In Dubai (by Giant’s Causeway)     Goffs     November     €37,000
Bf - Isabella Glyn (by Sadler's Wells)     Goffs     December     
Bc - Jesting (by Muhtarram)     Goffs     November     €3,000
Bc - Kenwana (by Kendargent)     Arqana     December     €28,000
Bc - Kindling (by Dr Fong)     Tattersalls     November     40,000gns
Bf - L’Incantatrice (by Authorized)     Goffs     November     €1,000
Bc - Lady Chesterfield (by Smoke Glacken)     Goffs     November     €15,000
Bc - Lady Chesterfield (by Smoke Glacken)     Tattersalls     November     withdrawn
Bc - Like A Dream (by Oasis Dream)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bc - Miss Purity Pinker (by One Cool Cat)     Goffs     November     €2,500
Bf - More Bottle (by Barathea)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bc - Mypreciousblue (by Peintre Celebre)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bc - Natural Choice (by Teofilo)     Tattersalls     December     9,500gns
Bc - Of Course Darling (by Dalakhani)     Goffs     November     €20,000
Bc - Passion Planet (by Medicean)     Tattersalls     November     not sold
Bc - Pretty Priceless (by Pearl Of Love)     Goffs     November     €7,000
Bc - Queen O’The Desert (by Green Desert)     Tatts IRE     November     not sold
Brc - Risk A Look (by Observatory)     Goffs     November     not sold
Bf - Ruby Slippers (by Sir Percy)     Tattersalls     November     16,000gns
Bf - Star Waves (by Sea The Stars)     Tattersalls     November     3,500gns
Bc - Strawberry Martini (by Mount Nelson)     Tattersalls     November     52,000gns
Bf - The Real Thing (by Traditionally)     Goffs     November     €8,000
Bc - Third Dimension (by Suave Dancer)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bc - Veronica Best (by Hernando)     Goffs     November     €5,000
Bf - Water Feature (by Dansili)     Goffs     November     withdrawn
Bc - Wattrey (by Royal Academy)     Goffs     November     ​€2,400

Sons of the great German stallion Monsun (by Konigsstuhl) have become very popular in National Hunt circles and so when Ocovango did not become a Group 1 star, retiring instead as a Group 1-placed Group 2 scorer, it was almost inevitable that his new home would be as a sire of future hurdlers and chasers.

The Beeches Stud resident covered 310 mares in his first season, and although it is possible that a handful of his early offspring will run on the flat, it is likely that we will not start seeing many of them in action at least until the juvenile hurdles, bumpers and point-to-points of 2019/20.

He is out of Crystal Maze (by Gone West), a half-sister to two blacktype horses and out of the Group 1 Fillies' Mile scorer Crystal Music (by Nureyev). She was fourth (no blacktype) in the 1000 Guineas, chased home Imagine in the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas and was also runner-up to Banks Hill in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes.

Her blacktype siblings include Group 1 Irish Derby third Tchaikovsky (by Sadler's Wells) and the Group 2-placed pattern scorer Dubai Success (by Sadler's Wells), their dam, Crystal Spray (by Beldale Flutter) was a half-sister to the Group 2 winner Crystal Hearted (by Broken Hearted), and if you go back farther then you will find the brilliant Royal Palace (by Ballymoss), among others of note.

OCOVANGO (GB) – br.2010 – Monsun – Crystal Maze, 3 wins inc Prix Greffulhe (Gr2), Prix Francois Mathet (L), 3rd Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1), Prix Niel (Gr2), La Coupe (Gr3). Sire in Ireland. First foals in 2016.

FOALS CATALOGUED (updated)
bc – A Long Way (by Gamut)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc – African Miss (by Beneficial)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €7,000
bf - Balleen Rose (by Old Vic)     Goffs     Dec     not sold
bc – Ballybrowney Hall (by Saddlers' Hall)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €5,500
brc – Ballyquin Queen (by King's Theatre)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €5,000
bc - Bonmahon (by Westerner)     Goffs     Dec     €4,000
bf – Bounty's Sister (by Gold Well)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     withdrawn
chc – Buzy Lizzie (by Golan)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €15,000
bc - Cairnryan Mag (by Old Vic)     Goffs     Dec     withdrawn
bf - Candle Massini (by Dr Massini)     Goffs     Dec     withdrawn
bc – Celestial Spirit (by Presenting)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €10,000
chc – Charlie's Vic (by Old Vic)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €14,000
bc – Clever Mode (by Poliglote)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €21,000
bc – Copper Kate (by Saddlers' Hall)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €6,000
bc - Court My Eye (by Elmaamul)     Goffs     Dec     €12,000
bc – Cuilogue Lady (by Beneficial)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €14,000
bf – Deadly Pursuit (by Subtle Power)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €1,500
bc – Divine Milan (by Milan)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc - Dr Doocey (by Dr Massini)     Goffs     Dec     €4,000
bc – Fashionista (by King's Theatre)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €21,000
brc – Fern Bird (by Revoque)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €23,000
chc - Final Bond (by Supreme Leader)     Goffs     Dec     €2,800
bc – Fire And Ice (by Pilsudski)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €6,000
bc – Fitanga Speed (by Oscar)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €6,200
bf – Foxyfirth (by Flemensfirth)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc – Fugal Maid (by Winged Love)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €18,000
chc – Funny Times (by Silver Patriarch)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €10,000
bc – G Up (by Beneficial)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €4,500
bf - Gayeroyale (by King's Theatre)     Goffs     Dec     €1,800
bc – Glass Curtain (by Old Vic)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc - Griffith Avenue (by Oscar)     Goffs     Dec     not sold
chc – Had To Be Done (by Presenting)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €10,000
bc - Hapeney (by Saddlers' Hall)     Goffs     Dec     €10,000
bc – Hard As The Road (by Beneficial)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
chc - High Life (by Kayf Tara)     Goffs     Dec     €7,500
bf – Highringa (by High-Rise)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €1,700
brf - Hollygrove Gabbana (by Presenting)     Goffs     Dec     €1,800
brc - Howaboutthis (by Oscar)     Goffs     Dec     €17,000
bc – Howards Babe (by Great Palm)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc – Iruna Iris (by Golden Tornado)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc – Keith's Delight (by Saffron Walden)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc – Kilbarry Flame (by Flemensfirth)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     withdrawn
bc – Killashee Lady (by Flemensfirth)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bf - Lady Monksfield (by Sonus)     Goffs     Dec     not sold
chf – Last of The Bunch (by Silver Patriarch)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €3,200
bf - Like A Ballerina (by Shantou)     Goffs     Dec     €1,000
chc – Lisacul Lady (by Snurge)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc - Macetown Gale (by Old Vic)     Goffs     Dec     €9,000
chc – Majella (by Fourstars Allstar)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
b/brf – Mary Wilkie (by Oscar)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
brc - Miss Hilly Wager (by Anshan)     Goffs     Dec     €5,500
chc – Miss Lauren Dee (by Montelimar)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
brc - Miss Your Top (by Luso)     Goffs     Dec     not sold
bc – Mistress Pope (by Catcher In The Rye)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     withdrawn
bc - Mollys Joy (by Waky Nao)     Goffs     Dec     €8,000
bc – Mushagak (by Oratorio)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €16,000
bc – Pale Face (by High Chaparral)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €10,000
bc – Poppyvillaexpress (by Old Vic)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc – Presentingmissoats (by Presenting)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €7,000
bc – Reserve The Right (by Double Eclipse)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €8,000
brf – Roaming (by Be My Native)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
brc – Romy's Birthday (by Rudimentary)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €10,000
brc – Sainte Careigne (by Saint des Saints)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc – Send To War (by Sendawar)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
chc – Shellyjo (by Synefos)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €5,000
chc – Shuil Bob (by Bob Back)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €15,000
chc – Sika Trix (by Try Prospect)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €11,000
brf – Sleeping Diva (by Sleeping Car)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €1,000
blf – South Street (by Saddlers' Hall)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bf – Spare A Thought (by Hurricane Run)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     withdrawn
bc – Tabita (by Alzao)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc – The Millers Tale (by Rashar)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc – Thistle Win (by Blueprint)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €1,500
bc – Tonaphuca Girl (by Saddlers' Hall)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     not sold
bc – Top Nurse (by Mountain High)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €19,000
bc - Tropical Moment (by Cape Cross)     Goffs     Dec     not sold
b/blc – Victorian Lady (by Old Vic)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €5,700
chc - Vinnie's Princess (by Vinnie Roe)     Goffs     Dec     €12,000
brc – Ware It Vic (by Old Vic)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €13,000
bc - Westerner Brook (by Westerner)     Goffs     Dec     ​withdrawn
bc – What A Fashion (by Milan)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €12,000
bc – Witneses Daughter (by Witness Box)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov     €10,000
chc – Zebs Little Sister (by Oscar)     Tattersalls IRE NH     Nov    not sold