Manatee a high-class son of Monsun

MANATEE (GB) - 2011 bay horse

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 the latest 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 in July, and his four wins feature the Group 2 Grand Prix de Chantilly and Group 2 Prix du Conseil de Paris.

He begins his new career at Haras de Hoguenot and he looks sure to prove popular.

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 last year's 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 in October.

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.