Juvenile colt Nesthorn continued the fine streak of form for new Paardeberg recruit Expert Eye and became his sire’s latest black type performer with his second in the Gr3 Prix des Chenes at Longchamp on Thursday.
It was only the second outing for the Juddmonte homebred juvenile, who had shown great promise with a fluent debut win at Deauville in early August.
The very soft underfoot conditions probably did not suit the youngster, given that he had won on good going.
Misunderstood (Hello Youmzain) jumped favourite in the €80,000 Prix des Chênes and taking an early lead, he extended his advantage and kept his opponents at bay throughout the straight.
Expert Eye’s son Nesthorn wins on debut at Deauville – he earned black type on Thursday (Pic – Supplied)
Nesthorn’s effort came hot on the heels of a comfortable victory by fellow Juddmonte-bred juvenile Exposure over a mile at Saint-Cloud. A half-brother to the Gr3 Musidora Stakes winner Shutter Speed, the gelding stayed on well to shed his maiden tag by just over a length.
Their sire meanwhile, is off to cracking start to his first South African season and has already covered eight mares.
The octet includes the proven stakes producer Mina Salaam. By Medaglia d’Oro and a multiple stakes-winning daughter of champion racemare Circle Of Life, she is the dam of Gr1-placed Gr3 winning sprinter True To Life.
Another stakes producer who has visited the Gr1 Breeders Cup Mile winner is the Gr2-placed Oratorio mare Mrs O, whose first foal is the stakes-placed Var filly Priscilla Maisey.
Also covered is the maiden mare and Gr2 Golden Slipper winner Love Bomb, as well as Pathfork’s multiple stakes winning daughter And We Danced.
That Expert Eye covers like a pro, goes without saying.
“He’s hugely enthusiastic,” quipped the stud’s Sally Bruss.
Considering that the local broodmare population currently hovers around the 2000 mark and that about six elite stallions cover 120 or more of the best mares, that means fierce competition for the remainder.
Sally thought that the Gr1 winning son of Acclamation would have to settle for Paardeberg mares only, but with the support from bigger studs like Ridgemont and Drakenstein, it looks like he will cover at least 50 mares.
“That has exceeded our expectations, and it will be more about quality, rather than a bigger book of lesser mares.”
