By Elaine Belval.
When Rahy died in 2011, it appeared that would be the end of the line for this particular branch of the Blushing Groom sireline, because despite having a number of quality sons at stud, none appeared ready to wear Rahy’s mantle.
Noverre was one of his better sons at stud, but he died in India in 2012. A three-quarters brother to the sensational racehorse Arazi, Noverre won the G1 Sussex S. in England and was named that country’s champion three-year-old. He would go on to sire more than 20 SWs, including Music Show, who was the highweighted filly at 7 – 9 1/2 furlongs on the English Free Handicap, and German Classic winner Enora.
Le Havre, bred by Team Hogdala AB and owned by Gerard Augustin-Normand, was one of Noverre’s best runners. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, he won his debut at Clairefontaine in August of his two-year-old season. He subsequently won a conditions race at Saint-Cloud before running unplaced in the Group 1 Criterium International. At three, he returned a winner in the Prix Djebel (LR), a major prep for the French 2000 Guineas, in which Le Havre finished second to Silver Frost. However, Rouget’s trainee made amends in the Prix du Jockey-Club (G1), winning easily by almost two lengths while sustaining a tendon injury that ended his career, with a career record of four wins and a second from six starts.
Le Havre retired to stud at Sylvain and Elisabeth Vidal’s La Cauviniere in Notre Dame de Courson. As a classic winner whose German-bred dam Marie Rheinberg (by Surakao) was a half-sister to the G1-winner and G1-sire Polar Falcon, he had appeal, and breeders have had no cause to complain with his results: He was the leading first season sire in France in 2013, and 2014 is proving more productive.
On May 11th, Le Havre’s daughter Avenir Certain won the 1600-meter Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas). She was bred by Mme. Elisabeth Vidal, is owned by A. Caro and Le Havre’s owner Augustin-Normand, and is also trained by Rouget.
Two days prior to the Pouliches, Auvray — owned in partnership by Augustin-Normand and Mme. Vidal — won the 12-furlong Coupe des Trois Ans for trainer Elie Lellouche. Auvray was bred by Vidal and Franklin Finance SA.
A classic winner in his first crop bodes well for the future of Le Havre and for the Rahy sireline.
Le Havre stands at La Cauviniere, where his 2014 fee is 7,000 euros.