Making waves across The Channel

There is no concrete evidence supporting the notion that the trickle-down economics theory is successful, except in the horseracing industry! In France, numerous breeders, whether small or large, have reaped the benefits of investing in the Wertheimer bloodlines. It has proven to be a profitable venture for many, and French breeders have a great deal of faith in these families. In addition, many stallions bred or owned by the Wertheimer family have had a significant and positive impact on the French industry throughout the last century: Riverman (Never Bend) and Lyphard (Northern Dancer) are the obvious references, not forgetting Poliglote (Sadler’s Wells), Saddler Maker (Sadler’s Wells), Green Tune (Green Dancer), Galiway (Galileo), Goldneyev (Nureyev) and his son Gold Away, all of whom have enabled plenty of breeders in France, large and small, to produce Group 1 horses under both codes. Intello (Galileo) is now one of them and boasts strong statistics, with 38 per cent of his foals now winners, and 12.5 per cent Stakes performers. He has produced 43 Stakes horses, including 13 Group winners.

Intello has enjoyed a resurgence of international interest since moving to Haras de Beaumont in 2023.

Intello, who has stood at Haras de Beaumont since 2023, has benefitted from strong French support since the beginning of his stallion career, including during his four seasons standing at Cheveley Park Stud in 2014-2015 and 2018-2019. Whilst he was well received for his debut at stud in the UK, his second stint proved more difficult, covering books of just 52 and 56 mares, despite siring a Group 1 winner from his second crop with Intellogent in 2018. 

It had been an ambitious gamble by his connections to stand him in the UK before repatriating him in 2020. Back on French soil at Quesnay initially, Intello covered 101 mares and, of his 13 Group winners to date, 12 were bred in France. “This game is very fragile, and you have to have the horse in the right place,” reflects Mathieu Alex, stud manager at Haras de Beaumont on the sire’s early accomplishments. “But when a 14-year-old horse is still a popular stallion, it means he’s a success. Otherwise, as we well know, they are gone by then. You can see why, on paper, moving the horse between two countries could be a good idea as you are exposing him to more breeders, but Intello is an example of when that didn’t work. I don’t think that means that you shouldn’t do it, but it has its risks.

“For some reason, sons of Galileo seem to do better in France, perhaps because we are more patient and our race programme is more geared towards middle-distance three-year-olds. I think Intello himself was a good example of that. Galileo was a late-maturing horse, so there is a logic to say that this country suits them.” 

The only other proven son of Galileo currently active in France is Galiway, who stands at a fee almost four times higher than that of Intello. It would seem that the commercial French breeders have rediscovered Intello’s potential in the last two years, and are eager to support a consistent and reliable stallion that can be used for young mares and for those who don’t wish to travel.

It’s fair to say that Intello suffered, through no fault of his own, during the difficult final seasons before Haras du Quesnay was eventually sold, as did the other stallions standing at the stud. In 2021 and 2022, he covered only 64 and 62 mares respectively. 

“He covered 125 last year with us, and going to do at least the same this year.”

In 2023 Intello was integrated into the more commercially aggressive Haras de Beaumont, and without a change in his fee of €8,000 he doubled his book, as Alex explains; “He covered 125 last year with us, and he’s going to do at least the same this year. He’s had a fantastic start to 2024 with two Listed winners and a Group 2 winner in America (Kertez). He’s a very consistent horse, and great value for money. You will breed a racehorse – trainers love them. The Wertheimers send between five and ten mares every year and buy yearlings by him at the sales so there’s great support behind him. He’s a very good-looking horse, and his yearling average was nearly €40,000 in 2023, so he’s great value for money.”

The Wertheimer family are strong supporters of their stallions, and two of the three Group 1 winners by Intello are Wertheimer homebreds. Adhamo landed the Group 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park and his lifetime earnings are close to a million dollars. Junko had a wonderful second half of the season in 2023, with victories in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Bayern and Group 1 Hong Kong Vase. “He’s not just a horse that is producing Stakes winners in France, but internationally and I think that’s very important,” elaborates Alex. “Funnily enough, he is actually covering more mares from abroad this year than he ever has. He’s now on the international radar. I’m sure if people from outside France saw good-looking yearlings by him, they would be happy to buy them.” 

Intello’s dual Group 1 winner, Junko, added to his sire’s international reputation when winning the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in December.

Intello’s third Group 1 winner is Intellogent, winner of the Prix Jean Prat and was bred by Ecurie des Monceaux. Both Intellogent and Adhamo feature damsires from the Danzig line: this is found in a number of Intello’s best progeny, including Group winners Bubble Smart, Djo Francais and Noble Heidi. 

The current generation of three-year-olds sired by Intello is showing great promise. Done Deal, a German-trained colt, won his maiden race at Chantilly in impressive fashion and is highly regarded by his trainer Andreas Suborics. Meanwhile, Intellect has shown significant improvement lately, and his recent victory in the Listed Prix du Pont Neuf could be the start of a successful career over seven furlongs. Bright Picture, who finished second in the Group 3 Prix Noailles, a French Classic trial over 10.5 furlongs, is also worth a mention. Although he has been gelded and cannot have Classic ambitions, there are still plenty of good races suited for his profile as he is lightly raced and clearly improving all the time.

All of Intello’s Group winners have come at a distance of a mile to a mile and a half, and his progeny have an average winning distance of just under 10f. Alex continues; “He produces middle-distance horses like himself, and if you have a horse by him with ability they will stay a mile or a mile and a half, so they are going to run in the good races. There’s a very good programme for these horses in France.”

Intello himself was hugely successful on the track and is particularly well-suited to the French market due to his Classic profile, with France and Germany being the two European jurisdictions with the highest percentage of 10 furlong or more Stakes races. His entourage campaigned him ambitiously as a three-year-old when he was an impressive winner of the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club and finished third in the Group 1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard–Jacques Le Marois against the best milers. But, according to the French handicapper, his best performance came when he took third place in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe behind Treve (Motivator). Although he lacked the stamina to fully stay the mile and a half distance, he was beaten by only a neck for second place by the Japanese Champion Orfevre (Gold Ship).

Intello has always been a solid source of Black Type performers since retiring to stud and, with the size and quality of his latest books showing such an upward trend, it could be said he’s on the crest of the wave.