Exciting De Gaulle juvenile Pasteur sold to Hong Kong

Cover image courtesy of Bruno Cannatelli Ultimate Racing Photos

Richard Anderson, managing director of the Victorian-based Quilly Park, is on cloud nine after the deal was finalised for selling the highly touted juvenile Pasteur to Hong Kong.

Quilly Park bred Pasteur and is a son of De Gaulle, who Quilly Park stands at Bombora Downs on the Mornington Peninsula.

The 2-year-old bay gelding is the eighth foal from the Smart Strike (Can) mare Suzy Smart (USA). She was a dual winner as a 2-year-old and won the Donna Freyer S. Suzy Smart was also placed in the Listed Just Smashing S. at Monmouth Park.

Suzy Smart’s second dam, The Minstrel (Can) mare Minstrella (USA), was an outstanding galloper who won the G1 Cheveley Park Stud S., the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and the G1 Phoenix S. in addition to claiming the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot.

Anderson explains how Pasteur first came on the radar of Hong Kong buyers, “Gary Moore, the trainer came out to the farm to have a look at what we had, Pasteur was one of those in the paddock, and Moore really liked him, but he said, ‘Could I come back and look at him in six months?'

“I told him yes, but I will keep forging ahead because he's the nicest De Gaulle on the farm.”

As is the practice with most of Quilly Park’s horses, Pasteur went into training with the Cranbourne-based trainer Trevor Andrews.

There the gelding showed a natural ability and an iron-like constitution. Pasteur had several jump-outs and trials where he displayed ability in each, including the latest, an official trial at Tatura, where Pasteur won by 2l with ease.

The impressive show sealed the deal, and Moore and Hong Kong interests were back knocking on the door.

“Gary (Moore) rang up and said, “I’ve got a client for your horse; would you sell him? And I said, 'More than happy to', it was a fair and reasonable price, and I’m thrilled,” Anderson told TDN AusNZ.

“From my point of view, Pasteur is a perfect horse for Hong Kong. He has a great demeanour and attitude. He’s smart and has done everything that he’s been asked to do all the way through and just keeps improving, like all of the progeny of De Gaulle.

“The progeny of De Gaulle work, eat up their food and do whatever you want them to do to please you, and Pasteur is exactly like that. He was the right horse to go up there, given the environment. Pasteur is such a dude and takes everything in his stride and keeps improving.”

Anderson revealed excitingly that the gelding would join the stable of the New Zealand native Jamie Richards, the former head trainer of Te Akau Racing, before his decision to pack his bags and move to Hong Kong.

“Pasteur is going to Hong Kong as a ready-made horse for his new connection. He will join the stable of Jamie Richards in Hong Kong, so yes, it’s just a fantastic opportunity, and I think he’s probably the best example of De Gaulle that I could send up there.”

Andrews, who keeps a manageable number of horses in training at his Cranbourne stables, admits it’s always disappointing to lose a horse with ability but is happy for Anderson and the stallion to be represented in Hong Kong.

“Disappointed, losing a nice one that you think is at least city class, but in the same token, Richard (Anderson) has invested a lot of money into racing, and if he gets an earn out of one of his horses, I’m happy for him, and it’s great for De Gaulle.”

New frontiers for underrated stalllion

It is no secret Hong Kong is a challenging area to be a trainer, jockey or horse. It’s one of the most highly competitive racing jurisdictions in the world.

It is beneficial for a stallion to have exposure to the Hong Kong market and even better if the stallion succeeds in the jurisdiction.

It is a significant milestone for De Gaulle, who continues to bat above his modest stud fee.

Despite being unraced, De Gaulle showed ability in a series of trials and jump-outs before an injury derailed his progress to the racetrack, where those associated with the horse are confident he would have made his mark.

One must assume the name for the stallion was inspired by Charles De Gaulle, a veteran of World War I and a French national hero in World War II, who would later be elected President of France (French Republic).

Like De Gaulle, the person, De Gaulle the stallion has an aristocratic pedigree. One would be hard-pressed to find a stallion at the price point of $5000 (inc GST).

De Gaulle is a son of the great Exceed And Excel, who stands at Darley, Kelvinside, and is the sire of over 200 stakes winners worldwide.

The stallion is a son of the Charge Forward mare Response. She was a four-time winner from 1000 to 1600 metres and counted the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. and the G1 Robert Sangster S. on her CV.

As a broodmare, Response has proven to be an outstanding producer. Her daughter Estijaab (Snitzel) was crowned the Champion 2YO in Australia in 2017/18 with a scintillating victory in the G1 Golden Slipper S.

Remarque (Snitzel) and Alter Call (Fastnet Rock) have been placed at the stakes level.

Response’s latest progeny to hit the track include Congregation (Snitzel), a $2.25 million purchase by Tom Magnier from the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, is in training with Chris Waller and has shown plenty of ability, already winning twice.

“You couldn’t fault De Gaulle on pedigree,” Anderson told TDN AusNZ.

“De Gaulle is upgrading my mares. He’s igniting whatever the mare has and throwing good-bodied animals with good leg and substance. They’re all lovely walkers, and they’ve all got the best attitudes like their father.”

But importantly, not only is De Gaulle regally bred, he’s proven he can produce a racehorse.

From only 42 foals, De Gaulle has had 11 runners, of which six individual winners have saluted and won 11 races.

Amongst them is the talented Madame Du Gast, who scored at Flemington on debut and Rue Lepic, who has won five races.

The progeny of De Gaulle have also made up to $115,000 at the yearling sales.

Exciting youngsters in the pipeline

Anderson, who follows the progeny of De Gaulle with the eyes of a hawk, was able to rattle off several of the stallion’s progeny who look to have exciting futures.

“Symon Wilde has a De Gaulle he really likes that he paid $115,000 for at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Prince Sonic and Champagne Doctor are both showing plenty and are unraced. Champagne Doctor recently won a trial when she wasn’t expected to,” Anderson gushed to TDN AusNZ.

“We’ve got another exciting one called After Sunset. She’s an absolute runner, and we were going to run her as a juvenile but decided to tip her out. She’s furnished and grown. She appears exciting, and I'm looking forward to her career.”

Trevor Rogers also compliments the De Gaulle progeny, describing them as the perfect trainers' horse.

“I have six De Gaulles, raced four, and all have won. I had a huge opinion of Pasteur, and I do not doubt if I raced him, he would have been winner number five,” Rogers told TDN AusNZ.

“I have been playing with six of them, and they’re all going to win races; four have already, so when you have a strike rate like that, how can you not like the stallion? I think the thing is, they are just racehorses.

“They know their job and get on with it. They all seem to have natural ability, and the thing I like most about them is they’re just tough. You can train them, get them fit enough, not lose any condition and go to the races in good order.

“De Gaulle is the most magnificent-looking horse and has thrown that into his progeny; they are also cracking types.

“I think he’s the best value stallion in Australia, given the sort of pedigree he has.”

De Gaulle will be available to breeders for $5,500 (inc GST) and will be standing at Bombora Downs on the Mornington Peninsula.