RATHBARRY & GLENVIEW Studs are pleased to announce the acquisition of the exciting French jumps stallion Jeu St Eloi (Saint Des Saints) for stallion duties next season.
The deal brokered by Paul Harley Bloodstock Ltd. and Nicolas Bertran de Balanda of NBB Racing, sees Jeu St Eloi move from Haras de Cercy to County Cork where he will stand alongside the Cashman’s top NH stallions, Blue Bresil, Eagles By Day, Old Persian, Shirocco and Youmzain.
The 12-year-old sire has been responsible for producing a number of eye-catching bumper, novice hurdle and point to point winners on both sides of the Channel.
Jeu St Eloi first came to prominence in Ireland last January when the Willie Mullins-trained It’s For Me won a Navan bumper by 10 lengths and was installed as favourite for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Five days later another of his sons, D Art D Art, won a bumper for trainer Tom Cooper.
A month later, Paul Nicholls saddled Inthewaterside to win a second bumper and that horse remained undefeated when winning over hurdles at Aintree last Sunday. Just last Saturday at Cheltenham, Jeu St Eloi’s son Blueking D’Oroux won for the Nicholls stable at Cheltenham and could be aimed at the Greatwood Hurdle later this month.
To top off the weekend, Warren Ewing won a point-to-point at Tattersalls last Sunday with a four-year-old by the sire named Saint Kristobal, who he described as “a little bit special”.
Meanwhile, Willie Mullins has imported the sire’s Grade 3 hurdle winner Kargese who, the trainer says, will be aimed at the Triumph Hurdle.
This imposing 16.3 hands sire is a half-brother to the dual Grade 1 winning chaser, Oculi (Denham Red), and has the sire Balko (Pistolet Bleu) under his second dam.
Commenting on the acquisition Paul Cashman said “We are delighted to stand such an exciting young NH sire. He has had great success in his brief career to date and he offers NH breeders a complete outcross to existing bloodlines”.
The 2024 fee for Jeu St Eloi will be announced in due course.