Mais d'où viens-tu Cirrus des Aigles ?
Cirrus des Aigles 's pedigree does not look the part. Thats the least we can say. If his sire is totally unknown (see below), his maternal family does not really give him rights to benefit from the richest races in the world. Luckily enough in the racing industry, there are no strict rules and trespassers are more than welcome. Cirrus des Aigles' 6yo sister Vie des Aigles (by the non commercial sire Alamo Bay) was sold for €12,000 to Winning Bloodstock (Samuel Blanchard) at Arqana in December 2011, proof that Cirrus is an exception. We also have to go back to his4th dam to find some black type horses, like Banjer or Lou Biella in the 80s.
Following his victory, everyone involved in the breeding business was wondering who was his sire Even Top by. Here is his incredible story.
Cirrus des Aigles after winning the Dubaï Sheema Classic.
After his last breeding season at Issé-Châteaubriant National Stud in 2008, Even Top was sold by the government and disappeared, swallowed by the dark maze of indifference, before dying in March 2009, 6 months prior to one of his son's win in a Gr.3. His pedigree is completely atypical, as he is by Topanoora (Ahonoora), a proven NH sire in Ireland, out of a Niniski mare gone to Saudi Arabia a short while after his birth.
He nearly won the 2,000 Guineas and then disappeared for 4 years
Despite all of that, Even Top turned to be an incredible miler. He nearly defeated Mark of Esteem in the 2,000 Guineas (Gr.1). Beaten by only a short head, he was then runner up in front of Bijou d'Inde, Alhaarth and Danehill Dancer. The whole lot went to stud in great commotion. All bar Even Top. He continued his racing career for Gary Tanaka, finishing 3rd in the Lockinge Stakes (Gr.1) in 1997. Even Top then totally disappeared for 4 years...
He finally retired to stud in Ireland for 3 seasons. Then, an irish man, Ian Hanamy, an adventurous merchant, bought the horse for few pints and turned up with his black stallion to conquer France in 2003. Even Top had 8 foals on the ground in France in 2004, including Chic and Top, bred by Hanamy himself, victorious in a claimer in Lisieux.
Even Top, mysterious sire of Cirrus des Aigles.
He had to be very convincing. Hanamy sold the horse to the National studs and set up a farm in Normandy... As for the little story, Ian Hanamy tried another good shot. He got, from the NS, Saint Preuil, an excellent sire who became infertile, and let him free in a field in the middle of 15 irish mares lend by irish friends. But magic did not happen. None got in foal.
The vagabond from the National Studs
All that time, Even Top started his new duties at Sartilly in Manche and was sent to Compiègne in 2006, where he produced 8 foals only, before coming back to the west region at St Martin d'Arcé (72) in 2007, then Châteaubriant (44) in 2008 before his death.
In January 2005, for the first edition of the Stallion Show at Lion d'Angers, the new recruit was shown to the public. Black and powerful, he attracted the eye of a breeder, Yvon Lelimouzin, former director of the gallops at Chantilly, who was looking for a sire for his broodmare Taille de Guêpe. This is how the extra super scientific Cirrus des Aigles was conceived...
