Leading European sprinter Hello Youmzain has been retired and will begin his stallion career in France at Haras d’Etreham before shuttling to Cambridge Stud in New Zealand next year.
Purchased by Haras d’Etreham and Cambridge Stud during the autumn of his three-year-old season, the talented son of Kodiac went on to win the Gr.1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in the colours of Cambridge Stud earlier this year.
Hello Youmzain is by Kodiac, the current leading sire of two-year-olds in Europe. He also has bloodlines that will be familiar to Australasian breeders as Kodiac is a Danehill three-quarter brother to Invincible Spirit and Hello Youmzain’s dam is by successful shuttle sire Shamardal.
In addition to these high-class bloodlines, Hello Youmzain boasts exceptional conformation and a top-level racing career at ages two, three and four.
A winner on his debut over 1200 metres, Hello Youmzain concluded his juvenile season with victory in the Gr.2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte.
He confirmed his promise at three years old, becoming one of Europe’s best sprinters when dominating his elders in the Gr.1 Sprint Cup at Haydock and in the Gr.2 Sandy Lane Stakes, beating Coventry Stakes winner and current Coolmore sire Calyx.
Winner of the Gr.1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on his seasonal debut and runner-up in the Gr.1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, Hello Youmzain confirmed his place among the elite as a four-year-old this year.
His trainer Kevin Ryan declared, “He was a lovely horse to train, showed his class and ability at a very early stage and was such a sound horse all the way through his career. He had such a great temperament and proved to be very tough and genuine.”
The stallion will shuttle to the Southern Hemisphere and will travel with Almanzor to Cambridge Stud. Cambridge Stud CEO Henry Plumptre said, “Hello Youmzain will be an exciting addition to the Cambridge Stud stallion roster and the New Zealand breeding industry next year. Through his exploits this year, he has added further significance to the partnership between Haras d’Etreham and Cambridge Stud, which began with Almanzor in 2018.
“Retiring with a race record that includes two Group 1 races, two Group 1 placings and two Group 2’s – Hello Youmzain combines a superb pedigree with outstanding performance. It is indeed encouraging that his sire Kodiac has had a stellar year on the racecourse with his progeny, throwing two Group 1 winners in Hello Youmzain and Campanelle as well as seven individual two-year-old Stakes winners.
“Cambridge Stud and Haras d’Etreham would like to thank Kevin Ryan and his team at Hambleton Lodge, including jockey Kevin Stott, for giving us an amazing highlight in the Diamond Jubilee at Ascot. We look forward to continuing that relationship and the arrival of Hello Youmzain at Cambridge next year.”
Hello Youmzain has already arrived in France and Haras d’Etreham’s Nicolas de Chambure commented of the new recruit, “We are delighted to welcome Hello Youmzain and offer his services to French breeders. He presents a rare profile as no sprinter of this calibre has begun his stud career in France since Anabaa and we have seen the success of sprinters as stallions, such as Danehill, Green Desert, Invincible Spirit, Oasis Dream and Kodiac. He has adapted well to his new environment and we look forward to showing him to visitors. He is a high-class individual with a strong physique and fantastic movement.”
