Sumbe-under his former guise as Haras de la Cauvinière and Haras de Montfort et Préaux and still today under the guidance of new owner Nurlan Bizakov-has made a concerted effort to improve the standard of France’s standing stallions. He did it successfully too; As part of his fruitful relationship with Gérard Augustin-Normand, the directors Cauvinière selected the winner of the Prix du Jockey Club G1 2009 Le Havre (Ire) to run in France, and Noverre’s son rose through the ranks to become the ‘one of the most successful domestic bulls ever, reaching a record $ 60,000 and leaving behind 50 Stakes winners and five Group 1 winners and it’s not over yet.

Shortly after changing its name to Montfort et Preaux, the stud added Recorder (Ire), the winner of the G3 Acomb S. breed from the queen by Galileo (Ire) which was well supported by breeders and, with eight winners of the first harvest this year, is behind only Zarak (Fr) in the table of French stallions of the first season.

Last year Golden Horde (Ire) (Lethal Force {Ire}) became the first stud stallion recruited since being bought by Bizakov and renamed Sumbe in homage to his hometown in Kazakhstan. The winner of the Commonwealth Cup G1 Golden Horde represents a unique opportunity for French breeders, he is one of the very few representatives of the Acclamation red line in the country, and his only Group 1 winner.

Bred by CN Farm, Golden Horde was picked up by trainer Clive Cox for £ 65,000 at the 2018 Goffs UK Premier Yearling sale. He made his debut in mid-May for owner Al Mohamediya Racing and broke his young daughter on the second request two weeks later. while doing everything to win a young Windsor girl of 4 1/2 lengths. Two lengths behind winner Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) when he was fifth in G2 Coventry S., Golden Horde won G2 Richmond S. – as did Acclamation’s ascendant son, Mehmas (Ire) – on Threat (GB) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), which will then add the G2 Gimcrack S. and the G2 Champagne S. on its next two departures. Meanwhile, Golden Horde moved up to Group 1 company finishing third behind Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal) in the Prix Morny G1 before putting that rival to a neck while he was second in G1 Middle Park S .

Golden Horde returned to Royal Ascot for their late debut at the age of 3 in the G1 Commonwealth Cup, and rocked the cobwebs decisively while racing in evidence and shooting 1 1/2 lengths ahead in the final stages for a higher first level win. Facing older horses for the last three starts of his career, Golden Horde has performed well each time, beaten to 1 1/2 lengths as he was third in the G1 July Cup, fifth in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and third in the G1 Sprint Cup S. Golden Horde proved to be both consistent and versatile, having been placed in Group 1 on both good and loose terrain.

“He was very consistent, very hard, and I loved the way he ran first, running hard all the way and very, very hard and genuine,” said Mathieu Alex from Sumbe. “It’s a great pleasure to have him here too, he behaves very well and has a great mind, and we have a lot of confidence in him.”

Golden Horde’s pedigree has grown steadily since his purchase as a yearling. Her dam, the mare Pivotal (GB) Entreat (GB), was sold by her breeder Cheveley Park Stud for 14,000gns to Tattersalls in July 2016 wearing the Golden Horde. A month after Golden Horde became the model race winner, his older sister Exhort (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) also scored at the listed level. Line Of Departure (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), 3 years old from Entreat in 2021, won Listed Cathedral S. in June, and was eventually neutered after big assignments in the July Cup and G2 Hungerford S. Entreat has a 2 year old filly by Zoffany (Ire) named Heart To Heart (GB) which was a 580,000gns Tattersalls purchase in October last year by MV Magnier and won one of nine starts this year, and a filly by Zoustar (Aus) which was bought for 240,000gns at the same sale. Golden Horde dates back to a very productive American family: its third dam is Imagining (Northfields), best known as the dam to Group 1 champion and producer Serena’s Song (Rahy), whose legacy includes G1 Coronation S winners. Sophisticat and Rizeena (Ire), the useful stallion of Jim Bolger Vocalised, double Grade I winner and Grade I Honor Code stallion and G1 winner of the Prix d’Ispahan Zabeel Prince (Ire).

The recent passing of Golden Horde brood mare Pivotal may mean his genetics are more sought after than ever, especially given Pivotal’s position in the pedigree of French champion Siyouni as well as exciting young stallions like St Mark’s. Basilica (Fr), Sottsass (Fr), Cracksman (GB) and Advertise (GB).

“The Golden Horde sire line is very tested – Acclamation, Dark Angel, and his dam Entreat is by Pivotal and is the dam of six winners including three stake winners, and this is the family of American champion Serena’s Song and Sophisticate, ”said Alex.

Breeders can also be encouraged that Sumbe threw the strength of his brood mares behind Golden Horde, whom Alex describes as “a very beautiful horse”, in his first season at stud.

“He’s very masculine and has a lot of strength, and he’s a great driver,” said Alex. “We have supported him a lot on the farm by sending him 20 very good post performance mares and post performance dams. It was very well received in France and throughout Europe.

After covering his first book in 2021 for € 10,000, Golden Horde will be available for € 8,000 next year.

“I think Golden Horde should be a very commercial stallion because he was a very talented 2-year-old who brings a lot of precocity, but also trained and won a Group 1 race at Royal Ascot at 3,” , said Alex. “He’s a fast horse, a very nice horse with a great pedigree, so let’s keep our fingers crossed, he has a lot going for him.”