Racing Post, October 7th 2010

Gilt Edge Girl the icing on stallion’s weekend ONE sire whose impact on the elite level of racing has been more unexpected is Monsieur Bond, who stands at Norton Grove Stud in Yorkshire at pounds 2,000, writes Martin Stevens.

He enjoyed a outstanding weekend by supplying Prix de l’Abbaye winner Gilt Edge Girl, Redcar Totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy scorer Ladies Are Forever and a promising new juvenile maiden winner in Lady Gar Gar.

Furthermore, My Name Is Bond, already winner of the Prix la Rochette, ran sixth in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

But maybe we shouldn’t be so surprised by the success. Monsieur Bond was bordering on top-class himself – he had Airwave, Bahamian Pirate and Somnus behind when winning the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes and was not beaten far in Refuse To Bend’s 2,000 Guineas or Somnus’s Prix de la Foret. His pedigree combines class and toughness.

Danehill Dancer has had his credentials as a sire of sires well advertised this year, not only by Monsieur Bond but also by Choisir, the sire of Starspangledbanner, and even Where Or When, who hasn’t made the biggest splash at stud, but has sired the admirable Myplacelater, winner of the Godolphin Stakes last Friday.

Dick Turpin, who earned his fifth podium finish in Group 1 company this year when third to Goldikova in Sunday’s Prix de la Foret, is bred along very similar lines to Monsieur Bond.

Both are by sires bred on the Northern Dancer/Sharpen Up cross and Dick Turpin’s granddam is a half-sister to Monsieur Bond’s dam.

Support from his owner Reg Bond has helped, too. Bond has bred or co-bred two of Monsieur Bond’s five stakes performers, as well as Move In Time, who has no black type but has earned just shy of £30,000 this year thanks to a third in the Weatherbys Super Sprint and a fifth to Ladies Are Forever on Saturday.

It’s unlikely Monsieur Bond’s fee will remain at £2,000 next year, but few would begrudge the stallion an increase in the frequency and quality of the mares he receives next year.