River Tiber: From Royal Ascot Triumph to Promising Stallion Career in Normandy
A promising racing career cut short has paved the way for river Tiber to embark on a new chapter as a stallion in Normandy, France, backed by a consortium of leading breeders. The son of Wootton bassett initially captivated the racing world with a dominant performance in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 2023, leaving rivals like Strong Buccaneer adn Haatem in his wake.
That victory was no surprise to those within the renowned Ballydoyle stable, where a senior official revealed they had been anticipating a bright future for the colt as early spring.However, a subsequent setback disrupted his trajectory, forcing trainer Aidan O’Brien to recalibrate his ambitions for the remainder of the season.
The Phoenix Stakes came and went without River Tiber, and O’Brien cautioned observers that the colt would be heading to the Prix Morny off an extremely rushed preparation. Despite the challenging circumstances, River Tiber delivered a noteworthy third-place finish to Vandeek and Ramatuelle, showcasing his considerable talent.
Further setbacks hampered River Tiber’s pursuit of major juvenile titles, but this opened an unexpected possibility for a group of aspiring breeders in normandy. Convinced by his performances at Ascot and Deauville, they saw in him the potential to become a successful stallion.
During last week’s Route des Etalons, River Tiber was a focal point at Haras de la Huderie, attracting a steady stream of visitors eager to assess the young sire. According to reports from the event, those who made the trip were impressed by his physical presence as he prepares for his second season at stud. “The foals we’ve seen already are really nice.” He has observed promising foals at both Haras de la Hotellerie and Sebastien’s place, indicating a positive early reception.
Vitse also highlighted the success of other stallion sons of Wootton Bassett, wooded and Almanzor, both of whom have sired Group 1 winners, though not at two.”He has a different profile and he’s a very easy horse to cross.The people who have supported him so far believe in him and I don’t think we’ll be proved wrong.”
The team at Haras de la Huderie, led by Berenger Bussy, are experienced in managing stallions with a focus on speed and precocity, though they have not previously stood a Royal Ascot juvenile winner.
Both Vitse and Desmontils underscored the unwavering support River Tiber will receive from his shareholders, having already covered 134 mares in his first season. Their ambitions are high. “Our objective is to make him champion sire,” Desmontils declared. “Long is the road but we’ll be doing our maximum and there are not many horses like him who have the backing of such a strong group of breeders.” He also pointed to river Tiber’s competitive price as an advantage,noting the success of other French-based stallions who have steadily climbed the ranks.
The journey will be a long one,but with a combination of quality genetics,dedicated support,and a competitive price point,the connections of River Tiber are optimistic about his future. As one observer noted, if you have a stallion son of Wootton Bassett and are willing to invest in quality mares and build a strong network of support, the possibilities are limitless.
