TDN: Gorlsdorf Goes Into Orbit
Gestut Gorlsdorf homebred Sea the Moon (Ger) (Sea the Stars (Ire)) stamped himself as the next big thing to come out of Germany when he romped by 11 lengths to remain unbeaten in the G1 Deutsches Derby July 6, and at the same time put the icing on the cake of what has been a sensational year for Gorlsdorf’s Niko Lafrentz and Heike Bischoff-Lafrentz.
Gorlsdorf, which is based near Berlin, has over the past year been the breeding ground for not only Sea the Moon, but also G3 Prix Chloe winner Wunder (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}); last year’s G3 Deutsches St Leger victress Hey Little Gorl (Ger) (Sternkoenig {Ger})–who provided Gorlsdorf with its first Classic winner–and Born to Run (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}), last year’s German champion 2-year-old. This from a population of about 20 mares bred each year. A former National Stud of East Germany founded more than 130 years ago, Gorlsdorf was later purchased by Lafrentz’s father-in-law, he explained.
“It was always a Thoroughbred stud, and after the war the government was thinking about closing it,” Lafrentz said. “My father-in-law bought the farm and renovated it, and got new bloodlines. We kept some of the good, old East German families because they are very soundly bred, and we put some fresh blood into it. In the end it has worked not too bad.”
Today, Gorlsdorf is home to between 40 and 50 mares, and that population also includes the Lafrentz’s “old ladies.”
“We don’t sell old mares,” Lafrentz explained. “We have what we call the retirement field, where all the old ladies hang around.”
In addition to providing their mares a retirement home, Lafrentz was quick to point out the operation’s other steadfast rule: to never force their foals to travel.
“When we [have a mating the requires long distance travel] we will not cover the mare the next year,” he said. “So the foal will not leave the stud. From Gorlsdorf to Ireland is a two-day drive, back is a two-day drive, and for a little foal that’s not a good idea.”
The Lafrentz’s embarked on what would mark a significant turning point in their career as breeders when visiting the Tattersalls December sale in 2010. A young Monsun (Ger) mare named Sanwa (Ger), an unraced full-sister to G1 Deutsches Derby winners Schiaparelli (Ger) and Samum (Ger) and G1 Preis Der Diana victress Salve Regina (Ger), was being offered for sale in foal to Sea the Stars, and they decided to get in on the action.
“A good friend of ours, a German breeder as well, went out at 150,000gns, and we thought maybe we’d go a little more, so we bid and then we found out that the consignors were bidding against us, so we stopped bidding.” Sanwa was led out of the ring unsold at 200,000gns, but less than two days later Lafrentz struck a deal.
“They were asking ‘for how much above 200,000gns would you like to buy her?’ I told them, ‘wrong question–for how much less than 200,000gns do you want to sell her?,’” he explained. “He said no, but I took gave him my mobile number. One-and-a-half days later we made a private sale.”
The following April, Sanwa foaled a plain bay colt in the mold of his sire. Lafrentz described Sea the Moon as a “darling” from the day of his arrival.
“From the beginning, he was charming,” he said. “He was a nice boy–c;urious and interested. He was always easy, we never had any problems with him. He’s everyone’s darling. Everyone fell in love with him from the beginning. He shows you he’s something special.”
Like his dam, Sea the Moon was led out of the Tattersalls ring unsold, failing to meet his reserve at 230,000gns at Tattersalls October. He entered training with Markus Klug as a 2-year-old, winning first out by four lengths at Cologne last September in a J “TDN Rising Star” J performance. Sea the Moon was shelved until May 11, when he returned with a victory in the G3 Fuhjahrs-Preis Des Bankhauses Metzler at Frankfurt, and he added the the G2 Oppenheim-Union-Rennen June 15. Sea the Moon took the stretch out to 12 furlongs completely in his stride when demolishing the opposition by 11 facile lengths in the Deutsches Derby July 6. He is now the 4-1 favorite to emulate his sire with a victory in the Oct. 5 G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and will be seen next in Sunday’s G1 Grosser Preis in Baden-Baden.
When asked about Sea the Moon’s plans beyond the Arc, Lafrentz noted that the Gorlsdorf star would remaining in training next year if he was happy and healthy.
“Plan A is to go normal European route and race as a 4-year-old,” he explained. “He will tell us if he wants to run–if he is sound and happy. A lot depends on the Arc, and we’ve told everybody–including all the people who want to buy shares or stand him–we will decide the future around Christmas.”
Despite Sea the Moon’s immediate future, Lafrentz was firm in stating that his homebred would not leave Europe for stud duties, or shuttle.
“He will not leave Europe, that’s for sure,” Lafrentz said. “It will be France, Germany, England or Ireland. And he will not shuttle.”
Keeping with Gorlsdorf policy, Sanwa was not bred in 2011 after foaling Sea the Moon. She produced a full-sister to Sea the Moon last year, named Sea the Sun (Ger), who was purchased by Sea the Stars’ owner Christopher Tsui for 320,000gns as a weanling at Tattersalls December last year. Sea the Sun will go into training with John Oxx, trainer of Sea the Stars. Sanwa is currently in foal to Lord of England, and Lafrentz said he is hoping for another filly to continue her legacy.
In the meantime, the Lafrentz’s will have more than just Sea the Moon to look forward to as the European flat racing season comes to a close. Wunder, who suffered a minor injury when fifth as the favorite in the Preis Der Diana Aug. 3, will head straight to the G1 Prix de l’Opera on the Arc undercard. Berlin Berlin (GB) (Dubai Destination), a filly Gorlsdorf purchased for 97,000gns at Tattersalls October in 2010 and who won the May 28 Listed Preis der Badan-Badener, will join Sea the Moon in the Grosser Preis before targetting the G2 Prix Royallieu at Longchamp the day before the Arc. Born to Run, who Gorlsdorf sold, was injured earlier this year prior to an intended run in the Deutsches Derby, but is expected to contest the Deutsches St Leger Sept. 21.
