Kendargent may only have had seven first-crop runners in 2011 but four of them are winners, the most notable of which being Restiadargent, whose victories include the Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg, in which the runner-up, Kendam, was also a daughter of Kendargent.

France’s leading first-season sire Kendargent

Kendam has since gone on to win the Group 3 Prix Eclipse and her success, along with that of Restiardargent, has greatly aided her sire in becoming France’s leading freshman, which will have brought double delight for Guy Pariente, who not only owns and bred both fillies but also stands Kendargent at his Haras de Colleville just outside Deauville. Pariente bought the son of Kendor as a yearling for €45,000 and raced him initially in France, under the care of Yann Fouin, and later in America.

He may be the stud’s sole resident stallion, but Kendargent proved a great lure for visitors during the recent FRBC initiative La Route des Etalons, for which the stallion farms of northern France throw open their doors to breeders from all over Europe for the weekend.

Stud manager Guillaume Vitse confirmed that Kendargent’s book is close to being full for the 2012 season, saying: “We already have 110 mares booked to him and we will stop at 125. We’re very pleased by the interest shown in him.”

Covering a three-figure book of mares will see Kendargent significantly busier than his first season at stud (when standing at Haras de la Roserie) which garnered just 19 foals.