MONSUN (by Konigsstuhl) was one of the greatest of all German flat sires, and although he has sons who have sired classic winners, or even been crowned champion sire, his line is as popular, if not more so, in the National Hunt sector.

Well-known to jumps breeders and followers as being the sire of Network, Arcadio, Getaway, Shirocco, and others of note, his most successful flat sire son is Manduro, the world’s top-rated racehorse of 2007.

He is a member of the Darley stallion team, he will soon start his fourth season at Haras du Logis, and his six Group/Grade 1 stars include Vazirabad, Ribbons, and Ultra, the latter a leading classic contender following his victory in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Grand Criterium at Longchamp in October.

His roll of honour also includes the Italian Group 1 scorer Charity Line, whose wins include the Group 2 Oaks d’Italia, and the Brazilian-born Braco Forte whose two wins at the highest level include that country’s equivalent of the 2000 Guineas.

All good flat sires tend to come up with a few who excel under National Hunt rules, and Manduro struck recently with both the Haydock Grade 3 scorer Baradari and with Rashaan, unbeaten winner of the Grade 3 Bar One Racing Juvenile Hurdle over two miles at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

The latter, who was bred by the Aga Khan, was unplaced over seven furlongs at Dundalk in January, his only start on the flat, but he joined the Colin Kidd stable during the summer, sprang a 33/1 surprise on his hurdling debut at Roscommon and then followed up with a seven-length score at Listowel before last week’s 13-length success.

He has made an exciting start to his career and, at this point of the season, there would appear to be few, if any, juveniles better than him.

Rashaan is out of the 10-furlong winner Rayyana (by Rainbow Quest), and although his siblings include the successful hurdlers Rayak (by Invincible Spirit) and Rayadour (by Azamour), the most notable of his dam’s progeny is Rayeni (by Indian Ridge) who won the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes and the Listed Waterford Testimonial Stakes and chased home Mastercraftsman in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas.

He retired to stud at Haras des Sablonnets in 2012 but has since been gelded and returned to training.

Rayyana is a half-sister to the Group 3 C L Weld Park Stakes winner Rafayda (by Doyoun) and also to Rayshan (by Darshaan) who was third in the Group 3 Curragh Cup before going on to become a triple scorer over hurdles and four-times winner over fences.

Their dam Rayseka (by Dancing Brave) won the Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes and the Listed Oaks Trial, she was runner-up in both the Group 1 Irish St Leger and Group 2 Prix de Royallieu, and her other descendants include Raydiya (by Marju), who is the stakes-winning dam of last year’s Group 2 Debutante Stakes scorer Raydara (by Rock Of Gibraltar).

Rashaan’s third dam is the Group 3 Prix Vanteaux third Rilasa (by St Paddy), and in addition to being the grandam of the Group 2 Prix Hocquart winner Rifapour (by Shahrastani), she is the mare from whom the Group 1 stars Kinnaird (by Dr Devious) and Ridasiyna (by Motivator) descend.

The relationship of those two fillies to Rashaan is remote, and although he is bred to be a high-class racehorse, he has found an outlet for his talent that is quite different to what suited his best-known family members.