WHAT a pity that Bande (Authorized) languished in Japan for years before he was sourced by Sébastien Desmontils and brought to stand in France. Bred by Kildaragh Stud, he has just turned 16, and returns to stand at Haras de la Haie Neuve this year at a fee of €3,000.

This was where Bande started his second stud career after moving to France for the 2020 season, but last year he spent the season at Haras du Mazat where he covered a respectable book of 62 mares. The change of base was in order to give mare owners in a different region access to the stallion, who covered single figure books of mares in a few seasons in Japan, but even with an almost complete lack of support there he managed to sire a pair of winners.