Almanzor (Fr)

A colt from the second crop of Almanzor (Fr) led the first day of the Osarus Yearling Sale in La Teste de Buch and will join the stable of Jean-Claude Rouget after being bought by MAB Agency for €50,000. Lot 102 was consigned by breeder Haras de Saint Vincent and is a son of the listed-placed Dutch Art (GB) mare Passion Blanche (GB), a descendant of the great Meon Valley Stud matron Reprocolor (GB). Her sole winner to date is the 4-year-old Whitehaven (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who has won...

DEAUVILLE, France--The second and final session of the select part of the Arqana August Sale lit up in ebullient fashion with two seven-figure yearlings, including the €2.4-million sale topper by Dubawi, a half-sister to Group 2 winner Babylone (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Charlie Gordon-Watson made a significant impact on the day's action when acting for an unnamed client and signed for the filly (lot 108) out of Typique (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) shortly after bidding €525,000 for lot 99, a filly by Frankel (GB). The sale leader was consigned by Haras...

Haras d'Etreham-based Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when Francis-Henri Graffard trainee Faro de San Juan (Ire) notched a debut win in Chantilly's Prix du Soleil de Bretagne. Prominent throughout, the 160,000gns Tattersalls December foal and 13-10 favourite ran on well in the closing stages of the 5 1/2-furlong newcomers' test to score by a half length from Perfect Colour (GB) (Ultra {Ire}). 2nd-Chantilly, €27,000, Mdn, 4-26, unraced 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:04.74, gd. FARO DE SAN JUAN (IRE) (c, 2, Almanzor {Fr}--Fixette...

It's that time of year: with just weeks to go to the start of the turf season, thoughts are turning to which of this year's freshman sires will be making a splash with their first runners. With 26 European first-crop stallions to consider, we have asked the views of those who have seen a good range of young stock at the sales. Today we speak with Oliver St Lawrence. "I loved the Almanzors at the yearling sales last year," St Lawrence said. "I think he'll be the stallion of this...

Breeders and buyers anticipating the upcoming first 2-year-olds by Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Europe were provided a boost in recent weeks at the sales in Australia and New Zealand, where the triple Group 1 winner's first Southern Hemisphere yearlings were warmly received. After his three yearlings sold at Magic Millions averaged A$506,666 with a top price of A$800,000, Almanzor went on to be leading first-season sire at Karaka Book 1 with 43 sold for an average of NZ$190,698. Almanzor, who is based at his birthplace Haras d'Etreham in...

A quartet of wild cards, to be auctioned on Dec. 5, have been added to the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale. There is a 1/50th share in young stallion and champion Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (lot 190) on offer. Three fillies have also joined the Dec. 5-8 sale, with Petite Folie (GB) (Australia {GB}) being offered by La Motteraye Consignment as lot 150. She is a half-sister to Classic winner and MG1SW Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}). Andrea Marcialis sends Listed Prix de la Vallee d'Auge heroine Bonita Queen...

During the Nov. 24 sale of breeding rights and stallion shares on Arqana Online, a breeding right in champion first-season sire elect Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) (lot 2) brought €195,000 from Haras du Mont-dit-Mont. Already the sire of 48 winners, 10 black-type performers and four black-type winners led by G1 Middle Park S. hero Supremacy (Ire), the young stallion will command €25,000 at Tally-Ho Stud in 2021. A breeding right to four-time Group 1 winner Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) (lot 3), whose oldest foals are three, went for...

Champion and MG1SW Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who will have his first 2-year-olds in 2021, leads the Haras d'Etreham roster at €30,000, the French stud announced on Sunday. Also a shuttle stallion to Cambridge Stud in the Southern Hemisphere, a 1/50th share in the Cartier champion 3-year-old colt of 2016 was bought for €310,000 at the Arqana Online Sale this past Wednesday and his yearlings have been well received, selling for up to €280,000. Joining him at €30,000 is  Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}-Pretty Please {Ire}, by Dylan Thomas...

Six stallion shares and breeding rights were available during the Arqana Online sale on Wednesday, and the top lot was a 1/50th share of European highweight Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) that went for €310,000. The share, lot 6, was purchased by Elwick Stud and allows two nominations annually. The Haras d'Etreham resident, whose oldest foals are yearlings, sits second by average on the TDN European First-Crop Sires Sales Statistics page, with 14 yearlings sold for an average of $119,463. A breeding right in leading first-season sire Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation...

Arqana announced six shares and breeding rights to top European stallions will be offered during an online auction at www.arqanaonline. Bidding is scheduled to commence Wednesday, Nov. 4 at noon (12:00p.m.) and conclude at 6:00 p.m. (local time). The lots on offer are: Lot 1: a share (1/50th) in Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) - The share gives right to one nomination every year, plus one extra nomination in 2022 and then every other year. The Aga Khan Studs' sire currently sits in second position on the European stallion rankings by...

With the yearling sales now in full swing, TDN quizzes industry figures on past purchases, life during lockdown and their perspective on the sales over the next few weeks. Today, Alex Elliott answers our questions. TDN: What was your best yearling purchase over the last few years? And your favourite? AE: Group 2 winner New Mandate (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) is a horse that has quickly become both one of my favourite and best purchases. He was bought at last year's Arqana August Yearling Sale for €35,000 and was the...

The 784-strong Arqana-Osarus October Yearling Sale catalogue is now online. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the sale has been completely restructured combining the Arqana October Yearling Sale and the Osarus September Yearling Sale, running from Oct. 19-Oct. 23. Alumni of the October sale include Group 3 winner and dual Classic bridesmaid The Summit (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), G1 Prix Jean Romanet scorer Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), MGISW Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), G1 French 1000 Guineas runner-up Speak of the Devil (Fr) (Wootton Basset {GB}), and GSWs Policy of...