Deauville

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a son of a Group 1 winner. 13.40 Deauville, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 3yo, c/g, 9 1/2f (AWT) Godolphin's ILES ET AILES (GB) (Shamardal) is an Andre Fabre-trained son of G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Wavering (Ire) (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) and thus kin to a group-placed trio...

The stakes-producer Rasmiya (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), in foal to Tally-Ho Stud's Mehmas (Ire), topped the second and final session of the Arqana February Mixed Sale on Thursday. Offered by the sale's top vendor Haras de Bouquetot, lot 308 made €315,000 from the sale's leading buyer, BBA Ireland. Already the dam of the French listed winner Jouza (Ire) (Toronado {Ire}), the 10-year-old is a half-sister to group winners Above Average (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Sent From Heaven (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), as well as the listed winner Freyja (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire})...

The group heroine Air De Valse (Fr) (Mesnil Des Aigles {Fr}) took top honours during the first session of the Arqana February Mixed Sale on Tuesday. The Bridge Consignment shelled out €240,000 for the 7-year-old G3 Prix du Petit Couvert heroine from the Corine Barande-Barbe draft. Placed in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye in 2021, Air De Valse is a daughter of listed winner Air Bag (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}). Jérôme Glandais, the Director of Haras du Logis Saint-Germain said, "She's been bought for Mr. Benaroussi, who continues to invest in...

G2 Prix du Petite Couvert heroine and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye-placed Air De Valse (Fr) (Mesnil des Aigles {Fr}) (lot 51) is one of 356 lots in Arqana's February Sale catalogue which was released on Friday. Slated for 11 a.m. local time on Feb. 14-15, the sale features horses-in-training on the Flat and over jumps, maidens, broodmares, stores, 2-year-olds, and yearlings. There are also five wild card slots available, three for horses-in-training and two for the breeding stock portion. Joining Air De Valse, is winning debut hurdler Marvin Flight (Fr)...

The catalogue for the Arqana Online January Sale, featuring a 1/50th share in rising stallion star Zarak (Fr) (lot 1), is now online. Featuring nine lots split between breeding rights and stallion shares, the sale will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Standing under the Aga Khan Studs' banner at Haras de Bonneval for €60,000, the son of Dubawi (Ire) and the Arc heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) already has 15 black-type winners to his credit, including the Group 1-placed Times Square (Fr), Purplepay (Fr), and La Parisienne...

4th-Deauville, €27,000, Mdn, 12-16, unraced 2yo, f, 7 1/2f (AWT), 1:31.73, st. QUICKSTEP (FR) (f, 2, Wootton Bassett {GB}--Dance Toupie {Fr}, by Dansili {GB}) was well away from the inside stall to race in a handy third after the opening quarter of this debutantes' heat. Making smooth headway on the bridle in the straight and sent with 300 metres remaining, the even-money pick took a slender advantage into the final furlong and kept on powerfully under whipless coaxing in the closing stages to defeat Sunlike (Fr) (De Treville {GB}) by...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a daughter of Group 1 winner Beauty Parlour (GB). 16.00 Deauville, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 2yo, f, 9 1/2f (AWT) White Birch Farm's hitherto unraced FRENCH BOB (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is a Jean-Claude Rouget-trained daughter of G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Beauty Parlour (GB) (Deep Impact...

It is unquestionable that the cessation of the Head family's operation at Haras du Quesnay is a sad development for French breeding but there is at least one phoenix to rise from those ashes in the launch of the Chehboub family's Haras de Beaumont. Set on 100 acres of land formerly owned by Alec and Ghislaine Head on the Quesnay estate, and just across the road from the chateau, the new operation's proximity to Deauville is one major draw, as is the retirement to the French stallion ranks of the...

Indices remained above average, as a record-breaking Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale concluded in Deauville on Tuesday. Despite more horses on offer, demand remained strong at 80% with 740 head sold of 926 offered. The gross breached the €50-million mark for the first time, totaling €56,800,500. The overall average of €76,757 was up 27%, and the median increased 15% to €17,250. Tuesday's session posted a clearance rate of 83.5%, as 127 sold from 152 for an aggregate of €714,500. The median was unchanged at €3,500, and the average improved 23%...

Ecurie des Monceaux's G2 Rockfel S. heroine Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 195) made €1.55 million to Shadai Farm in the Deauville ring on Saturday. A €350,000 Arqana September Yearling Sale alumni, Hello You was also second in the G3 Albany S. and third in the G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. and G3 Nell Gwyn S. Her dam had brought €710,000 earlier in the day as lot 164, also from the Monceaux draft to BBA Ireland. A half-sister to Signs Of Blessing (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Lucrece is...

Offered as lot 182 by Baroda Stud, multiple group winner Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) changed hands for €1 million to Ted Voute at Arqana. Purchased for Nawara Stud's Prince Faisal of Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) fame, the triple Group 3 winner also ran third in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac among her numerous stakes placings. Group winners Galeota (Ire) (Mujadil), Burnt Sugar (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Brown Sugar (Ire) (Tamayuz) are under the third dam. Voute indicated to the Arqana sales team that the dark bay...

Juddmonte's Simon Mockridge went to €675,000 to acquire G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB})'s weanling half-sister by the late Le Havre (Ire) during Arqana's Vente d'Elevage in Deauville on Saturday. The bay foal was offered as part of the dispersal of Haras du Quesnay as lot 166. Also a half-sister to stakes winner and G2 Prix Greffulhe third Trois Rois (Fr) (Hernando {Fr}), the May foal counts the stakes-placed Trophee (Fr) (Mr. Sidney) as another half-sister. At stud, the latter has produced G2 Moonee Valley...