Deauville

by Emma Berry, Brian Sheerin & Sue Finley DEAUVILLE, France--A Shamardal colt with rarity value to add to his illustrious family ties was the sole millionaire yearling during the opening session of the Arqana August Sale when selling for €1.6 million from Gestut Ammerland to Godolphin. Bred by one of the most respected studs in Europe, the close relation to dual Classic winner and leading sire Lope De Vega (Ire) was the stand-out on a day which had a strong clearance rate for an elite sale of 84%, with the...

Flexjet, a private jet company, is the official partner of the Arqana August Sale which begins its three-day run in Deauville on Saturday. The private jet provider will offer a magnum of champagne to the buyers of every yearlings sold for €500,000 or more and to the top vendor of each day. In addition, the Flexjet team will be on hand throughout the sale to share a drink in Yard A or at the bar, Le 360.

  DEAUVILLE, France-There were times at Arqana on Friday when it felt as though navigating your way through the Champs-Elysees roundabout during rush hour would present a far more straightforward task than slaloming between the scores of yearlings around the sales complex on the eve of the August Sale. It was predictably busy at Barn B, where Felix Lepeudry of Elevage de Tourgeville, readied a six-strong draft to be inspected by two heavyweights from either corner of the globe underneath a clear blue sky and a welcome breeze. Getting their...

DEAUVILLE, France -- Haras de Beaufay is one of the new names on the list of consignors this August at Arqana and its debut draft of two yearlings is in line with the farm manager's ambition to take things "step by step" as the new team carves out a reputation in a competitive field. The stud, based near Gace in Normandy, was bought in 2016 by Czech breeder Jiri Travinicek, who set about turning it into a semi-commercial broodmare farm for his own mares and those owned by clients. Three...

Some of the gloss has been wiped away from Sunday's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville after Maljoom (GB) (Caravaggio) was taken out of the race due to a dirty scope. Trained by William Haggas, Maljoom emerged as one of the most eye-catching losers of the week at Royal Ascot when flashing home for fourth in the St James's Palace S. Maljoom had already won the German 2,000 Guineas earlier in the season and had been on course to bid for a breakthrough Group 1 triumph in France. However,...

Gwen Monneraye and Lucie Lamotte, collectively known as La Motteraye Consignment, have come a long way since setting up their business in December 2009 with €92 in their pocket. Less than a decade later they topped France's premier yearling sale in 2018 when selling a Dubawi (Ire) colt out of Just The Judge (Ire) for €1.4 million, and at this year's Arqana August Sale their draft is headed by another yearling with two Classic-winning parents. The Sea The Stars (Ire) filly, who will have the lot number 234 attached to...

Blue Diamond Stud is by no means a new name in the industry, and it has been in the news plenty this season courtesy of the dual Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), but where it has not been seen before is on the list of yearling consignors. That changes this week with the stud's debut selling yearlings under its own banner at the Arqana August Sale. And as debuts go, it is a pretty dazzling one as the stud's owner Imad Al Sagar will be offering a sibling...

Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Pure Illusion {Ire}, by Danehill) had issued a warning to the sprinting ranks with a dynamic success in the May 11 G2 1895 Duke of York S. and the John Quinn-trained mare followed through at Deauville on Sunday when dominating the 6 1/2-furlong G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest. Sixth but in the mix at the end of Royal Ascot's G1 Platinum Jubilee S. in the interim June 18, the 16-1 shot was full of energy early with Jason Hart keen to keep some...

Deauville hosts its second Group 1 contest of the August festival on Sunday, with the 6 1/2-furlong ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest representing a niche for the staying sprinters of which Godolphin's Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is prominent. Coming of age this term with success in Royal Ascot's G1 Platinum Jubilee S. June 18, he beat everything that re-opposed from that contest again in Newmarket's G1 July Cup July 9 only to find Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) too strong. Some of them are here too, but this...

Ocean Vision became the first stakes winner for his three-time Group 1-winning sire (by War Front) with a rallying victory in the Listed Prix de la Valley d'Auge at Deauville on Saturday. A winner at first asking at Dundalk in April, the bay was fourth in his next two starts including the May 21 G3 Marble Hill S. at the Curragh to subsequent Group 2 winner Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never). One of the longer shots on the board, the Tim Donworth trainee raced near the tail of the field...

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. Saturday's Observations features a daughter of superproducer Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). 1.20 Newmarket, Debutantes, £8,000, Mdn, 2yo, 7fT JALAPA (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}) is one of the first of the bluebloods to appear on a fascinating Saturday and the half-sister to Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) represents the...

Aside from perhaps the odd delay at the Channel Tunnel for British-based visitors heading to Deauville, the Arqana August Sale should be just about back to normal this year for the first time since 2019. A loaded plane will jet in direct from Saratoga on Thursday morning, when the scene will be set for three days of trade at the auction which routinely acts as the bellwether for the European yearling market. Small changes to the format can be found this year in the fact that the August Sale is...