Deauville

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...

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. Thursday's Observations features a relative of Group 2 winner Eminent (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). 4.38 Deauville, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT WILLIAM TELL (FR) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) at €420,000 was the joint-second highest-priced lot at last year's Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale and debuts days after that auction's topper Denmark...

Deauville's four-week bonanza begins on Tuesday with an array of class across four pattern races headed by the G1 Prix Rothschild, which brings together two of Europe's leading fillies in Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and Tenebrism (Caravaggio). While the former's stamina for this mile is assured and proven, TDN Rising Star Tenebrism has yet to confirm that the trip is within reach. Saffron Beach, who had already displayed her quality at this level when overpowering her rivals in Newmarket's G1 Sun Chariot S. in October, arguably performed to...

Tuesday's G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville will see the July 10 G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio) take on her elders for the first time, with Jane Chapple-Hyam saddling the June 15 G2 Duke of Cambridge S. winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}). Among the other six confirmed for the mile contest for fillies and mares is Haras de Saint Pair's May 22 G2 Lanwades Stud S. scorer Pearls Galore (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Yeguada Centurion's May 8 G2 Prix du Muguet winner Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel...

Australian super mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) will miss Tuesday's G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville and will be aimed instead at the G1 Prix Jean Romanet over 2,000 metres later in the month. In a statement on Twitter on Friday morning, her trainer Francis Graffard said, "Following her last bit of serious work yesterday we have decided not to declare Verry Elleegant for the G1 Prix Rothschild on Tuesday, 2 August. She is telling us that she needs a bit more time and, having discussed it with her owners,...

Australian sprinter Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) will remain in Europe for a crack at another Group 1 after running a credible third in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday.  Sam and Anthony Freedman's speedball backed up his excellent third in the G1 Platinum Jubilee at Royal Ascot by filling the same spot at Newmarket and connections are eyeing a breakthrough at the top level in Europe this season.  The decision has now been taken to remain in the Northern Hemisphere for the immediate future, with the six-and-a-half-furlongs...

Clive Cox, one of the best in the game in Britain, has made his name by conjuring top sprinters almost out of thin air and another has emerged from the stable's seemingly inexhaustible reserves in Harry Three (GB) (Adaay {Ire}). Making substantial leaps with each outing now, the bay went from a smooth win in a Newmarket handicap May 14 to another success in a much more competitive version at York June 11 which contained the week's July Festival scorer Lethal Levi (GB) (Lethal Force {Ire}) and the subsequent G3...

Delivering the potent acceleration that had seen her claim joint-champion status among the juvenile fillies in the G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket in September, TDN Rising Star Tenebrism (Caravaggio) was firmly in command under optimum conditions in Deauville's seven-furlong G1 Haras d'Etreham Prix Jean Prat on Sunday. Able to draft in mid-pack early, Ballydoyle's 13-2 shot who sports the Westerberg silks was unleashed between Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and Rozgar (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and after gaining the lead 100 metres from the line stayed on strongly to...

The 315-strong Arqana September Yearling Sale catalogue was released on Friday. Slated for Sept. 8-9, the sale will offer a selection of forward and mature yearlings, and is an substitute and extension of the v.2 Yearling Sale that was traditionally held directly after the August Yearling Sale in Deauville. Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}), a €40,000 purchase out of the v.2 Sale, went on to win the G1 French 1000 Guineas. One of only two Wootton Bassett (GB) yearlings in the catalogue is lot 217, a son of Group...

The Arqana Series, five races for colts and fillies offered at the Deauville sales, will be unveiled in 2023. The series, which will be contested between Deauville and ParisLongchamp, will offer £1.2 million in guaranteed minimum prize money. Races will highlight the August Meeting at Deauville (Aug. 10) and the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend (Sept. 30). Eligible sales for the 2023 series are: 2022 August Yearling Sale 2022 September Yearling Sale 2022 October Yearling Sale 2022 November Yearling Sale 2023 Breeze Up Sale (2-year-olds) Additionally, foals that...

Demand for horses-in-training under both codes and breeding stock was at a premium in Deauville, as the Arqana Summer Sale wrapped its two-day stand on Friday. Towering over the proceedings was the €1.2-million purchase Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 421), who caught the eye of BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe acting on behalf of Yulong Investments. The daughter of three-time French listed-placed mare Power of The Moon (Ire) (Acclamation {GB) was bred by Haras Voltaire and consigned by trainer Philippe Decouz. Formerly an Ecurie Griezmann colourbearer, the relative of dual group...

A son of Medaglia d'Oro (lot 33) topped the first session of the Arqana Summer Sale at €220,000 in Deauville on Thursday. Offered by MC Thoroughbred, Marco Bozzi Bloodstock snapped up the May third foal, with Bozzi bidding beside Alessandro Botti on behalf of Prince Saud bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. "He's a lovely colt by Medaglia d'Oro, a stallion that has had a lot of success in Saudi Arabia," said the agent. "We've been following the colt for a while already, and we went to see him in...