Deauville

A quintet of wildcards have been added to the upcoming Arqana Autumn Sale on Nov. 18-21. Led by 1300-metre heroine Lilas Trezy (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) (lot 423), the fivesome will sell on Nov. 18. The other lots are all National Hunt offerings: winning hurdlers La Pagaille (Fr) (Choeur Du Nord {Fr}) (lot 458) and Becasse (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}) (lot 464), placed AQPS hurdler Le Tiep's Sacre (Fr) (It's Gino {Ger}) (lot 465) and Keyreine Du Seuil (Fr) (Masterstroke) (lot 466), third in a listed chase at Auteuil. For the full...

After five days of selling that saw a pair of €500,000 yearling colts by Night Of Thunder (Ire) and Kingman (GB) share topper honours, the Arqana October Yearling Sale concluded with a second day of Part III in Deauville. The clearance rate for 604 sold from 730 offered was 83% for an aggregate of €29,413,000 (+12%). This year marked the fifth consecutive October Sale reached 80% or higher. In addition, the total average was €48,251) (+9%), nearing the elusive €50,000 mark for the first time. The median also rose 14%...

A filly by Toronado (Ire) (lot 535) showed the way during the fourth day of the Arqana October Yearling Sale and the first day of Part III. Consigned by Hestia Farm, she was purchased for €50,000 by Nicolas Clement, John Hammond and TS Bloodstock on behalf of new syndicate Racing France. Clement and Hammond have been busy sourcing horses for Racing France this season, and there are now approximately 10 horses involved so far. The idea behind Racing France is to encourage overseas owners to get involved in shared ownership...

Part II of the October Yearling Sale kicked off on Wednesday with another 124 lots going through the Arqana sales ring, headed by a Showcasing (GB) colt from the Haras du Mont Dit Mont consignment who went the way of Ross Doyle and Meridian International for €170,000. It was another notable result for the Mont Dit Mont team after they sold the Night Of Thunder (Ire) colt who shared top billing on Tuesday when bought by trainer Yann Barberot for €500,000. Lot 235 is out of the Dream Ahead mare...

While torrential rain had poured over Deauville in the last few days, a late summer atmosphere floated around the Arqana sales complex when the first lot made its way through the ring for the October Yearling Sale. In the wake of buoyant renewals of the Tattersalls October Book 1 and Book 2 sessions, the opening day set new records for both average and median price, at €104,882 (+15%) and €73,500 (+5%), respectively. Eighty-six percent of the 197 yearlings on offer changed hands, a 4% increase from a year ago, and...

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. Monday's Observations features a TDN Rising Star stepping up in grade. 16.53 Deauville, Group 3, €80,000, 2yo, f, 8fT SANDTRAP (IRE) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) earned TDN Rising Star status with her impressive debut win at Salisbury last month and heads to Deauville to contest this G3 Darley Prix...

In a new partnership between the Aga Khan Studs and France Galop, it was announced on Thursday that the racing and breeding operation of His Highness the Aga Khan has committed to an across-the-card sponsorship of Prix Jacques le Marois day at Deauville from 2025. For nearly 40 years the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, which boasts prize-money of €1 million, was sponsored by the Niarchos family whose long association with the race included nine victories in their familiar silks. The legendary Miesque was the first when winning back-to-back editions...

Tres Magnifique (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}), the dam of G1 Sun Chariot Stakes heroine Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), will be offered at Arqana's Vente d'Elevage. The sale runs from Dec. 7-10. Consigned by Gestut Etzean, the 11-year-old mare will go under the hammer on the sale's first day, Saturday, Dec. 7. Carrying to Soldier Hollow, Tres Magnifique is out of the listed winner Ticana (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}), a sister to the group-placed Timos (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}), and a half-sister to Group 1 winner Sea Calisi (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}), and multiple...

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. Wednesday's Observations features a 1.2 million euro Arqana August graduate Silver Peak (Dubawi).   17.50 Kempton, Novice, £9,900, 2yo, 7fT SILVER PEAK (FR) (Dubawi {Ire}) was the second-highest-priced colt at Arqana Deauville August when selling to Godolphin for €1.25million and Charlie Appleby deems it time to unveil him at...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features runners with American connections as well as the half-sister to dual Group 1 heroine Integral (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}). 14.58 Deauville, Mdn, €30,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT Repole Stable's 280,000gns Craven Breeze-Up acquisition BENNY THE WAITER (IRE) (Blue Point {Ire}), who first went through the ring for €72,000...

DEAUVILLE, France -- While nothing will ever top Derby day as the day in the racing calendar not to be missed, a close second is Prix Morny day in Deauville. Or in fact any racing day in Deauville.  Those mizzly days of autumn with almost nobody there are special in their own aloof way, but Morny day - or Sumbe Prix Morny day to give it its full title - is one that offers something for everyone, whether purist or holidaymaker, in sharp suits or shorts. Probably no course in...

   Firmly back on track following her blip in the Musidora, George Strawbridge's Friendly Soul (GB) (Kingman {GB}--In Clover {GB}, by Inchinor {GB}) backed up her latest win in Ascot's G3 Valiant Stakes with another in Sunday's G2 Sumbe Prix Alec Head at Deauville. Returning to the 10-furlong trip over which she had impressed in Newmarket's Listed Pretty Polly Stakes and disappointed in York's Oaks trial in May, the John and Thady Gosden-trained homebred was sent to the front soon after the start by Kieran Shoemark as she had been...