Deauville

It had to happen and thankfully it did. Frankie's final ride at Deauville was one for the memory store on Sunday, as one of the world's finest of all time engineered a super-smooth eighth victory in the G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois out of Cheveley Park Stud's Rolls Royce Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Starscope {GB}, by Selkirk). Showing why he is and has been so prominent in his trade for so long, the Italian judged the pace set by Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) to...

The Curragh stages Europe's first Group 1 contest for the current crop of 2-year-olds on Saturday and it is fair to say that a Keeneland Phoenix S. without the anticipated presence of River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is up for grabs. While Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore contingent opted to send the G2 Coventry S.-winning 'TDN Rising Star' to Deauville for the Prix Morny, the way is clear for another 'TDN Rising Star' son of that sire to step into his place. Unquestionable (Fr) has the obstacle of yet...

Always talented but frustratingly for King Power Racing just below what is required at the top level in his native England, Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has made successful overseas raids his main business and the travel-hungry sprinter is a notable first-timer at Deauville on Sunday for the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. Five trips to Ireland have resulted in a 100% win record, with The Curragh's G2 Greenlands S. and G2 Sapphire S. among this year's tally so it will be fascinating to see if his debut outing...

'Depuis 1875' is proudly printed under the name of Haras de Meautry on the website of the renowned French nursery, and longevity is a key factor at the Rothschild family's stud in varied respects.  For almost 150 years, the  breeding of Thoroughbreds has taken place at the farm at Touques, just outside Deauville, which was at one stage part of an even greater operation and included land which is now occupied by an international showjumping centre in Deauville itself. The Rothschild family has been intrinsically linked not just to Normandy,...

Some choice 2-year-olds were on display at Deauville on Sunday and Gerard Augustin-Normand's Laulne (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was among the pick as she captured the seven-furlong G3 Prix Six Perfections Sky Sports Racing. Always travelling with intent buried in mid-pack under man-of-the-moment Alexis Pouchin, the Yann Barberot-trained 9-1 shot who had won two races in the provinces burst to the front with 150 metres remaining and held on by half a length from the G2 Prix Robert Papin third Classic Flower (GB) (Calyx {GB}). Laulne, who began her career over...

Baron Edouard De Rothschild's Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}--Penne {Fr}, by Sevres Rose {Ire}) had uninspiring credentials heading into the race carrying her owner-breeder's family name at Deauville on Sunday, but what she lacked in credible form was made up for by the fact that she is under the care of Andre Fabre. Saddling a one-two in the first group 1 of the Deauville August festival for good measure as the French fillies came to the fore, the Chantilly maestro was bringing the half-sister to the G1 Grand Prix...

Deauville's month-long racing fest is back upon us on Sunday, with the G1 Prix Rothschild the key event on a talent-packed card. British and Irish interests always excel at this meeting, so the first port of call must be the reinvented miler Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who was able to transfer the scintillating speed she had shown over middle distances of late to this trip in Royal Ascot's G2 Duke of Cambridge S. The pride and joy of Tom Clover's stable may have found an ideal opportunity to garner...

Over 300 colts and fillies have been nominated to the first edition of the four-race juvenile Arqana Series, and those fees plus Arqana's €500,000 contribution have increased the total prize-money for the races reserved for Thoroughbreds born in 2021 from €1.2 million to €1.5 million. A total of €1.36 million will be distributed to the owners and €140,000 will be allocated to the vendors of the winning horses. Prize-money will be dispersed from first to fifth place. The four races will be held on Aug. 17--the €200,000 Arqana Series des...

Reprising his winning performance in Deauville's G3 Prix Djebel in April, Hisaaki Saito's Good Guess (GB) (Kodiac {GB}--Zykina {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) upset some big names with no hint of fluke as he powered to success over the same seven-furlong trip in Sunday's G1 Haras d'Etreham Prix Jean Prat. Sent off at 24-1 having failed to further his claims as an elite runner when sixth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and second in the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac, the Fabrice Chappet-trained grandson of Cheveley Park's champion Russian...

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. Sunday's Observations features a half-brother to dual Group 1 winner and sire Recoletos (Fr). 14.33 Deauville, Debutantes, €50,000, 2yo, f, 6fT MONTE SANCHA (FR) (Frankel {GB}) is a significant member of this valuable Prix de Lisieux, being a full-sister to the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and G1...

The second and final day of the Arqana Summer Sale featured both breeding stock and horses in training, and it was one of the latter contingent, La Filomena (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (lot 480), who proved the most expensive at €395,000 on a bid from Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock on behalf of Speriamo Bloodstock's Larry Young. Offered by Jean-Claude Rouget, who led the way as a vendor during the second day with six sold for a gross of €734,000, the George Kent-bred 3-year-old filly placed at two and...