Ecurie des Monceaux

Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' and G1 Futurity Trophy hero Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Golden Valentine {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) had yet to fire on all cylinders this year and bounced back from an eighth in last month's G1 Derby to regain the winning thread in Thursday's G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket. The 6-4 favourite went forward to assume control after the initial strides of this 13-furlong test. Holding sway thereafter, he was asked to stretch with three furlongs remaining and kept finding for pressure inside the final quarter-mile to comfortably...

Yann Barberot trainee Lhakpa (Ire) (Siyouni {Ire}--Enchanting Skies {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), a €650,000 Arqana August half-sister to last term's G3 Prix La Rochette victor and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere third Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), made a winning debut when getting up late in Saturday's seven-furlong Prix des Belles Demoiselles at Compiegne. 1st-Compiegne, €30,000, Mdn, 6-22, unraced 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:30.74, sf. LHAKPA (IRE) (f, 2, Siyouni {Fr}--Enchanting Skies {Ire} {SP-Fr}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) recovered from a sluggish exit to track the leaders in...

Starlet's Sister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the dam of Sottsass (Fr) and Sistercharlie (Ire), has died at Ecurie des Monceaux after an attack of colic at the age of 14. Bred by Prestonwood Farm from the Green Tune mare Premiere Creation (Fr), Starlet's Sister was winless in four starts when trained by Alain de Royer Dupre but has nevertheless left her mark on racing in Europe and America, as well as in the Arqana sale ring in Deauville.  Her first mating with Myboycharlie (Ire) resulted in Sistercharlie (Ire), whose Group 3...

DEAUVILLE, France--The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe trophy, a pared-down replica of Paris's mighty monument, was in residence at the Arqana restaurant, where diners were treated to a complimentary glass of champagne courtesy of the owners of Ace Impact (Fr), Serge Stempniak and Kamel Chehboub. Some of us had work to do, however, and a solid opening day of Arqana's October Yearling Sale had more than a little fizz about it here and there.  Frankel (GB) may rule at Tattersalls, but in Deauville we are in the court of France's...

DEAUVILLE, France--First went the Irish, then the French. For some, it was a woeful weekend in the sporting world outside horseracing as the Rugby World Cup quarter finals left only England standing among the European nations to go forward to the next round at the Stade de France.  Plenty of sales folk huddled around the screen at Deauville racecourse on Sunday evening to see the home team's dreams shattered, but by Monday morning the focus was fully back on the horses and the next week of yearling action ahead.  Before...

Godolphin's €2-million Arqana August 'TDN Rising Star' Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Golden Valentine {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}), who ran third to subsequent G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagradere victor Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) in July's Listed Pat Eddery S., came back off a 77-day sabbatical to trounce his six-strong opposition in Saturday's Emirates Autumn S. at Newmarket. Positioned off the clear leader in third until taking closer order once past halfway, the 2-1 joint-favourite seized control approaching the final furlong and powered clear of toiling rivals up the hill to easily...

Yann Barberot trainee Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Enchanting Skies {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), who went three-for-three in July's Listed Prix Roland de Chambure at Deauville when last seen, continued his impressive rise through the grades with a comfortable victory in Sunday's G3 Prix La Rochette at ParisLongchamp. The 3-10 favourite, who attained 'TDN Rising Star' status at Chantilly in May, was under a firm hold off the pace in fourth through the initial fractions of this pattern-race bow. Making smooth headway into contention in the straight, he...

Marc Chan's 2021 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Cercle De La Vie {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) had been in and out of form in eight outings since registering those career highlights as a juvenile and backed up a fourth in last month's G2 Summer Mile with a last-gasp win in Saturday's G2 William Hill Celebration Mile at Goodwood. Fourth through halfway and scrubbed along approaching the quarter-mile marker, the 9-2 chance was afforded a dream seam underneath the stands' side rail...

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry DEAUVILLE, France--It was the bloodstock sales equivalent of a mic drop: two lots, five minutes, €3 million. Boom. Coomore has long nurtured its partnerships, and with Peter Brant, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Georg von Opel's Westerberg, the Magnier-led operation has enjoyed plentiful success. Most notably this season that has come with Paddington (GB), a multiple Group 1-winning son of Siyouni (Fr) bred by Dayton Investments at Ecurie des Monceaux, and it was to that nursery that the team turned again, signing for the...

The third millionaire of the Arqana August Yearling Sale was lot 244, a son of French Champion Sire Siyouni (Fr) and Hourglass (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Knocked down for €2.2 million to MV Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, the May colt was consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux. His dam is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and sire Shamardal (Giant's Causeway). Under the G1 Irish Oaks-winning third dam Helen Street (GB) (Troy {GB}) is G1 Dubai World Cup and GI Stephen Foster H. hero Street Cry (Ire) (Machiavellian),...

By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin DEAUVILLE, France--In the week that it was confirmed that Diane Wildenstein's breeding operation Dayton Investments has been sold to the Wertheimer brothers, a Dubawi (Ire) yearling from one of the most recognisable Wildenstein families became the first seven-figure yearling in Europe this season. When there are yearlings by Darley's flagship stallion on the market, it is often a safe bet that Sheikh Mohammed will be interested. With the Ruler of Dubai in attendance in Deauville, the day's top lot (21) was duly sold to...

Lot 21, a son of Dubawi (Ire) and the Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare Pretty Spirit (GB), was the first yearling to break the seven-figure mark at Deauville's Arqana August Yearling Sale when selling for €1.25 million to Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin on Friday. Consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux, the bay is out of a half-sister to three-time Group 1 winner Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who has his first yearlings this year. This is the extended family of G1 Prix Ganay hero Planteur (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).  ...