Ecurie des Monceaux

There was a pair of intriguing newcomers' events staged on Chantilly's Polytrack on Thursday and the fillies' contest saw a taking successful debut for the €700,000 purchase Tigress Of Gaul (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}--Lucerne {GB}, by Frankel {GB}). Sent off the 9-10 favourite for the mile contest, the joint-second highest-priced filly at last year's Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale tracked the leading quartet early under a patient Aurelien Lemaitre. Taking command with 300 metres remaining, the Tim Donworth-trained bay who is owned by Jose Aguirre-Moreno and her breeder Ecurie des Monceaux...

Lot 180, G1 Preis der Diana runner-up Spanish Eyes (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}) sold for €1,300,000 to Hannah Wall at Arqana. Out of G1 Premio Lydia Tesio heroine Sortilege (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), the bay was consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux. The 3-year-old filly is a full-sister to G3 Premio Guido e Alessandro Berardelli winner Sirjan (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}). Bred by Gestut Karlshof, Spanish Eyes was a €95,000 buy-back out of the Arqana October Yearling Sale in 2022.   Offered by @EcurieMonceaux at the #VentedElevage, Preis der Diana-German Oaks (Gr.1) runner-up...

This year's Preis der Diana runner-up Spanish Eyes (Ger) has been added to Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale and will be offered by Ecurie des Monceaux as lot 180 during the opening day of the sale on Saturday, December 7. Trained by Andreas Wohler for owner-breeders Gestut Karlshof, Spanish Eyes made a winning debut over nine furlongs at Hoppegarten in June. That remains her sole victory in five career starts, though she was beaten just a length behind Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) in the Preis der Diana, before running...

Godolphin's €1.25-million Arqana August graduate Silver Peak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Pretty Spirit {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) backed up a debut fourth at Kempton last month to shed maiden status in Thursday's Watch On Racing TV EBF Novice Stakes at Haydock. The eventual winner trailed all four rivals through halfway in the one-mile contest. Coaxed closer in the straight, the 11-8 favourite quickened to the front approaching the furlong pole and was pushed out to assert by an ultimately comfortable two lengths from Sir Dinadan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Silver Peak, a...

The second seven-figure yearling tracing to Platonic (GB) (Zafonic) to sell on Sunday and the new sale topper, lot 270, a filly by St Mark's Basilica (Fr), caught the eye of MV Magnier for €1.7 million. Another consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux, the bay filly is a half-sister to Group 1 winners Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Out of listed winner Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), herself a half-sister to Group 3 winner Pacifique (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), the filly is also a half-sister to Group 3...

Ecurie des Monceaux's lot 249, a filly by Night Of Thunder (Ire), was knocked down to Al Shira'aa Racing during the third session of Arqana's August Yearling Sale in Deauville. The third seven-figure yearling of the sale at €1 million, the daughter of G3 Prix de Lutece victress Paix (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) is a granddaughter of fellow Lutece winner Pacifique (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). This is the family of stakes winner Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and her Group 1-winning daughters Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). She...

Yann Barberot trainee Lhakpa (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}--Enchanting Skies {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), a half-sister to the multiple Group 1-placed Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), followed up a narrow debut victory at Compiegne in June with a 1 3/4-length success in Tuesday's Prix du Mezeray at Deauville. 2nd-Deauville, €34,000, Cond, 8-13, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT, 1:40.49, gd. LHAKPA (IRE) (f, 2, Siyouni {Fr}--Enchanting Skies {Ire} {SP-Fr}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), who posted a narrow victory going seven furlongs at Compiegne in her June 22 debut last time,...

The colt crowned Cartier Horse of the Year in 2021 when he retired as a five-time Group 1 winner; an elite miler who also won five races at the top level, notably at Royal Ascot in both 2020 and 2021; and the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero of 2021, speedy enough to win the previous year's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs. Those three summations alone should give some idea of the calibre of racehorse we're dealing with when it comes to the 2025 crop...

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...