Haras Voltaire

What better accompaniment to a global fashion business, Parisian hotel and fabulous art collection than a Thoroughbred stud farm? Nothing, right? This was apparently the conclusion reached by Thierry Gillier, the founder of the uber-cool Zadig & Voltaire label, whose appropriation of the nom de plume of the celebrated French writer for his fashion brand has now been extended to his own nom de course at Haras Voltaire.  Just last week, Gun Of Brixton (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) became the latest graduate of the Normandy farm to advertise this burgeoning breeding...

Andre Fabre trainee Gun Of Brixton (Fr) (Frankel {GB}--Cat Kate {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) encountered the 'TDN Rising Star' performance of Tiego The First (Fr) (Blue Point {Ire}) in his May 20 debut over six furlongs at Saint-Cloud, before graduating over seven furlongs back there last month, and continued on the upgrade with a Rising Star display of his own in Thursday's Prix Bamboo Edition at Clairefontaine. He becomes the 41st Rising Star for his sire. Steadied to race in third after a slick getaway in this one-mile test,...

A share in G1SW Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}-Zarkava {Ire}, by Zamindar) realised €740,000 from Laurent Benoit, acting on behalf of Haras Voltaire, during Wednesday's Arqana Online Pop-Up Sale. Additionally, a share in Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}-Spasha {GB}), by Shamardal) was also knocked down to Benoit, this time bidding for Haras des Sablonnets, for €180,000. The leading sire in France by black-type winners, the Aga Khan Studs stallion has produced this year's Classic-winning Metropolitan (Fr), who took the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, as well as Haya Zark (Fr) and...

Haras Voltaire's Andre Fabre trainee Gun Of Brixton (Fr) (Frankel {GB}--Cat Kate {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) finished 3/4-of-a-length behind 'TDN Rising Star' Tiego The First (Fr) (Blue Point {Ire}) at Saint-Cloud last month and returned to the same venue to register a stylish victory in Tuesday's Prix Chateau Bouscaut over seven furlongs. 2nd-Saint-Cloud, €30,000, Mdn, 6-11, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:30.51, gd. GUN OF BRIXTON (FR) (c, 2, Frankel {GB}--Cat Kate {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who encountered the 'TDN Rising Star' performance of Tiego The First (Fr) (Blue Point...

Ecurie Griezmann's battle-hardened 3-year-old filly Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}--Power of the Moon {Ire}, by Acclamation {GB}) had made seven consecutive starts in stakes company leading into Sunday's G2 Wempe 102nd German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf and emerged with a career high to add to a victory in last term's Listed Winterkonigin Trial at Cologne. The €310,000 Arqana September yearling went postward for this second start in Germany coming back off a fifth in Deauville's Apr. 7 G3 Prix Imprudence and a runner-up finish in ParisLongchamp's May 1 Listed Prix du...

Already the leading trainer in the G2 Prix de Malleret with nine wins, Andre Fabre made it a perfect 10 on Wednesday as Haras Voltaire's Babylone (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) scored at ParisLongchamp. Held up on the rail racing worse than mid-division by Mickael Barzalona throughout the early stages, the 9-1 shot who had beaten a subsequent winner in a 10-furlong conditions event here June 10 was extricated from a pocket passing the two-furlong pole. In front a furlong later, the bay held the strong challenge of Adhafera (Ire) (Sea...

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 Insights features a half-sister to G1SW Epicuris (GB) (Rail Link {GB}). 5.37 Deauville, Cond, €22,000, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT CAPTIOUS (GB) (Frankel {GB}) debuts in the Khalid Abdullah silks for the Henri-Francois Devin stable and is a half-sister to the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Epicuris (GB) (Rail...