Le Havre (Ire)

The Arqana Arc Sale saw a third seven-figure lot on the evening and a new top lot when Saturday's G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein hero Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) went the way of Lion Rock Bloodstock for €1.5 million at Saint-Cloud. Consigned by Christopher Head, the bay son of Raushan (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) (lot 41) and half-brother to G3 Hoppings Stakes second Rasima (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) is a homebred for Nurlan Bizakov's Sumbe. Besides the Daniel Wildenstein, Ramadan has also accrued victories in the G3 Prix Daphnis, G3 Prix de...

Nurlan Bizakov's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau and G3 Prix Daphnis victor Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}--Raushan {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire}), who trailed all six rivals home in last month's G1 Prix du Moulin, bounced back to form in style with a determined win in Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp. The 68-5 chance was positioned within range of the leaders in fourth through halfway in this one-mile test. Making headway once into the home straight, he inched ahead of Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) with 300 metres remaining...

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. Saturday's Observations features a half-brother to Victor Ludorum (GB). 13.35 Newmarket, Novice, £8,500, 2yo, f, 8fT PEARL OF HOPE (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a notable Godolphin newcomer, being a half-sister to Shamardal's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning sire Victor Ludorum (GB). Charlie Appleby sticks...

Just a handful of lots into Sunday's session, a filly by Lope De Vega (Ire) (lot 240) brought a cool €1 million from Oliver St Lawrence Bloodstock. The daughter of Normandel (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) is the second seven-figure lot of the 2024 Arqana August Yearling Sale. Her dam, best known for winning the G3 Park Express Stakes, is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Mont Ormel (Fr) (Air Chief Marshall {Ire}), who raced in Hong Kong as Helene Charisma. Normandel is also a half-sister to the dam of G1...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Pipsy during the Belmont at the Big A meeting in New York. Pipsy Soars In New York  Pipsy (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who races for Woodford Throughbreds, LLC, earned the first graded win of her career in the GIII Soaring Softly S. during Belmont's spring meeting at Aqueduct on Sunday (video). Trained by Will Walden, the filly is now three-for-four. The Noel Finegan-bred was a...

Gifted an ideal lead in Sunday's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau, Aurelien Lemaitre took full advantage to steer Nurlan Bizakov's Ramadan (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}--Raushan {Ire}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) to success in the key G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains trial. Race-fit having registered a five-length success in the Listed Prix Omnium II at Saint-Cloud last month, the Christopher Head-trained homebred who had been fourth in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud last term ticked off honest fractions on the front end before kicking in early straight. Getting the jump on the returning...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Royalty Interest in Central Florida. Le Havre Fave Gets The Job Done Klaravich Stables' Royalty Interest (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) scored the second win of her career at Tampa Bay this past weekend (video). Bred by China Horse Club International, the bay sold for €50,000 to Seth Klarman's operation during the 2021 Arqana October Yearling Sale. The fourth foal out of stakes winner Dusky...

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 undefeated Arc hero Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}). 13.03 Cagnes-sur-Mer, Cond, €26,000, 3yo, 10f (AWT) ARROW EAGLE (FR) (Gleneagles {Ire}) made an instant impression at this track last month and is turned out again at the venue that saw the launch of his...

Godolphin's €130,000 Arqana October acquisition Casapueblo (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}--Uruguay {Ire}, by Authorized {Ire}) justified 7-5 favouritism by overcoming traffic issues and was elevated to the 'TDN Rising Star' ranks with a taking display in Wednesday's Prix de la Maniguette at Chantilly. The eventual winner lobbed along in third through steady early stages, but slipped to fourth when brake-checked and impeded approaching halfway in this debut. Full of run along the rail when encountering heavy traffic passing the quarter-mile marker, he found an open lane inside the final 300 metres...

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of the Classic-placed Lindy at Kentucky Downs, formerly the "Dueling Grounds", in Southern Kentucky.   Le Havre Filly Wins in Kentucky The French Classic-placed Lindy (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) won a Kentucky Downs affair for Everest Racing and trainer Brendan Walsh on Thursday (video). Part of the Ecurie La Vallee Martigny Earl breeding programme, Lindy was knocked down to Ghislain Bozo's Meridian International for €90,000...

3rd-Kentucky Downs, $120,500, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 9-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:41.01, gd, 1 1/4 lengths. LINDY (FR) (f, 3, Le Havre {Ire}--Llanita {GB} {SP-Fr, SP-USA, $135,802}, by Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), backed down to 1-5 in this scratch depleted U.S. unveiling, settled in a stalking third behind Delight (Mendelssohn) through an opening quarter in :25.25. With Do You Love Me (English Channel) assuming control through a :50.36, the French-bred took aim at the leader in the final furlong, gained control late en route to a confident 1 1/4-length victory...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Set Piece in the GIII Arlington S. at Churchill Downs in June.   Another Graded Victory For Juddmonte Veteran Decorated 7-year-old Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}) won the Arlington S. at Churchill Downs earlier this month for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms and trainer Brad Cox (video). The newly minted millionaire, who was runner-up in the 2021 GI Fourstardave H., was taking his fourth graded...