Magna Grecia (Ire)

A consequence of massive book sizes is that it has become even harder for a less obvious prospective stallion to break into the elite tier. However, just as many seemingly excellent stallion prospects over the years have failed to make the grade, and there is still scope for a stallion to succeed against the odds, to 'pull himself up by his bootstraps', to join the elite after having started out considerably farther down the ladder. One such has been the admirable Invincible Spirit (Ire), whose retirement from active service at...

Arc hero Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) has been sold and he will stand under the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association banner at Shinzunai Stallion Station beginning in 2025. The news was confirmed by Coolmore to TDN Europe on Saturday morning. Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux, the €340,000 Arqana August grad and Jean-Claude Rouget trainee also won the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and ran third in the Arc at three. Kept in training at four, he added the G1 Prix Ganay besides his Arc heroics for Peter Brant's White Birch Farm...

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 St Mark's Basilica (Fr) and Magna Grecia (Ire). 12.55 Newcastle, £10,300, Mdn, 2yo, 8f 5y (AWT) Juddmonte's 600,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 acquisition LAUTREC (GB) (Kingman {GB}), representing John and Thady Gosden, is half-brother to MG1SW sires St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr})...

Agent Marco Bozzi snapped up a daughter of Sea The Stars (Ire) for €160,000 to top trade during the one-day SGA Yearling Sale in Milan, Italy on Saturday. He was the leading buyer by gross with seven purchased for €316,000. From Razza del Velino, lot 14 is out of the G3 Italian 1000 Guineas runner-up Cronsa (Ger) (Martino Alonso {Ire}). The filly is a half-sister to G3 Premio Dormello victress Sweet Gentle Kiss (Ire) (Henrythenavigator) and the stakes winner Sunset Key (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}). Botti France picked up lot 7,...

Coolmore's first-crop sire Magna Grecia (Ire) (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) can be counted among those who are responsible for a black-type winner after his son Myconian (Ire) captured Sunday's Listed Prix Yacowlef at Deauville. Sent off the 29-10 favourite for the five-furlong test, the Amy Murphy-trained son of the Listed Tipperary S. winner and G3 Curragh S. third Sirici (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) who was his sire's first winner back in March raced in a close-up second under Aurelien Lemaitre throughout the early stages. Gaining the lead approaching the furlong pole,...

Coolmore's first-season sire Magna Grecia (Ire) (by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) proved an instant hit in 2023 as his first runner Myconian (Ire) captured Saint-Cloud's 4 1/2-furlong Prix du Debut on Thursday. Always prominent under Mickael Barzalona, the Amy Murphy-trained son of the Listed Tipperary S. winner and G3 Curragh S. third Sirici (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) who traded as the 19-5 favourite outbattled The Fixer (Ire) (No Nay Never) inside the final 50 metres for a gutsy 3/4-of-a-length success. The dam hails from the family of the dual listed-winning sprinter Dazed And...

Two-time Group 1 producer Cabaret (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}-Witch of Fife, by Lear Fan), who is due to foal a colt by Kingman (GB) this month, will visit Siyouni (Fr) later this year, it has been confirmed to the TDN. Currently boarding at the Aga Khan Studs in France, the dam of Classic winners and young sires Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) was purchased by BBA Ireland's Adrian Nicoll for 600,000gns out of the 2011 Tattersalls December Mares Sale on behalf of Bob...