Mehmas

Since Al Shaqab Racing's first foray into racehorse ownership, the organization has grown exponentially with strong investment in bloodstock globally. The company has built an impressive stud farm at Haras de Bouquetot, which houses its nine-strong stallion roster as well as playing host to a broodmare band that includes dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) and multiple Group 1 winner Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) to name a few. However, it may be Al Shaqab's investment in personnel that sees the company thrive and...

The latest installment of our values sires series brings us to the second-crop sires of 2021. While there was a runaway leader, this group gave us plenty to unpack. A handful of rising star sires were crowned, and a few remain on the bubble with plenty to entice us with this year as their first crops prepare for their crucial 3-year-old campaigns. The race for champion first-season sire honours was not much of a competition at all last year, with Mehmas (Ire) jumping out of the gate with a pair...

One day after racing resumed in Britain on June 1, Mehmas (Ire) notched his first winner in the country less than an hour after he had recorded his first ever winner, in Italy. From thereon, the Tally-Ho Stud resident was pulling double all season, opening up an easy lead over his fellow European freshmen and bossing his way to a new first-season sire record which, with 56 winners, was 17 clear of that previously held by Iffraaj (GB). It is, frankly, a staggering tally, with 101 of his 121 named...

KILDARE, Ireland--The opening day of the rescheduled Goffs November Sale got off to a lukewarm start on Friday, with present circumstances understandably impacting trade. Last year's opening day was highlighted by a €100,000 session topper with seven foals selling for €50,000 or more, while 69.5% of the offered foals changed hands at an average of €17,957 and a median of €13,750. It was a slightly different story on Friday when only four foals reached or surpassed the €50,000 mark headed by a €75,000 session-topping Mehmas (Ire) colt. In total, 159...

Record-breaking first-season sire Mehmas (Ire) will see a fee increase to €25,000 at Tally Ho Stud in 2021. The son of Acclamation (GB) stood for €7,500 this year. Mehmas is the clear leader of the European first-season sires standings by earnings and winners, the latter tally of 47 as of Nov. 20 representing a record for a first-season sire. Iffraaj (GB) previously held the record at 38. Mehmas's four stakes winners include the G1 Middle Park S. winner Supremacy (Ire) and G2 Gimcrack S. scorer Minzaal (Ire). The standardbearer of...

The annual race to sire the most individual first-crop 2-year-old winners always fascinates us. This year in Europe it isn't much of a contest as the leader Mehmas (Ire)--with his 39 winners--is in no danger whatsoever of being caught by any of his contemporaries. However, 39 winners is hugely significant in that it breaks the European record for the most individual first-crop 2-year-old winners putting him one clear of the previous holder, Darley stalwart Iffraaj. And there are more than enough racing days left in the calendar for Mehmas to...

NEWMARKET, UK—On a day when Kingman (GB) was given the ultimate boost by being announced as the first suitor of Enable (GB), one of his sons played a leading role in the first session of Tattersalls October Book 2, following on from some notable returns during last week's Book 1. Godolphin has already had its share of success with the progeny of Kingman, notably through Group 1-winning colts Persian King (Ire) and Palace Pier (GB), and Anthony Stroud added another by the sire to Sheikh Mohammed's string for next year...

First-season sire sensation Mehmas (Ire) has come to dominate that category since racing's wheels began turning in June and it is fitting that he is responsible for three of the big four favourites for Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. at Newmarket. Tally-Ho Stud's son of Acclamation (GB), who was third in this race on his racecourse finale in 2016, has Method (Ire), Minzaal (Ire) and Supremacy (Ire) with all three coming into the six-furlong feature on the back of impressive wins in black-type company at the trip. Manton Park...

There is a general feeling of relief this year that the yearling sales are taking place at all. While some of the key indices are down on previous years there is comfort to be found in the strong clearance rates experienced at the sales thus far and even more comfort to be taken by some of the results pinhookers have had from their investments of 2019. For siblings Chris and Tara Armstrong this year could be one of the more memorable ones for their young pinhooking operation from Beechvale Stud....

An unnamed colt from the first crop of Mehmas (Ire) was the leading flat offering from Monday's Arqana Summer Sale, with lot 13 hammered down to Nicky Bertran de Balanda for €100,000. Mehmas currently leads the European first-season sires table by winners with nine and he registered his first stakes winner on the weekend when Method (Ire) took the Listed Rose Bowl S. This colt's dam is a half-sister to the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Vale Of York (Ire). De Balanda said, "He's a lovely colt. His...

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. Today's Observations features a half-brother to one of last week's Royal Ascot Group 1 winners. 1.15 Haydock, Novice, £6,400, 2yo, 6fT LINE OF DEPARTURE (IRE) (Mehmas {Ire}) debuts in first-time blinkers in the Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa silks for the Roger Varian stable, having cost £260,000 at the Goffs...

Tally-Ho Stud's Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who with 146 2-year-olds boasts the largest representation of any first-season sire this year, made his presence felt by getting off the mark with two winners on Tuesday. The first, Bridge Dress Me (Ire), came over 1400 metres at Rome. Thirty minutes later, the Phillip Makin-trained Muker (Ire) defied odds of 20-1 to land a Newcastle maiden going 1000 metres on the all-weather. Bred by Epona Bloodstock, Mehmas was a 62,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling bought by Church Farm. Pinhooked at the Craven...