National Hunt

A quintet of wildcards have been added to the upcoming Arqana Autumn Sale on Nov. 18-21. Led by 1300-metre heroine Lilas Trezy (Fr) (Goken {Fr}) (lot 423), the fivesome will sell on Nov. 18. The other lots are all National Hunt offerings: winning hurdlers La Pagaille (Fr) (Choeur Du Nord {Fr}) (lot 458) and Becasse (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}) (lot 464), placed AQPS hurdler Le Tiep's Sacre (Fr) (It's Gino {Ger}) (lot 465) and Keyreine Du Seuil (Fr) (Masterstroke) (lot 466), third in a listed chase at Auteuil. For the full...

Following the 180-strong Arqana November Yearling Sale on Nov. 16, the Autumn Sale will take place from Nov. 18-21 in Deauville. The catalogue features 290 Flat and National Hunt horses-in-training during the Monday session; 60 2-year-old stores start Tuesday's trade followed by 197 National Hunt yearlings, which also will be sold on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The final day sees 83 well-bred foals and 130 fillies and mares go under the hammer. All sessions begin at 11 a.m. each day. High-class past graduates of the sale include this year's Grand National...

Set to go Thursday, Aug. 29, the ThoroughBid August Online auction has attracted over 40 lots, the company announced via presser on Friday. The catalogue is a mix of National Hunt prospects, drafts from Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, horses in and out-of-training, and several Flat prospects as well as a well-bred yearling and the Judy Craymer dispersal of racing and breeding stock. Going live from 9:00a.m., the lots will finish at two-minute intervals from 12:00p.m. For the full catalogue and to register to bid, please go to the ThoroughBid...

GBBPLUS, an extension of the Great British Bonus, will reward owners and breeders with two new separate initiatives tackling the current challenges facing Flat and National Hunt racing. The latest incentive initiatives will kick off Jan. 1, 2025. "GBB was an important incentive and intervention step to encourage the breeding, buying, and racing of fillies," the Thoroughbred Breeders Association Chairman Philip Newton said. "Its success now gives us confidence that we can influence behaviour in two other areas of the racing programme: the vital retention of stamina within the thoroughbred...

The catalogue for the Arqana February Mixed Sale on February 13-14 was released by the sale company on Friday. Featuring 363 horses comprised of horses-in-training on the Flat and over jumps, broodmares, maidens, 2-year-olds and yearlings, with eight wildcards still to be announced, sessions will begin at 11 a.m. daily. The Arqana February Sale, which last year sold the G2 Prix du Petite Couvert winner and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye-placed Air De Valse (Fr) (Mesnil des Aigles {Fr}) as a broodmare prospect, this year offers a trio of fillies-in-training who...

La Petite Sissi (Ire) (Ivawood {Ire}) (lot 385), a half-sister to G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), is one of the leading lots catalogued for the Goffs February Sale on Feb. 7-8. A total of 431 lots are spread across the two days featuring both Flat and National Hunt horses of all ages, with each session beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday's session begins with 2-year-olds, horses-in-training and stores followed by a weanling section with a wide variety of sires represented. Foals kick...

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com I have been fortunate to experience many wonderful days racing, but NEVER I have EVER heard a crowd response like when the two Queens of National Hunt racing, HONEYSUCKLE and Rachael Blackmore, returned to the Cheltenham winner enclosure the after the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) in March of this year. The place was packed 20 deep, it went wild, it was...

A yearling by Blue Bresil (Fr) led the final session of the Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale NH Sale Thursday. Out of the Shantou mare Thanks For Tea (Ire) (lot 992), the colt was purchased for €58,000 by Kevin Ross Bloodtsock. Sold by Ballyhampshire Stud, the yearling was the 18th foal or yearling by Blue Bresil to sell for €50,000 or more over the five days' sale, and was the week's third session topper for the Rathbarry Stud stallion. "The gelding has been bought on spec," said Anna Ross. "We...

The catalogue for the Osarus 100% National Hunt Sale, offering 28 juveniles, 31 yearlings and 11 foals, mares and horses-in-training, is now available online. The single-session sale is scheduled to take place on Nov. 8 at Le Lion d'Angers. Bidding begins at 1 p.m. Past graduates include Grade 1 winners Laurina (Fr), Punch Nantais (Fr), Gelino Bello (Fr), Capodanno (Fr) and Mighty Potter (Fr), winner of the G1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase in February. The top lot of the new Osarus horses-in-training sale at Craon in September, Rose De La Jarrie...

The Arqana November Yearling Sale and Autumn Sale Catalogues are now available online. The November Yearling Sale will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18 while the Autumn Sale gets underway on Nov. 20 and runs through Nov. 23. Flat yearlings, lots 1 to 181, will sell on Saturday, Nov. 18. The Monday, Nov. 20 catalogue features horses-in-training selling as lots 201 to 483.  An even 10 lots will be offered through the Aga Khan's draft during the Flat portion, including the stakes-placed Behtar (Fr) (Kitten's Joy) (lot 428), while Andreas...

Dual winner My Lyka (GB) (Intello {Ger}) is one of four wildcards added to the Arqana Summer Sale on July 4-6 in Deauville. Consigned as lot 449, the 98-rated 4-year-old was most recently fourth in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly. The other wildcards are lot 495, Full Of Shade (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}), who was second over hurdles in her second start; the placed hurdler Sun Joy (Fr) (Hunter's Light {Ire}) (lot 496); and Le Grande Yves (Fr) (Triple Threat {GB}) (lot 497), a two-length winner over...

A National Hunt Panel Discussion was held by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Next Generation this week at Tattersalls Ireland following the inspection day of the May Store Sale. Richard Pugh was master of ceremonies, with an expert panel of Highflyer Bloodstock's Tessa Greatrex, Sluggara Farm consignor and veterinarian Walter Conners, Cobajay Stables' Aidan Fitzgerald and bloodstock agent Tom Malone on hand to share their views. Among the topics discussed were how they got into racing, selection at sales, what to forgive in a pedigree and confirmation, and recent prevalence...