Sea the Moon (Ger)

BADEN-BADEN, Germany--There was a dramatic start to the day on the eve of Germany's premier yearling sale at BBAG when a number of agents, vets and consignors were evacuated as the Radisson Blu Badischer Hof Hotel caught fire in the early hours of Thursday morning. Solenn Gouesnard of Haras d'Ombreville was taken to hospital temporarily with smoke inhalation but everyone else escaped unscathed, though many were left without clothes and passports. "We spent all night on the street in pyjamas," said Matt Coleman, who had arrived with a group which...

Group 1 winner Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Alpha Lupi {Ire}, by Rahy) has been retired after an unplaced run in Sunday's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois according to the Niarchos Family's Racing Manager Alan Cooper. The Jessica Harrington trainee and Niarchos homebred is a half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). "She retires sound and hopefully she'll be a nice broodmare for us," said Cooper. A winner at Galway at second asking at two, the chestnut added the G2 Debutante S. next out and...

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. Monday's Observations features a half-sister to MG1SW Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).   1.15 Naas, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, f, 8fT THE ALGARVE (American Pharoah) is the 13th foal out of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and a full-sister to last...

Balancing Classic intentions with commercial reality is not always easy. In Germany, the majority of breeders would veer towards the former, and it is certainly an ethos that Philipp and Marion Stauffenberg attempt to maintain while being all too aware of the demands of many modern-day purchasers of Thoroughbreds. The Stauffenbergs each had a good grounding in sport horses and racehorses before developing their own broodmare band at Schlossgut Itlingen in Ascheberg in 1999. The boutique operation has also had notable success pinhooking foals, and the business includes consigning yearlings...

The mating plans for the high-quality Shadwell broodmare band were announced by the stud on Monday. Nunnery Stud's four stallions, led by new recruit Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), will all be well supported by Shadwell. Several top-flight winners are booked to the 2020 G1 Sussex S. victor, among them dual Group 1 winners Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) and South African multiple Grade 1 winner Majmu (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). They are joined by Ghanaati's Rahy half-sister, the stakes winner and G1 Oaks third Rumoush, who already...

On the back of the eagerly anticipated stallion fee announcements in Europe, Gary King spoke with a number of leading industry figures about value. Today we hear from Jacqueline Norris of Jockey Hall Stud. GK: Who have you identified as a first-year stallion at an appealing opening fee? JN: I think Earthlight (Ire) looks to be well priced at €20,000, as a dual Group 1-winning son of the great Shamardal. I am really looking forward to seeing him and am hoping to send him a nice mare. I think Shamardal...

NEWMARKET, UK—"Not for the first time this year we can reflect on a market which has displayed extraordinary and commendable resilience," said Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony in his closing address for the December Foal Sale. Those sentiments have been repeated often around Park Paddocks this week, just as they were back in October when the trade for yearlings was frankly remarkable given the events of 2020. As the curtain fell on the fourth and final day of foals, again the most noteworthy figure was the clearance rate of 79%, which...

NEWMARKET, UK-They say that necessity is the mother of invention. The very fact that Tattersalls is contriving to stage the December Sale, while adapting to the strictures of lockdown, attests to that axiom. And so, too, did the fact that the highest bid of the second session was made online--by someone who was actually on site, and could have dived into the ring in an emergency. That resourceful gentleman proved to be Gerard Lowry of Oneliner Stables, who emerged from the cloak of cyber anonymity after the hammer came down...

On the back of the eagerly anticipated stallion fee announcements in Europe, Emma Berry spoke with a number of leading industry figures about value. Today we hear from Gwen Monneraye of La Motteraye Consignment. EB: Who have you identified as a first-year stallion at an appealing opening fee? GM: I really like Persian King (Ire). I know that at €30,000 he is not a bargain price, but he's a Classic winner from a good family and [his sire] Kingman (GB) is so hot, so we decided to buy a share...

On the back of the eagerly anticipated stallion fee announcements in Europe, Gary King spoke with a number of leading industry figures about value. Today we have the astute Ed Player of Whatton Manor Stud. GK: Who have you identified as a first-year stallion at an appealing opening fee? EP: There are some seriously exciting new stallions for next year with Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal), Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) top of the list. However, I think the value lies with Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a...

Haras d'Etreham, which recently welcomed Group 1 winners Hello Youmzain (Ire) and Persian King (GB) to its roster after the sale of Wootton Bassett to Coolmore this year, has bought into another stallion prospect in top German 3-year-old Wonderful Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). Wonderful Moon will race at four under the partnership of Etreham and the horse's original owners Stall Wasserfreunde with trainer Henk Grewe. Wonderful Moon announced himself as a top-class prospect when winning last year's G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen by 12 lengths. He built on that...

The two-day virtual online Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale came to a close on Wednesday, with global participation pushing the average and median above last year's figures. A heavily scratched down catalogue due to the many challenges of 2020 meant that 273 of the 475 catalogued yearlings went up for sale, with 170 (62.6%) finding new homes for an aggregate of €1,094, 200. Last year 288 were sold (74%) for €1,691,600. This year's average and median were each up 10% (€6,436 and €4,400). Taking top billing on Wednesday was a Zoffany...