Stephane Wattel

For some, Deauville is a summer playground. Horse sales, racing, good food and a spot of shopping. We have the Duc de Morny to thank for that. Having been instrumental in the construction of the racecourse at Longchamp in 1857, Napoleon's half-brother turned his attention to the Normandy seaside and by August 1864, racing was underway at Hippodrome la Touques in the town which has continued to draw the rich and famous, both for horse racing and film festivals. Nowadays, Deauville is no longer home solely to the August meeting....

Having beaten the subsequent G3 Prix des Chenes winner Zabiari (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the Listed Criterium du FEE at Deauville in August, Alain Jathiere's Tulipa Chope (Fr) (Born To Sea {Ire}) took the next step up the ladder in her stride when returning to Normandy to capture Wednesday's G3 Prix des Reservoirs. Settled in behind the leader early by Theo Bachelot, the Stephane Wattel-trained bargain €5,000 Osarus September graduate was travelling best turning in and tanked her way to the front two out. Chased to the line by...

Haras de la Perelle's 4-year-old colt Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}--Swertia {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}), a three-time Group 2 scorer back home in France and unbeaten in four pattern races shy of top-flight company, made the breakthrough in his fourth attempt at Group 1 level with a decisive win--and a landmark for trainer Stephane Wattel--in an international renewal of Sunday's G1 Westminster 133rd Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten. April's G1 Prix Ganay runner-up and June's G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly winner broke alertly from the outside stall, finding a...

Eric Ventrou presented a 2-year-old colt by Intello (Ger), and the flashy bay brought a sale-topping bid of €49,000 from Mandore International and Stephane Wattel during Thursday's Osarus Breeze-Up Sale in the south-west of France. The May 7 foal is a half-brother to listed winner Zarwaan (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), while second dam Dublino (Lear Fan) won the GI Del Mar Oaks and produced stakes winner Answered (GB) (Authorized {GB}), who was placed three times at group level. Just below lot 42, was an M. C. Thoroughbreds-consigned filly by Night...

Returning from a break having failed to make an impact in the G1 Japan Cup, Haras de la Perelle and Stephane Wattel's Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}-Swertia {GB}, by Pivotal {GB}) again demonstrated his love of ParisLongchamp by winning Sunday's G2 Prix d'Harcourt. Impressive in the G2 Prix Niel here in September, having finished second to Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris over that same mile-and-a-half course and distance in July, the 7-1 shot was positioned close to the early pace by Alexis Pouchin dropping...

Providing another boost to his G1 Grand Prix de Paris conqueror Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Haras de la Perelle and Stephane Wattel's Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) came out on top in Sunday's premier French Arc trial for the 3-year-old colts, the G2 Qatar Prix Niel at ParisLongchamp. Despite his win, an Arc rematch with Onesto is uncertain according to connections who were able to enjoy a moment in the sun with the admirable flag-bearer of the Stephane Wattel stable. Always happy taking a lead in third, the 3-1 shot...

Having witnessed their filly Rosacea (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) overcoming a horror draw to be third in the G1 Prix de Diane, Haras de la Perelle and Stephane Wattel's Sunday at Chantilly got even better as Simca Mille (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) recorded an authoritative success in the G3 Prix du Lys Longines. Off the mark at the fifth attempt in a 9 1/2-furlong handicap on the Polytrack here Apr. 20, the chestnut had bounded to a straightforward win over another two furlongs at Angers at the end of last month...

Arqana's Grand Steeple Sale at Saint-Cloud Racecourse grossed €2,313,000 with 29 lots sold from 35 (83%) through the ring. The Magdalen Bryant Dispersal accounted for €1,043,000 of that total, which consisted of the first 21 lots in the catalogue. The average was €79,759 and the median was €55,000. An even 10 lots made six figures or better, and it was the AQPS Just A Princess (Fr) (Ivanhowe {Ger}) (lot 5), a member of trainer David Cottin's consignment and part of that dispersal, that topped the sale. The sophomore was knocked...

Haras de la Perelle's homebred 3-year-old filly Rosacea (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) concluded her four-race juvenile campaign with victory in October's G3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville and dented a collection of lofty reputations with a last-gasp effort in Sunday's G3 Prix de la Grotte over one mile at ParisLongchamp. Patiently ridden and trailing all eight rivals into the straight, the 9-1 chance was angled to the outside with 300 metres remaining and the Stephane Wattel trainee quickened smartly under mild urging in the closing stages to nail Daisy Maisy...

Fresh off accounting for 'TDN Rising Star' Good Too (Fr) (Ectot {GB}) in a Sept. 22 conditions heat at Saint-Cloud in her third start, Haras de la Perelle's homebred Stephane Wattel trainee Rosacea (Ire) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) continued on an upward trajectory with an impressive tally tackling one mile in Tuesday's G3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville. She had previously bettered an Aug. 1 debut fifth at the nearby Clairefontaine venue with a breakthrough score in a seven-furlong maiden at this Normandy track in her penultimate start. Settled off a...

Four days of selling in Deauville wrapped up on Tuesday with the single-session v2 Yearling Sale, back from a pandemic-necessitated hiatus in 2020. From 129 offered, 96 yearlings were sold at a clearance rate of 74.4%; it was 79% in 2019. With 14 fewer sold, the aggregate dipped 28.6% to €2,912,500. The average was down 18.2% to €30,339, while the median dropped 20.9% to €24,500. Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International Agency signed for the joint top lots at €140,000, a filly by Toronado (Ire) and a colt by Mehmas...

Stephane Wattel trainee Who Knows (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) went postward for Sunday's G3 Circus Maximus Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville coming back off a fourth in Chantilly's July 18 G2 Prix Robert Papin and led her rivals a merry dance throughout to earn her black-type stripes at the second attempt. She had graduated at Chantilly in a June 25 six-furlong maiden, having opened up wuth a May 27 debut fourth at Lyon-Parilly, and was quickly into stride to seize an immediate advantage in this seven-furlong test. Shaken up in front...