Vertical Blue

DEAUVILLE, France-Six months after doing the Hokey Cokey at the Goffs London Sale, Prix de Diane winner Sparkling Plenty (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) found another new owner when Coolmore and Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock went to €5 million to secure the top-notcher on behalf of "a new partnership" on the opening day of the December Breeding Stock Sale at Arqana.  Few will forget the drama that unfolded with Sparkling Plenty earlier this summer. Scarcely has there ever been a greater form update, with the Patrice Cottier-trained filly winning the Diane...

John Stewart says that he is 'putting his money where his mouth is' after spending 6,265,000gns--close to $8 million--on five fillies at Tattersalls this week, headed by Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Vertical Blue (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) at 3.2 million gns.  Vertical Blue is trained by Francis Graffard, who manages the career of Stewart's most high-profile horse in Europe, Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}). The four-year-old gelding was last seen finishing sixth in the Japan Cup.  That effort was deemed unsatisfactory by the man behind Resolute Racing, who has outlined...

When Vertical Blue (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) won the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac she led home a one-two for her trainer Francis Graffard as she pipped the Aga Khan Studs' Zarigana (GB) (Siyouni {Ire}) on the line.  The runner-up, who went into the race unbeaten, including a victory in the G3 Prix d'Aumale, had started odds-on favourite with Vertical Blue as one of the outsiders of the field, but the latter's success came as no surprise to Graffard, who had held her in high regard from the outset.  "She's a big...

The Tattersalls December Sale is played out, akin to panto season, over two weeks, matinees and evening performances, incorporating almost every facet of the bloodstock sales business, from foals to yearlings, horses in training, broodmares, and sometimes the odd stallion or two. The Sceptre Sessions are only in their third year but they are already embedded as an integral part of the annual finale at Park Paddocks. And there is little doubt that the theatrical highlights come on the Monday and Tuesday of the second week, as dusk settles in...

Prix Marcel Boussac winner Vertical Blue (Ire) has been added to the Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.  Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard for owners Gemini Stud and Argella Racing, the Mehmas (Ire) filly is the highest-rated juvenile in France.  Graffard commented, "I've loved Vertical Blue since she arrived and I was delighted that she was able to show that on the track. Physically she has plenty of scope to improve and her turn of foot, as well as her great attitude, have us all excited about what she...