White Birch Farm

Claiborne Farm's first-crop sire Demarchelier {GB) by Dubawi {Ire}) was off the mark at Clairefontaine on Friday as White Birch Farm's homebred colt De Sica (Fr) captured the Prix de Roncheville over a mile. Runner-up on debut at Dieppe last month, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained 4-1 shot raced behind the leading trio early and took time to warm up as the dash began in early straight. Building a head of steam to reel in Mister Fernando (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) inside the last 50 metres, the bay asserted for a 3/4-of-a-length success...

Saturday's Bord Na Mona Recycling Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh has been a springboard to success in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. for Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), who annexed two of the last three editions. This year's renewal witnessed the emergence of another potential candidate after Aidan O'Brien trainee Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) romped to 'TDN Rising Stardom' in the seven-furlong contest. He had already caused a stir at Newmarket last October, when knocked down for 2.4-million guineas at...

Jean-Claude Rouget trainee Havana Cigar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}--Speculating {Ire}, by Xtension {Ire}) created a favourable impression when notching a two-length debut triumph going six furlongs at Saint-Cloud in May and delivered a performance of raw power to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' badge over the same trip in Saturday's Prix de la Croix des Veneurs at Chantilly. Havana Cigar failed to make best use of his stands' side draw and was steadied at the tail of the six-runner field after missing a beat at the kick. Powering by rivals...

There was an abundance of pre-race hype surrounding the Aidan O'Brien-trained debutante Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Shambolic {Ire}, by Shamardal), who was hammered down to 8-13 favouritism for Friday evening's Kildare House Hotel Irish EBF Fillies Maiden at the Curragh, and she rewarded that faith with a 'TDN Rising Star' display in the seven-furlong test. Relaxed under Ryan Moore during the preliminaries, she was professional on the lead throughout and extended her margin of superiority, keeping on powerfully under mild coaxing, inside the final quarter-mile to easily account for Dollerina...

Night Of Thunder (Ire)'s progeny proved popular throughout the first two books of Tattersalls, and a chestnut colt (lot 1073) hammered for 575,000gns to Jamie McCalmont on behalf of M V Magnier/White Birch near the end of the session. Offered by breeder Mountarmstrong Stud, he is a son of Listed Prix Six Perfections heroine Asidious Alexander (Ire) (Windsor Knot {Ire}), who is a half-sister to the stakes winner and Group 2-placed Accepted (Ire) (Approve {Ire}). His dam also gained group black type with placed efforts in both the G3 Prix...

White Birch Farm's 2-year-old colt Kubrick (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Rosa Bonheur, by Mr. Greeley) backed up a July 24 debut second going seven furlongs at Dieppe with a breakthrough triumph at Deauville last month and continued on the upgrade by turning back a strong Irish challenge in Thursday's G3 Prix des Chenes at ParisLongchamp. The eventual winner employed patient tactics from flagfall and was settled sixth, at the tail of the field, through halfway. Making continued headway under pressure in the home straight, the 31-10 second favourite quickened to gain a...

Hip 202 had been well advertised leading up to the sale, and clearly the team at Gainesway Farm knew what they had, as the son of burgeoning super sire Gun Runner garnered $2.3 million from Peter Brant's White Birch Farm in partnership with Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. Magnier had just finished signing a $1.4-million ticket for another son of the Horse of the Year and Three Chimneys resident. Hip 202 was bred by Debby Oxley out of GI Darley Alcibiades S. winner Heavenly Love (Malibu Moon).

If this is seeing the future, then maybe it really will work. Among all these tiny, straggling groups negotiating the arid wastes of the dirt stakes program, we finally reach a true oasis in the GI Caesars Belmont Derby Inv. Here is a field that matches quality with quantity: a win for the owners, and a win for the bettors. It is also, lest we forget, staged on a benign surface. As such, it is also a win for a whole community that needs to present its way of life...

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 close relative of this year's dual Group 1-winning 2-year-old Perfect Power. 1.58 ParisLongchamp, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 9fT EPIC POET (IRE) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) starts out for the White Birch Farm and Jean-Claude Rouget connection and is a 450,000gns Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book...

NEWMARKET, UK—After such giddy disruption to the last cycle, the first session of the European breeze-up calendar gave the sector a comforting sense that its world might be easing back on its axis. But those seeking continuity could find it, not between the market that was eventually salvaged last summer and the one that was tested here on Tuesday, but extending from the 2-year-old sales already staged this year across the ocean. Practical Joke has been the toast of the Florida sales, not least with the $750,000 filly who topped...

Godolphin has been named the leading owner in France for 2020 by France Galop. Their 77-strong French string, trained primarily by Andrew Fabre and Alex Pantall ran 281 times with 60 wins. They earned $2,235,078, just $1,707 more than White Birch Farm at €2,233,371. Godolphin's British string's French successes of over €600,000 are not included in these totals. Peter Brant's White Birch Farm celebrated a win in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) last season. Third on the list is His Highness The...

MGSW Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom--Mary's Follies, by More Than Ready) sparked early fireworks at Keeneland Tuesday, summoning $925,000 from Peter Brant's White Birch Farm just three hips into the session. The 5-year-old mare was consigned by Lane's End as part of the complete dispersal of the Estate of Paul Pompa, Jr.