Zarak (Fr)

A 1/50th share in the Aga Khan Studs stallion Zarak (Fr) took top billing in the Arqana December Online Sale when going the way of Alex Elliott for €800,000. Of the 13 stallion shares and breeding rights offered, nine sold for a total of €1,323,000. A four-time winner when trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré, notably landing the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Zarak boasts an exceptional pedigree as a son of Dubawi (Ire) and the unbeaten G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar). Zarak stood his first...

Lot 180, G1 Preis der Diana runner-up Spanish Eyes (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}) sold for €1,300,000 to Hannah Wall at Arqana. Out of G1 Premio Lydia Tesio heroine Sortilege (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), the bay was consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux. The 3-year-old filly is a full-sister to G3 Premio Guido e Alessandro Berardelli winner Sirjan (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}). Bred by Gestut Karlshof, Spanish Eyes was a €95,000 buy-back out of the Arqana October Yearling Sale in 2022.   Offered by @EcurieMonceaux at the #VentedElevage, Preis der Diana-German Oaks (Gr.1) runner-up...

Zarak (Fr)'s Village Voice (GB), a winner of the G3 Prix de Flore, caught the eye of Resolute Bloodstock to the tune of 1,300,000gns as the Sceptre Sessions continued on Tuesday. Offered by Simmonstown Stud, lot 1743 has been placed four additional times at group level. Her second dam struck in the G2 May Hill Stakes and G3 Sweet Solera Stakes, and was third in the G1 1000 Guineas, the G1 Coronation Stakes, and the G1 Fillies' Mile. Village Voice, bred by Malih Al Basti, sold for 38,000gns to BBA...

A share in Group 1 winner and sire Zarak (Fr) has been sold privately for €600,000 to Chauvigny Global Equine, Arqana announced on Wednesday. Originally passed in at €650,000 during Tuesday's Arqana Online November Sale, the 1/50th share (lot 1) has now been purchased by Sebastien Desmontils's operation. Based at the Aga Khan Studs' Haras de Bonneval, the son of Dubawi (Ire) and Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) has sired a total of 28 stakes winners, 19 of them at group level or higher. In 2024 alone, the bay had 19 stakes...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a son of Plumania (GB) (Anabaa). 11.56 Chantilly, Debutantes, €30,000, 2yo, c/g, 9f (AWT) AVIDE (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a significant newcomer for the Wertheimers and Andre Fabre as a son of their G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud heroine Plumania (GB) (Anabaa). A full-brother to the...

Classic hero Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who will stand at Haras d'Etreham beginning next year, will be available for viewing at Haras du Thenney on Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7, during the Arqana Vente d'Elevage from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Metropolitan won the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and was third in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was also a close second in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois, and will be available for €15,000 in 2025. Etreham's Nicolas de Chambure said,...

Nietzsche Has (Fr), runner-up in Sunday's G1 Prix Cambacérès at Auteuil, will stand for a fee of €7,000 when he retires to Haras de Montaigu as a National Hunt stallion in 2025, the stud announced on Monday. Bred by Scea Hamel Stud, the son of Zarak (Fr) carried the colours of Edward James and his Highbourne Stud, having been bought by bloodstock agent Guy Petit for €240,000 at last year's Arqana Deauville Summer Mixed Sale. In six starts over hurdles at Auteuil, he also won the G3 Prix Aguado in...

After taking home the Central Park Stakes trophy with Jack and Jim (Slumber {GB}) at the Big A on Saturday, trainer Graham Motion made it back to the winner's circle when Laurelin (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) got up in time to take the Tepin Stakes on Sunday. The chestnut broke her maiden for the Maryland-based conditioner by 1 1/2 lengths over the same grass course Oct. 13, but that was not enough to install her as the favorite in the bettor's minds. As a 4-1 shot here, the filly settled mid-pack...

The catalogue for the Arqana Online November Sale is now available, with 13 lots features either breeding rights or stallion shares that will go under the hammer on Nov. 26 from 5-7p.m. local time. Lot 1 is a 1/50th share in rising French sire Zarak (Fr). The sire of multiple Group 1 winners including G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains Metropolitan (Fr), Zarak's share will entitle the buyer to one covering per year, plus an additional covering every other year. A share (1/50) in exciting French first-crop sire Hello Youmzain (Fr)...

This year's Preis der Diana runner-up Spanish Eyes (Ger) has been added to Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale and will be offered by Ecurie des Monceaux as lot 180 during the opening day of the sale on Saturday, December 7. Trained by Andreas Wohler for owner-breeders Gestut Karlshof, Spanish Eyes made a winning debut over nine furlongs at Hoppegarten in June. That remains her sole victory in five career starts, though she was beaten just a length behind Erle (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) in the Preis der Diana, before running...

This year's Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan (Fr) will begin his stallion career at Haras d'Etreham next season, the stud announced on Wednesday. He will stand for a fee of €15,000, with a small number of shares available in the son of Zarak (Fr). Bred by Stuart McPhee, Metropolitan was bought by Alessandro Marconi for €78,000 at the Arqana October Yearling Sale. He was trained for owners Peter Bradley and Scuderia Scolari by Mario Baratti, who saddled him to win three of his seven career starts. The Classic winner...

The two-year-old Square D'Alboni (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), an impressive winner of the Listed Prix Isonomy at Chantilly on Saturday, has been given a wildcard entry to the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale. Consigned by Imperium Sales, he will be offered as lot 1129G on Wednesday, October 30, with the full catalogue for the five-day sale available to view here. The Ralph Beckett trainee is unbeaten in three starts since finishing ninth on his debut at Doncaster in July, having been gelded before his first run. He opened his account...