Europe

A 1/50th share (lot 125) in multiple French champion sire Siyouni sold for 175,000gns to TCT Bloodstock on Thursday to top the Tattersalls Online December Sale. The Aga Khan Studs' stallion has sired 13 stakes winners in the Northern Hemisphere this term anchored by Aga Khan homebred Zarigana, the winner of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, multiple graded winner Bellezza, third in the GI New York Stakes and G2 Neom Turf Cup hero Shin Emperor. The sire of 46 group winners in his career, he will stand for €150,000...

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 4:40 p.m., LONGINES HONG KONG CUP-G1, HK$40,000,000, 3yo/up, 2000mT Field: Romantic Warrior (Jpn) (Acclamation {GB}), Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), Galen (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Straight Arron (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit), Quisisana (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 4:00 p.m., LONGINES HONG KONG MILE-G1, HK$36,000,000, 3yo/up, 1600mT Field: Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}), Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), Galaxy...

Cathal Beale reflects on a momentous run of sales results for the Irish National Stud as well offering his thoughts on new addition to the stallion roster Arizona Blaze Credit where credit is due, the Irish National Stud knocked it out of the park at this year's breeding stock sales. The stud netted just shy of €2 million at the Goffs November Foal Sale. That haul placed the Irish National Stud second only to the Castlebridge Consignment by €46,500, despite selling 33 fewer foals than that outfit. What was most...

Zelzal has been deemed fully fit to cover mares in 2026 following an examination. The Haras de Bouquetot resident's 2025 season was disrupted due to health reasons. Amelie Lemercier, sales manager at Haras de Bouquetot, said, "Leader among sires of two-year-olds in France and responsible for 10 black-type performers in 2025, Zelzal confirms his position as one of the most dependable stallions in France thanks to the quality and consistency of his progeny, both on the track and in the sales ring. There are very few proven stallions, in France...

The multiple Grade 2-winning chaser Allegorie De Vassy (lot 769) topped Wednesday's final session of the Goffs December National Hunt Sale when bought by Justin and Jackie Owens of Mount Armstrong Stud for €150,000. The eight-year-old daughter of No Risk At All, who was offered in foal to the late Jukebox Jury, was consigned by trainer Willie Mullins' Closutton Stables. Incidentally, Mount Armstrong was also responsible for the most expensive weanling sold earlier in the day when lot 615, a Walk In The Park filly out of the Grade 2-winning...

As the betting suggested, Kempton's mile novice on Wednesday evening was not supposed to present a serious test to Godolphin's Nation's Hope (Ghaiyyath) and that proved to be the case. Sent off at 1-16 having earned TDN Rising Star status on debut over this course and distance last month, the half-brother to the stable's multiple Grade I-winning Nations Pride (Teofilo) was put on the front end by James Doyle with none of his four peers able to stride on. Stretching clear from two out, the Charlie Appleby trainee put six lengths between...

A selection of stallion shares and breeding rights feature among the first 15 lots catalogued for the Arqana December Online Sale, which takes place between the hours of 3pm and 5pm (local time) on Tuesday, December 16. Headline lots include a 1/50th share in the Haras de Bonneval resident Zarak, who has enjoyed notable success with his first four crops and will stand for an unchanged fee of €80,000 next season. The Aga Khan Studs homebred is the sire of last year's Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Metropolitan, along with...

John and Thady Gosden like to unveil one of their nicer Classic prospects at Kempton and Wednesday evening saw the pricey newcomer Asmeralda (Night Of Thunder) follow the trend. Always travelling easily for Oisin Murphy in division one of the seven-furlong fillies' novice on the card, Imad Al Sagar's €640,000 Goffs Orby Book 1 graduate moved to the front approaching two out with only the 5-6 market-leader Pierchic (Palace Pier) to beat. Always comfortably holding that half-sister to the Oaks runner-up Dance Sequence (Dubawi), the 11-10 second favourite held a...

Opening the batting for the after-dinner speeches at York's 254th annual Gimcrack Dinner was the man of the hour, the winning owner of the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes, Martin Tedham. If Lord Allen's later address led the odd guest to refill their port glass in need of fortification, Tedham, owner of the Declan Carroll-trained colt Lifeplan (Kodi Bear), had them rolling in the aisles. The Scottish Borders native said that his trainer had been supremely confident of the colt's chances in the Gimcrack but Tedham had not realised...

In one of his first public appearances since becoming chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in September, Lord Allen admitted that there is no "single silver bullet" to ease the significant challenges facing the sport. In a question-and-answer session with broadcaster Lydia Hislop following the 254th Gimcrack Dinner at York racecourse, Lord Allen, whose appointment to the BHA was announced in November 2024, spoke of his desire for the BHA to be a "world-leading authority". Addressing a gathering of around 200 guests on Tuesday evening, he said, "I used...

Walk In The Park foals filled six of the seven top spots during the second session of the Goffs December NH Sale on Tuesday. Leading the way was lot 554, Ballyreddin's son of Polly's Present (Presenting), who sold to Rathmore Stud for €120,000. The half-brother to G1 Glasscarn Handicap Hurdle winner Hearts Are Trumps (Oscar) and stakes winner Go Fast Du Berlais (Kapgarde) is out of a full-sister to G1 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman. Interrupting the Walk In The Park monopoly was lot 538, a son of Jukebox Jury...

Potential stallion prospect Havana Cigar led the way on the fourth and final day of the December Breeding Stock Sale at Arqana, where three seven-figure lots were sold this year, headed by the €2.6 million Half Sovereign (Ten Sovereigns). It was bloodstock agent Ajay Anne who signed for Tuesday's top lot, Havana Cigar, for €50,000. The highly-rated son of Havana Grey is understood to be bound for Besnate Stud in Italy. The three seven-figure lots lit up the December breeding stock sale at Arqana where turnover fell by 13% to...