Arqana

Yann Barberot trainee Lhakpa (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}--Enchanting Skies {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), a half-sister to the multiple Group 1-placed Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), followed up a narrow debut victory at Compiegne in June with a 1 3/4-length success in Tuesday's Prix du Mezeray at Deauville. 2nd-Deauville, €34,000, Cond, 8-13, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT, 1:40.49, gd. LHAKPA (IRE) (f, 2, Siyouni {Fr}--Enchanting Skies {Ire} {SP-Fr}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), who posted a narrow victory going seven furlongs at Compiegne in her June 22 debut last time,...

Normandy resident and regular TDN contributor Alix Choppin uses her local knowledge to offer overseas visitors some valuable pointers on where to eat, drink and be merry after a long day at the Arqana sales Despite being home to no more than 5,000 souls in the heart of winter, Deauville in summertime turns into a buzzy, sleepless town where restaurants, bars, clubs and countless sorts of hybrid eating/drinking/partying venues combine to make stay-at-home nights an unlikely option. Perhaps one of the most iconic venues, to the extent that its name...

Next week, when the international sales scene shifts to France for the Arqana August Yearling Sale, a good chunk of American agents, owners, and trainers will head on over for the party. No one ever needs an excuse to go to Deauville, but if you're looking to justify your trip to your principals or partners, look no further. We've got you covered. The selected sessions of the Arqana sale run from the 16th to the 18th, Friday to Sunday, and are followed by the V2 sale on Monday. "This is...

Godolphin's €260,000 Arqana August graduate Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}--Setsuko {Fr}, by Shamardal), who came back off a June 13 debut triumph at Nottingham with a third-place finish in Newmarket's July 11 G2 July Stakes, stepped forward in impressive fashion to secure a stakes breakthrough in Tuesday's G2 HKJC World Pool Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The 2-1 favourite was slick from the gates and occupied a forward position along the rail in third through halfway. Biding his time in the straight, he was the last of seven to...

Patrice Cottier trainee Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}--Latita {Fr}, by Silver Frost {Ire}) backed up a May 2 debut score at Chantilly with a third back there in June's G3 Prix du Bois and rebounded in style to register a first black-type score for her freshman sire (by Shamardal) in Sunday's G3 Prix de Cabourg at Deauville. The 29-10 third choice was swiftly into stride and stalked the pacesetting Naana's Diamond (Ire) (Invincible Army {Ire}) in second through halfway. Coming under pressure approaching the quarter-mile marker, she quickened to the fore...

Victorious Racing's €400,000 Arqana Arc sale acquisition Calif (Ger) (Areion {Ger}--Cherry Danon {Ire}, by Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who collected ParisLongchamp's G3 La Coupe when last seen, made a breakthrough at the highest level when annexing Sunday's G1 Grosser Dallmayr Preis - Bayeriches Zuchtrennen at Munich. The eventual winner was steadied to track the leaders in fourth passing the judge first time and held that position until turning for home. Thundering forward in the straight, the 19-5 second favourite was shaken up to launch his challenge with 300 metres remaining...

Godolphin newcomer Ruling Court (Justify--Inchargeofme {GB}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) caused a stir when knocked down for a sale-topping €2.3-million at Arqana's Breeze-up sale in May and made another huge splash with an imperious performance to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette in Thursday's Martin Densham & Peter Deal Memorial British EBF Maiden Stakes at Sandown. The seven-furlong contest has earned its status as an important staging post with recent winners including Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Kameko (Kitten's Joy). Ruling Court becomes the ninth...

The hitherto undefeated Fraise Des Bois (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}--Artifix {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) registered a hattrick of 5 1/2-furlong victories at Tarbes earlier in the campaign and continued on an upward trajectory with a career high in Sunday's Listed Criterium du Bequet at La Teste. The eventual winner recovered from a stuttering start to track the leaders in fifth after the initial strides of this black-type debut. Fanning wide to the stands' side off the home turn, she seized control with 300 metres remaining and powered clear inside the final...

Pierre Hoyeau, a notable figure in the racing community of Western France, has died at the age of 91. He was the father of former Arqana president and current senior advisor Eric Hoyeau, and the grandfather of bloodstock agent Arthur Hoyeau. Hoyeau got his start in racing by creating a grain and feed trading company in Anjou, which supplied many trainers in the West of France. From there, his interest in racing developed, leading to Hoyeau creating his own stable, which focused primarily on jumping horses, but he worked with...

A share in Group 1 winner and sire Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) brought €710,000 from American chef and owner/breeder Bobby Flay during Arqana Online's Pop-Up Sale on Friday. A resident of The Aga Khan Studs' Haras de Bonneval, Zarak (lot 1) has produced a trio of top-flight winners led by G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Metropolitan (Fr), G1 Prix Ganay victor Haya Zark (Fr), and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden scorer Zagrey (Fr). His worldwide stakes winners stand at 20. His 2024 fee was €60,000. Also selling on Friday...

Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' and G1 Futurity Trophy hero Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Golden Valentine {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) had yet to fire on all cylinders this year and bounced back from an eighth in last month's G1 Derby to regain the winning thread in Thursday's G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket. The 6-4 favourite went forward to assume control after the initial strides of this 13-furlong test. Holding sway thereafter, he was asked to stretch with three furlongs remaining and kept finding for pressure inside the final quarter-mile to comfortably...

Following on from the August Yearling Sale, the v.2 Yearling Sale will take place on Tuesday, August 20 in Deauville. The catalogue, that offers a total of 189 lots, is now available on the Arqana website. Since its inception, the v.2 Yearling Sale has produced a number of top-class performers, including the Classic winners Coeursamba (Fr), Teppal (Fr) and Olmedo (Fr). This year the catalogue of 189 lots, "selected for their precociousness" according to the sales company, includes yearlings by leading sires such as Havana Grey (GB), No Nay Never,...