Arqana

June's Listed Prix Ridgway victor Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}--Sweet Alabama {Fr}, by Enrique {GB}) followed up that second black-type victory with a personal best in July's G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud and added lustre to his palmares with an impressive triumph in Sunday's G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange at ParisLongchamp. Employing patient tactics several lengths off the tempo for the most part, the 3-5 favourite made effortless headway on the bridle in the straight to challenge with 300 metres remaining and powered clear once quickening to the fore...

DONCASTER, England--A serious tempo was set to the European yearling sale season at Arqana last week with strong trade recorded in the August and V2 sales. If the momentum is to continue into the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale this week, Goffs could be in for a productive week.  G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Sacred Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was sourced here 12 months ago for £52,000 while similarly smart two-year-old Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) cost £85,000.  Both juveniles have flown the flag for the Donny yearlings with their...

Unflustered by a series of delays before the start of Saturday's JenningsBet British EBF Novice S. at Newmarket, John and Thady Gosden trainee Eben Shaddad (Calyx {GB}--Galileo's Lady, by Galileo {Ire}) returned home with a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette after producing a scintillating display in the six-furlong contest. Let go at generous odds of 4-1, the eventual winner tracked the leaders in fourth after the initial exchanges of this unveiling. Making smooth headway into contention once past halfway, he quickened in style to seize control approaching the final furlong and...

Marc Chan's 2021 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Cercle De La Vie {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) had been in and out of form in eight outings since registering those career highlights as a juvenile and backed up a fourth in last month's G2 Summer Mile with a last-gasp win in Saturday's G2 William Hill Celebration Mile at Goodwood. Fourth through halfway and scrubbed along approaching the quarter-mile marker, the 9-2 chance was afforded a dream seam underneath the stands' side rail...

Highly successful and longstanding owner-breeder Lady Chryss O'Reilly, the owner of Haras de la Louviere in Normandy, has died at the age of 73. As recently as Saturday, she was represented as the breeder of two Group 2 winners in Britain and Ireland. At Newbury, Witch Hunter (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) won the Hungerford S., while Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), bred in partnership with Ecurie des Monceaux, won the Debutante S. at the Curragh. As ever, Lady O'Reilly was present at Arqana in Deauville during the last week, where...

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. Monday's Insights features Before Night Falls, a half to G1SW Onesto. 14.23 Clairefontaine, Mdn, €30,000, unraced 2yo, f, 7fT White Birch Farm's €460,000 Arqana August acquisition BEFORE NIGHT FALLS (Gleneagles {Ire}) is a half-sister to last term's G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and debuts...

The third millionaire of the Arqana August Yearling Sale was lot 244, a son of French Champion Sire Siyouni (Fr) and Hourglass (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Knocked down for €2.2 million to MV Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, the May colt was consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux. His dam is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and sire Shamardal (Giant's Causeway). Under the G1 Irish Oaks-winning third dam Helen Street (GB) (Troy {GB}) is G1 Dubai World Cup and GI Stephen Foster H. hero Street Cry (Ire) (Machiavellian),...

Juddmonte's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud runner-up Arrest (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Nisriyna {Ire}, by Intikhab) had failed to build upon a wide-margin triumph in May's G3 Chester Vase, but regained the winning thread and punched his ticket to next month's G1 St Leger with a pillar-to-post victory in Saturday's G3 BetVictor Geoffrey Freer S at Newbury. Remaining out wide lobbing along on the lead before taking the shortest route around the sweeping home turn, the 5-6 favourite was shaken up in the centre of the track with three furlongs remaining and maintained...

Lot 21, a son of Dubawi (Ire) and the Invincible Spirit (Ire) mare Pretty Spirit (GB), was the first yearling to break the seven-figure mark at Deauville's Arqana August Yearling Sale when selling for €1.25 million to Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin on Friday. Consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux, the bay is out of a half-sister to three-time Group 1 winner Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who has his first yearlings this year. This is the extended family of G1 Prix Ganay hero Planteur (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).  ...

DEAUVILLE, France--Ramiro Restrepo has arrived. Fresh off the plane, the first port of call is to pay a visit to Etreham's base in Barn C, where his Hello Youmzain (Fr) colt (lot 38) is based. The Kentucky Derby-winning owner and bloodstock agent has not seen the colt since he purchased him as a foal here at Arqana in December but it doesn't take long to gauge his approval. "Man I am pumped," a larger-than-life Restrepo effuses as the colt exits his stable. There is a certain amount of showmanship to...

Godolphin's €600,000 Arqana August purchase Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Dubai Rose {GB}, by Dubai Destination) shaped with promise when third over seven furlongs at Sandown in his July 7 debut and graduated with a two-length tally over that course and distance towards the end of last month. Stalking the tempo in second through halfway in this black-type bow, the 85-40 second choice was pushed to the front soon after passing the quarter-mile marker and driven clear in the latter stages to comfortably outpoint 'TDN Rising Star' Arabic Legend (Ire) (Dubawi...

Luxury aviation company Flexjet will continue as Arqana's official partner during the August Yearling Sale, which begins on Friday, Aug. 18. Buyers will be offered a magnum of champagne with their first purchase of €500,000 or more at the Deauville venue. The top vendor at the end of each day of the sale will also receive a magnum of champagne. The Flexjet team will be present at the 360° Bar, as well as the Cocktail Bar in Courtyard A throughout the three-day sale. "We are delighted to be involved in...