Arqana

As part of his official duties, Keeneland's Director of Sales Operations Dean Roethemeier was attending the races Saturday at Meydan in Dubai at the same time that drone and missile attacks launched by Iran were hitting nearby. While he said he never felt unsafe, he noted that his biggest worry was, with the Dubai International Airport having been shuttered, how he was going to make it back home? But after a long, complicated journey, he had made it to Amsterdam on Tuesday and was expecting to land at the Cincinnati...

Charles Briere's Fairway Consignment was responsible for two of the top three lots during Tuesday's opening session of the Arqana February Mixed Sale, including the Listed-winning hurdler Elektrix (Gemix), who was knocked down to Hubert Barbe of Horse Racing Advisory - bidding on behalf of Haras de Couëly - for €80,000. Offered as lot 113, Elektrix enjoyed her career highlight when winning the Listed Prix Gaston Branere at Auteuil in April last year. The five-year-old is out of another talented hurdler in the G3 Prix Pierre de Lassus winner and...

G3 Prix Antoine de Vazelhes heroine Lovran (No Risk At All) (AQPS) is one of three wildcards added to the Arqana February Mixed Sale, set for February 17-18. Consigned as lot 130, she is a half-sister to the Group 1-placed Kahula (Authorized) (AQPS). Joining her is second out winner Recollect (Recoletos) (lot 365), who hails from the family of Group 1 winners Harzand, Emily Upjohn (Sea The Stars), Seal Of Approval (Authorized) and Hurricane Lane. Rounding out the trio is Mystere Du Repas (Choeur Du Nord). Lot 365A is a...

Victorious Racing's €1-million Arqana August graduate Warriors Whisper (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) repaid some of that investment with a narrow debut victory in Saturday's Prix du Nice Havrais at Deauville. Under wraps off the tempo in eighth through halfway, the 9-10 favourite made smooth headway into contention with 350 metres remaining and was ridden out in the closing stages to deny Shelzawa (Zelzal) by a short-neck. Warriors Whisper is the third of five foals and second scorer produced by G3 Park Express Stakes victrix Normandel (Le Havre), who is...

A pair of debut winners were added to the Arqana February Mixed Sale as wildcards, set for February 17-18. Dante Nonantais (Hunter's Light) (lot 355) won over 1900 metres at Deauville last week. The GI Santa Anita Handicap hero Urgent Request (Rainbow Quest) is a member of the three-year-old colt's extended family. Joining him in the catalogue is Highbourne Karisma (Doctor Dino) (lot 360). The five-year-old mare claimed a 2300-metre win at first asking. She is a granddaughter of multiple stakes winner and G1 Prix Alain du Breil runner-up Katkovana...

The recent Listed winner Believer (Make Believe) (lot 345) is one of two wildcards added to the catalogue for the two-day Arqana February Sale, which gets underway on Tuesday, February 17. Trained by Gianluca Bietolini, Believer previously changed hands at the 2024 Arqana Arc Sale when bought by owner Omar Esmil Sh Ghrghar for €150,000. Last seen winning the Listed GP Riviera Cote d'Azur at Cagnes-sur-Mer on January 24, the five-year-old will be offered as the winner of five of his 16 career starts. The full catalogue is available to...

The two-day Arqana February Mixed Sale features 400 lots, including Sign And Seal (Hurricane Run), the dam of Group 1 winner Beaute Cachee (Literato), on February 17-18. The catalogue includes 152 mares and 81 fillies, as well as 50 short yearlings, and the complete dispersal of Al Shahania's thoroughbreds, and four stallion shares set to go under the hammer during the first session. The second session will consist of the second breeding stock portion, following on from the dispersal of Franck Leblanc, a selection of two- and three-year-old stores, 14...

A share in Zarak (lot 1) anchors the Arqana Online January Sale catalogue. The sale is set for Monday, January 19 from 3-5 p.m. local time. One of the best stallions in France, the son of Dubawi has sired 11% stakes winners per runners and 72% winners to runners from all his crops. Among his best progeny is the French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan, as well as fellow Group 1 winners Haya Zark and Zagrey. Zarak's yearlings sold for up to €1.1 million last term. Another highlight of the sale...

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...

Sam Sangster's gathering of smart mares with which to launch the new National Stud stallion Diego Velazquez continued on the third day of the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale in Deauville, where he bought the session-topper, Invaluable (Invincible Spirit), in foal to first-season sire Vandeek for €121,000 from the Fairway Consignment. The unraced Invaluable (lot 774), now nine, is a sister to the Listed winner Emmaus, while their dam Prima Luce (Galileo) won the G3 Athasi Stakes. Recent G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern winner Bay City Roller (New Bay) features under...

DEAUVILLE, FRANCE -- "Deep German family" was an oft-uttered phrase during Sunday's session of the Arqana Vente d'Elevage, most notably in the case of top lot Qualixia (lot 464), who is set to continue her racing career with Joseph O'Brien after being bought by Blandford Bloodstock's Stuart Boman for €320,000. Last seen making a black-type breakthrough in the Listed Grand Prix de Fontainebleau, Qualixia was offered by trainer Philippe Decouz as the winner of four of her 11 career starts. Bred by Gestut Fahrhof, the four-year-old daughter of Blue Point...

DEAUVILLE, FRANCE -- From Newmarket bargain buy to Deauville showstopper, Half Sovereign made "a dream come true" on Saturday when selling to Henry Lascelles for €2.6 million to headline the opening session of the Arqana Vente d'Elevage. Offered by Consign Ltd on behalf of trainer Karl Burke and his partner in the daughter of Ten Sovereigns, Adam Spratt, the two-year-old has gone from strength to strength since her low-profile appearance at last year's Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale. Purchased by Burke for just 12,000gns at Park Paddocks, Half Sovereign has gone...