Ecurie des Monceaux

DEAUVILLE, France—The more things change, the more they stay the same or, as our French friends here in Deauville would say, plus ça change. Sheikh Mohammed buying the top lot by Dubawi (Ire) at a yearling sale is not exactly a surprise, but it is also not a situation that could have been taken for granted ahead of a sales season shrouded by uncertainty. The elite end of the yearling sales market stuttered into action on Wednesday at Arqana, where vendors' pre-sale jitters appeared to be justified through the first...

Henri Bozo talks about Ecurie des Monceaux's 40-strong draft for next week's Deauville Select Yearling Sale, and the opportunities available to buyers throughout the catalogue. [audio mp3="https://wp.tdn.pmadv.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Henri-Bozo_Podcast.mp3"][/audio]

As the leading consignor at the Arqana August Yearling Sale for eight years running, the team at Ecurie des Monceaux knows a thing or two about the importance of drawing a diverse, international assortment of buyers for the blueblooded yearlings on display. Not only did Monceaux breed and sell the top three lots at the 2019 edition of Arqana's flagship sale; it also offered the sale's only two seven-figure yearlings, which went through the ring back-to-back and sold to Godolphin (a €1.625-million Dubawi {Ire} filly now named Philomene {Ire} who...

It was not easy for Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in Sunday's G1 Prix Ganay at Chantilly, but White Birch Farm's G1 Prix du Jockey-Club hero and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe third duly delivered to put his 4-year-old campaign on the right track. Settled third early by Cristian Demuro racing without cover as Shaman (Ire) (Shamardal) enjoyed an unpestered lead, the even-money favourite who had been fourth in the G2 Prix d'Harcourt at ParisLongchamp May 11 gained a narrow advantage with 300 metres remaining and battled gamely as Way...

Twelve months after Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) brought kudos back to Lingfield's Listed Derby Trial, the former group 3 contest played host to another with potential to roll it back to the glory days of High-Rise (Ire), Kahyasi (Ire) and Slip Anchor (GB). While Bjorn Nielsen's colours were being adorned by Frankie Dettori at Newmarket, the Ed Walker-trained English King (GB) (Camelot {GB}) was carrying them around this Epsom-like terrain as if he was on wheels. Moments after he had brushed aside the G3 Zetland S. runner-up Berkshire...

For the Roth Family's LNJ Foxwoods, topping 2019 will be a tall order. The spring got off to a good start when Country House (Lookin at Lucky), who the Roths had bought into after he broke his maiden five starts earlier, posted a 65-1 upset victory in the GI Kentucky Derby. But for Jaime Roth--the 'J' in LNJ alongside her parents Larry and Nanci-there is no question about what the highlight of the year was. That honour falls to Covfefe (Into Mischief), the winner of five of her six starts...