Jean-Claude Rouget

DEAUVILLE, France--Deliverance came a day early for Katie McGivern at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale as lot 64, a Sioux Nation filly and lot 66, a filly by Siyouni (Fr), finished in the top five fastest times overall in the session. It was McGivern's fillies, the only two that she brought to one of the premier breeze-up sales in Europe, who emerged from the cavalry of 130 juveniles as being up there with the fastest on show. McGivern stuck her neck out in going to €68,000 for the Siyouni filly out...

His Highness The Aga Khan's Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), winner of last term's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage, was a class above his rivals in Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche and laid down a marker for next month's G1 Prix du Jockey Club with an impressive 2 1/2-length success in the nine-furlong Chantilly feature. The homebred bay had previously opened up with a July 21 debut score at Bordeaux-Le Bouscat and closed his three-race juvenile campaign with a third in this venue's Sept. 29 G3 Prix de Conde....

Jean-Claude Rouget is not prone to hyperbole so, when the decorated French handler compared the unexposed Al Hakeem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) to his only G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) earlier this week, some people did a double take. Not Benoit Jeffroy, who manages Haras de Bouquetot on behalf of the Al Shaqab operation. Jeffroy has long been aware of the standing in which the multiple Classic-winning trainer has held Al Hakeem and, when the colt won the Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly on...

Al Shaqab Racing's €80,000 Arqana September graduate Welwal (GB) (Shalaa {Ire}, who snagged two of three juvenile outings last term, went postward for Sunday's G3 Prix de Fontainebleau at ParisLongchamp coming back off a Mar. 22 conditions second at Chantilly and was comfortably on top at the end of the one-mile test. Steadied to race behind the leaders in sixth for the most part, the 28-5 chance made headway under pressure in the straight to challenge with 300 metres remaining and was ridden out in the dying embers to deny...

The Aga Khan's Erevann (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) was the key member of an intriguing Prix Comrade at Saint-Cloud on Tuesday as a son of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix du Moulin heroine Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Labelled a TDN Rising Star on debut at Deauville in October, the homebred bay duly delivered to take his record to two-for-two in the mile conditions event which serves as a pointer to the Apr. 17 G3 Prix Fontainebleau and ultimately the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains....

Riviera Equine & Haras d'Etreham's 3-year-old colt Lassaut (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) followed up a Dec. 12 debut third going 7 1/2 furlongs at Deauville with a taking one-length triumph upped to one mile at Chantilly coming back for his sophomore return in Wednesday's Prix de la Broutillerie. The Jean-Claude Rouget trainee, sent postward as the 16-5 second favourite, was the slowest of eight into stride and raced in rear through halfway. Easing to the outside for a clear passage soon after passing the quarter-mile marker, he came under urging approaching...

From the mud and the murk of a storm-hit Deauville on Thursday emerged the latest TDN Rising Star as The Aga Khan's Erevann (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) strutted his stuff in the card's opening Prix de Saint-Desir for unraced juveniles. A son of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix du Moulin heroine Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) racing for the Jean-Claude Rouget stable, the April-foaled bay was patiently ridden by Christophe Soumillon towards the rear early. Making smooth headway in the straight, the 41-10 second favourite...

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. Today's Observations features a close relative of this year's dual Group 1-winning 2-year-old Perfect Power. 1.58 ParisLongchamp, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 9fT EPIC POET (IRE) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) starts out for the White Birch Farm and Jean-Claude Rouget connection and is a 450,000gns Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book...

Jean-Claude Rouget trainee Zelda (Fr) (Zaelzal {Fr}) became the first black-type winner for her Haras de Bouquetot-based freshman sire (by Sea the Stars {Ire}) with a pillar-to-post victory by two lengths in Saturday's Listed Prix Saraca at Chantilly. Zelda bagged a July 9 debut score going six furlongs in a Saint-Cloud newcomers' heat and doubled up over seven in an Aug. 4 conditions heat at Clairefontaine, but finished last of six tackling the latter trip in ParisLongchamp's Sept. 5 G3 Prix La Rochette last time. Breaking sharply from the outside...

A Group 3 winner and Group 2-placed, 3-year-old filly Penja (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) (lot 11) brought star quality to Saturday night's Arqana Arc Sale at Saint-Cloud Racecourse, and she duly topped proceedings at €1.2 million when Stuart Boman of Blandford Bloodstock prevailed over a remote bidder on Arqana's online platform. Boman noted Penja had been bought for German owner Jurgen Satori. "We're very happy with the purchase," Boman said. "She's an exceptional filly with a fantastic acceleration. We had to fight to get her but she's worth it. We're delighted."...

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. Today's Observations features the return of a 'TDN Rising Star'. 2.07 Saint-Cloud, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, 7 1/2fT GOOD TOO (FR) (Ectot {GB}) earned 'TDN Rising Star' status on his winning debut at Deauville last month and Jean-Claude Rouget has opted to go steady for now with Al Shaqab's half-brother...

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. Today's Observations features the return of a recent 'TDN Rising Star' 14.50 Chantilly, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, 7fT Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani's once-raced OSMOSE (FR) (Zoffany {Ire}) attained 'TDN Rising Star' status with an impressive takedown of a Deauville debutantes' heat last month and steps up to seven...