Niarchos Family

The Niarchos Family has had no shortage of Classic success over the years, including at Epsom, where they won a memorably emotional Oaks with the Sir Henry Cecil-trained Light Shift (Kingmambo), but there is to date one omission from their roll call of big-race wins. "We've always dreamt of winning the Derby. We haven't yet, but let's hope that Saturday can go the right way," Alan Cooper, the operation's racing manager, told TDN on Wednesday.  That dream could become reality if Passenger continues to show the level of improvement that...

Historic French stud farm Haras de Fresnay-le Buffard, which has been home to the winners of 45 European Classics, has been put on the market for an undisclosed price by the Niarchos Family. Located in the heart of Normandy, the 205-hectare farm (506 acres) has been under Niarchos ownership since being purchased in 1979 by the late Stavros Niarchos from prominent French owner-breeder Marcel Boussac. Alan Cooper, Racing Manager to the Niarchos Family, said, "It is emotional for the family to say goodbye to Fresnay, but as our racing and...

It's early-February and already the Flat enthusiasts are getting excited about what stallion will end the season as champion first-season sire. A futile exercise, one would have thought? Not a bit of it. Even the greatest handlers of young stock, Malcolm Bastard, Alan McCabe, Joseph O'Brien, Conor Hoban and Dick Brabazon, men who know better than most the folly that comes with predicting 2-year-old talent, are keen to have their say on which up-and-coming stallion can make the biggest splash this season.  O'Brien is sticking loyal to Ten Sovereigns (Ire)...

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. Tuesday's Insights features debuting Tabarin (Ire) (Frankel ({GB}) and 'Rising Star' Eldar Eldarov (Dubawi {Ire}). 2.25 Saint-Cloud, Debuntates, €27,000, 3yo, c/g, 12fT TABARIN (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) debuts for the Niarchos Family and Francis-Henri Graffard and is a son of the G3 Prix Vanteaux winner and G1 Prix Saint-Alary runner-up...

Connections of leading G1 Cazoo Derby hope Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses) have been provided with a massive boost ahead of Epsom after legendary rider Frankie Dettori committed to ride the Donnacha O'Brien-trained colt in the Classic on June 4. Dettori made his Derby breakthrough in 2007 aboard Authorized (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) for Peter Chapple-Hyam as well as partnering John Gosden's Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) to victory in the race back in 2015 and he will bid to win the iconic race for a third time aboard the impressive...

Group 1 winner Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is set for the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot in June, trainer Jessica Harrington revealed. The bay's full-sister Alpha Centauri (Ire) and half-sister Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) both won the contest in 2018 and 2020, respectively. She will attempt to become the third filly out of Alpha Lupi (Ire) (Rahy) to complete the hat trick in the Niarchos family's Flaxman colours. Harrington said, "The plan is to go to Ascot to get the three fillies to win the Coronation...

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 Observations features a full-brother to MG1SW Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). 1.10 Curragh, Mdn, €25,000, 2yo, 6fT SIMPSON'S PARADOX (IRE) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is the 10th foal out of the Niarchos Family's now-legendary Alpha Lupi (Ire) (Rahy), whose prior offerings by this sire are the Group 1-winning distaffers Alpha...

Del Mar, CA--Racing is a sport of great drama, but it is a fair bet that Charlie Appleby wouldn't have minded a bit less of it this weekend. The trainer enjoyed a banner meeting, recording his fourth, fifth AND sixth wins at the Breeders' Cup with the Dubawi (Ire) colts Modern Games (Ire), Space Blues (Ire) and Yibir (GB), all under William Buick in the Juvenile Turf, Mile and Turf, respectively. Appleby also saw two of his runners scratched at the gates-well, three, technically, with Modern Games sensationally re-instated before...

The Niarchos Family was awarded the 2021 Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit at Del Mar during the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Champions on Friday, Nov. 5. Started in 2013 by Longines and the IFHA and given to horsemen and horsewomen who make lifelong contributions to Thoroughbred racing, the award was accepted by Maria Niarchos-Gouaze on behalf of her family. More than 125 Group or Grade 1 winners have been bred and/or campaigned under their banner, and they have been long-time supporters of the Breeders' Cup. Representatives from Longines,...

The Niarchos Family will be honoured with the Longines and IFHA International Award of Merit for 2021. The award recognises distinguished horsemen and horsewomen for lifelong contributions to Thoroughbred racing, with previous winners including the Magnier Family and Aidan O'Brien; the Romanet Family, Jim Bolger, Alec Head and Seth Hancock. The late Stavros Niarchos, a Greek naval officer in World War II who made his fortune in the shipping business, first became involved with Thoroughbred racing in the 1950s before taking a break and returning with a major commitment in...

The Niarchos Family's Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a full-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), will not step out again in 2021 and will instead wait for the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas next year. Sunday's G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine, also a half-sister to G1 Coronation S. winner Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), does hold an entry in the Oct. 8 G1 bet365 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket. Connections were also considering a trip to France on Arc weekend or a run in the Breeders'...

The Curragh's G2 Debutante S. is always a key pointer to the course-and-distance G1 Moyglare Stud S. and Sunday proved no exception as the one-two-three again filled those places headed by the Niarchos Family's Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Only third to Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) in that seven-furlong precedent Aug. 21, the Jessica Harrington trainee has abundant room for improvement within as a full-sister to Alpha Centauri (Ire) and half to Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) and was able to turn that around on this slicker surface. Sent up...