Month: September 2020

TDN Q & A With Nicolas de Watrigant

With the yearling sales now in full swing TDN quizzes industry figures on past purchases, life during lockdown and gets their perspective on the sales for the next few weeks. Nicolas de Watrigant answers our questions today.

TDN:  What was your best yearling purchase over the last few years? And your favourite?

NDW: From the 2014 Arqana August sale, Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was definitely one of the very best horses I have purchased. Winning both the Prix Rothschild G1 at Deauville and the G1 Coronation S. during Royal Ascot, in front of Her Majesty The Queen, is one of my fondest racing memories and it was an amazing moment for H.E Sheikh Joaan Al Thani and all of the filly’s connections.

TDN: Is there any positive you have taken from how the sales have been conducted this year?

NDW: Absolutely, I think the different sales companies in the world have managed to adapt really well to the problem, whether with re-arranging sales dates and locations, but also giving more information to the buyers online and the opportunity to buy online. This is a great step for the future. The sales companies who have combined their efforts and worked together, have in my opinion, shown true intelligence in a difficult moment.

TDN: How has your business adapted?

NDW: As we couldn’t move from home during lockdown, it gave me the opportunity to spend time with my family while I was getting news on the phone from the different trainers that we’re working with. It enabled me to continue reporting to our clients. As soon as lockdown was over we got back to a nearly normal life, on mornings going to the various training centers in France to check clients’ horses and sourcing new horses for others clients. We realized that, in France, we were lucky that racing resumed shortly after, even though we weren’t able to attend racing.

TDN: In general what are your thoughts on the 2020 yearling catalogues? And what progeny of new stallions are you most looking forward to?

NDW: The 2020 Arqana Select Sale catalogue appears to be a very good vintage with the offspring of many proven stallions such as Galileo (Ire), Dubawi (Ire), Sea the Stars (Ire), Frankel (GB), Kingman (GB), Lope de Vega (Ire), Invincible Spirit (Ire), Le Havre (Ire), Siyouni (Fr), Kodiac (GB), Wootton Bassett (GB), Dark Angel (Ire), etc. I believe that it really is a year of opportunities, and the chance for owner/breeders to get into big European families from England, Ireland, Germany and Italy at more reasoned prices.

The Arqana Select Sale has proved over the years that it is a great source of top class horses, more recently with G1 horses like Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) who won the French Derby for Peter Brandt, or with Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) who is a Breeders’ Cup Mile & triple Grade I winner in the USA, which I was lucky to purchase in association with Bradley Weisbord for Madaket and their partners.

As for the new stallions, I am naturally looking forward to see the first yearlings of Al Wukair (Ire), whom I purchased as a yearling for Al Shaqab Racing. Al Wukair won the G1 Jacques le Marois as a 3-year-old just like Kingman and Dubawi, and was a close third in the G1 2000 Guineas to another young and talented horse, Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

TDN: Did you develop any new interests or hobbies during lockdown?

NDW: I think my wife, Meryl, was hoping for me to improve my cooking skills during that time, but it didn’t happen. I love gardening, during lockdown it was a great excuse for me to exercise this passion with my kids.

TDN: Who’s the most interesting person you know?

NDW: Without hesitation I would say Mrs. Tsui, the owner of Sea The Stars, who I am lucky to work with. I have a lot of admiration for what she has achieved in her life. Mrs. Tsui won the Arc twice with both the incredible mare Urban Sea (Miswaki) and her son Sea The Stars, nearly three times with Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) beaten a nose by Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). She is a women who is very knowledgeable in many sectors of many industries.

TDN: What’s one mistake (if any) you made in your career, and what did you learn from it?

NDW: I am always following my instinct to make the right decision but not listening to my wife was my mistake in the past, as she is great adviser. I now make sure I listen to her.

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Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase Kicks Off Wednesday

With the Fasig-Tipton July Yearling Sale, Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale and New York-Bred Yearling Sale all canceled, the sale’s company offers a combination of all three auctions Sept. 9-10 at Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky, in the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase.

“It was a situation where we had to develop alternatives as it became apparent that the July Sale could not be conducted,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning said. “At about the same time, it also became apparent it would be very, very difficult, if not impossible, to have a traditional sale in Saratoga. We believe this format is the best alternative and we have been positively received by consignors, who have supported us with really good horses. 2020 has been a year of adaptation and a year of making the best of the cards you are dealt. I think we have done a good job of that, but we fell good about the quality of horses and the reception we have gotten from buyers so far as well.”

In addition to the revised format, sale attendees will also encounter a series of new protocols at Fasig-Tipton in-keeping with the recommended COVID-19 guidelines. Attendance at the sale will be limited and all interested parties must apply for a credential on the Virtual Badge smart phone app.

“There will be reduced capacity in the pavilion and temperature screening to gain access to the grounds,” said Browning. “Access will be limited and everyone has to apply for the virtual badge to gain access. Everyone, but the buyers, have to have a negative COVID-19 test. We have to wipe down the common area spaces, wear face shields in the sales office, modify food service. We have also put up two large tents to create more outdoor spaces to make people feel more comfortable. We have internet bidding and increased phone bidding.”

The Selected Yearlings Showcase catalogue is comprised of 662 yearlings, the first 178 of which are New York-breds. Selling begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 9 with hips 1-330 and continues Sept. 10 with hips 331-662.

Stallions represented in the catalogue include American Pharoah, Candy Ride (Arg), Constitution, Curlin, the late Empire Maker, Into Mischief, Malibu Moon, Medaglia d’Oro, Nyquist, Quality Road and Uncle Mo. There will also be yearlings on offer from the first crop of several exciting young stallions, such as the late Arrogate, Classic Empire, Connect, Cupid, Gun Runner, Lord Nelson, Mastery, Mohaymen and Practical Joke.

The post Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase Kicks Off Wednesday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Del Mar Wraps Up with Handle Increase; Prat Edges Rispoli for Jockey Title

During these unprecedented times of global pandemic and spectator-free stands, the 81st Del Mar summer meet wrapped up Monday with a gripping battle to the wire between Flavien Prat and Umberto Rispoli for leading jockey honors. They were tied at 49 races apiece going into the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity, with Prat winning on Dr. Schivel (Violence) and Rispoli finishing fourth on Scooby (Fast Anna). It was the penultimate race of the meet and left Prat alone atop the rider standings with 50 wins and $2,968,918 in earnings. It marked the fourth leading jockey title at Del Mar for Prat in the last five years, who won 15 black-type events during the meet.

Trainer Peter Miller was a runaway winner of the trainer title, notching 28 wins and $1,498,472 in earnings. It was his fourth leading training title of Del Mar’s summer meet. Conditioner Phil D’Amato came in second with 20 wins. Leading owner honors went to both Reddam Racing and Hronis Racing with the former having higher earnings–$452,180–and the latter having more wins with seven.

Del Mar closed out the summer meet with an 8% increase in total wagering compared to last year, in spite of having 27 racing days in 2020 compared to the 36 days of 2019. Total wagering was $466.68 million, an increase of $34.71 million compared to the $431.98 million of 2019. Average daily handle was $17.28 million, an increase of 44% from 2019 when fans were allowed. Online wagering increased by 125% in the state of California, with out-of-state wagering growing by 65%. Del Mar was a first-time host of California’s wagering for the GI Kentucky Derby with the seaside track handing $24.8 million on the day, the fourth-highest wagering day in Del Mar’s history.

In addition, Del Mar field size increased from 8.0 runners per race last year to 8.4 runners per race this year.

“Given the extraordinary circumstances, we are very pleased with our results,” said Joe Harper, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s CEO. “The racing product was first-rate and players around the country responded in kind. It is especially gratifying that we were able to achieve positive business results while maintaining our commitment to the health and safety of our workforce and our neighbors despite the obvious challenges.”

The post Del Mar Wraps Up with Handle Increase; Prat Edges Rispoli for Jockey Title appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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