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Italian Derby Runner-Up To O’Meara

After one start for local trainer Raffaele Biondi that resulted in a runner-up effort in the May 23 G2 Derby Italiano, Juan De Montalban (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is headed back to Britain and to the yard of trainer David O'Meara after O'Meara and his assistant Jason Kelly went a sale-topping €400,000 for the 3-year-old at Arqana's Summer Sale on Thursday. Juan De Montalban (lot 488) had been bought by trainer Andrew Balding for 85,000gns as a Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, and sold privately to Italy after posting back-to-back wins for Mick and Janice Mariscotti.

“We've bought him for Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah, who is a longstanding client,” said O'Meara. “He's a lovely looking horse. I think he still has a lot of room to improve and hasn't yet shown us everything he is capable of.”

Juan De Montalban was offered by The Channel Consignment

Following on from a selective market on Wednesday, day two of the sale saw the clearance rate jump up to 85.8%, with 242 sold on the day for €5,054,500. The final tally for the mixed sale was 411 sold for €8,572,000 at a clearance rate of 80%. The average was €20,859 and the median €10,000.

The second session of the Summer Sale included breeding stock and horses in training, but was dominated by the horses in training and The Channel Consignment likewise sold the winning 3-year-old Parmenion (GB) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) (lot 490) to Pierre Boulard, Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins for €230,000. Parmenion is a full-brother to the G3 Prix de Royaumont victress Pelligrina (GB), and their second dam is the recently deceased G1 Prix Vermeille scorer and influential broodmare Pearly Shells.

“He'll join Willie Mullins,” said Boulard. “We're very happy. There's nothing not to like about him, he's a lovely horse that won his debut really well.”

Another headed to Ireland is the Wertheimer et Frere-bred 3-year-old Zileo (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who won over 2650 metres at Chateaubriant on Apr. 26 and was fourth in the recent Listed Derby du Languedoc. He is headed to Irish trainer Michael Halford after being bought by BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe for €150,000.

“He'll go to Ireland to be trained by Michael Halford,” Donohoe said. “He'll be gelded and we'll give him a bit of time. His new owner wishes to run in Dubai, so that'll be his objective next year.”

Saiga (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 356B) likewise heads to Ireland after her sale, but she has a different objective, purchased as she was as a broodmare in foal to Le Havre (Ire) by Horse France on behalf of Castlehyde Farm for €190,000. The 4-year-old carries her first foal and boasted plenty of appeal as a winning and stakes-placed daughter of the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Vorda (Fr) (Orpen).

“We've bought her to develop the broodmare band at Castlehyde,” said Horse France's Robert Nataf. “She corresponds exactly to what we are looking for-a very good pedigree and she is in foal to Le Havre.”

Another mare in foal to Le Havre to find favour on Thursday was Nette Rousse (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (lot 338), a winning half-sister to Hong Kong Group 1 winner Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal) who was bought by Badgers Bloodstock for €110,000. The 5-year-old will foal out in England and be covered by a leading European sire next year before being exported to Australia.

The Aga Khan's Caliyoun (Fr) (Maxios {GB}) (lot 474) had played his part to boost his profile since the catalogue was published, breaking his maiden in his second start at Lyon on June 9, and he duly caught the attention of agent Rupert Pritchard-Gordon, who went to €200,000 for the 3-year-old entire. Caliyoun is out of a half-sister to G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner and sire Clodovil (Ire) and the G3 Gordon Richards S. scorer Columbian (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), and they are out of the G2 Prix de l'Opera victress Clodora (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}).

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Summer Sale Set to Kickstart New Season at Deauville

There is a hint that normalcy is returning to the Deauville sales ring, with the Arqana Summer Sale back up to its normal two-day stand beginning on June 30. A quality mix of 593 National Hunt and Flat horses plus wild cards are slated to be offered over the next two days, and the unraced 2-year-olds were put through their paces over the Deauville-La Touques Racecourse on June 29.

The juveniles kick start the sale, which begins at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, and continues with 156 young store horses and finishes with the Ecurie Central dispersal. On Thursday, there will be 127 fillies and mares, as well as one stallion and 206 horses-in-training will go under the hammer.

Among the juvenile lots of note are: lot 3, a Kodiac (GB) filly out of a Mount Nelson (GB) half-sister to G1 King's Stand S. hero Equiano (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}) from Knockatrina House; lot 18, an Exceed And Excel (Aus) colt who is a half-brother to the MGSW and GISP Elysea's World (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}) from Ecurie Yann Creff; Ecurie Prevost-Baratte's lot 37, a granddaughter of GI Mother Goose S. heroine Buster's Ready (More Than Ready) by Lope de Vega (Ire); a Siyouni (Fr) colt (lot 67) from the extended family of two-time Group 1 winner Ectot (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) consigned by Ecurie Yann Creff; and Knockanglass Stable's lot 81I, a son of Night of Thunder (Ire) out of Clowning (Distorted Humor), herself a daughter of GI Gazelle S. heroine Flashing (A.P. Indy).

Leading the horses-in-training portion is G2 Italian 2000 Guineas hero Fayathaan (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) as lot 503. One of four from Roberto Biondi's Channel Consignment, the 3-year-old colt is joined by group winner Elisa Again (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) (lot 487); 2021 G2 Derby Italiano runner-up Juan de Montalban (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) (lot 488); and the black-type winner and G3 Italian St Leger-placed Agnes (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) (lot 502). Another Flat lot of interest is Jean-Claude Rouget's lot 489, Darkness (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a winner of the Listed Criterium de Lyon and third in the 2021 G3 Prix La Force.

Topping the COVID-19-condensed one-day sale in 2020 was the National Hunt horse-in-training Prunay (Fr) (Prince Gibraltar {Fr}), who changed hands for €240,000. On the Flat side, a juvenile colt named Chez Pierre (Fr) by subsequent Champion First-Crop stallion Mehmas (Ire) brought €100,000. To date, he has won all three of his starts in the blue, green and white colours of American owner Roy Jackson. The overall statistics were 198 offered and 153 sold (77.3%) with a gross of €2,894,000. The average was €18,915 and the median was €9,000.

Back in a coronavirus-free 2019, the sale was conducted over two days and boasted a clearance rate of 77.7% for 296 sold from 381 offered. The gross was €7,578,502, with an average of €25,603 and a median of €15,000.

For the full catalogue or more information, please visit www.arqana.com.

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Le Havre’s Wonderful Tonight Dismisses Hardwicke Opposition

There was one certainty in Saturday's G2 Hardwicke S. and that was that Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) would love the underfoot conditions and despite trainer David Menuisier's misgivings about her readiness, Christopher Wright's G1 Prix de Royallieu and G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine was able to register an impressive win on her comeback. Keen initially for William Buick before being granted a lead, the 5-1 shot moved three-wide on the home bend and had plenty in reserve to seize the advantage two out en route to a 1 1/2-length defeat of the 9-4 favourite Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) as Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) finished the same margin back in third. “When I rode her on Champions Day, I rode her like a real stayer and made plenty of use of her but today she really took me by surprise when she quickened up,” Buick said. “She's top-class and handles this ground well, unlike others, and showed a turn of foot today which she hadn't before. It was her first start of the year, so I thought I'd take a lead and she dropped her head after a couple of furlongs. She's very versatile tactically, as long as she doesn't get chased along too early, and she has a big year ahead.”

Wonderful Tonight, who unusually broke her maiden at Saint-Cloud in a 10-furlong maiden at two, was fourth in Newbury's Listed Abingdon Fillies' S. over that trip on her 3-year-old bow last June before running second to the high-class Valia (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in the Listed Prix de Thiberville over this distance at ParisLongchamp July 23. Turning the tables on that rival when making all in the G3 Prix Minerve at Deauville in August, she was fifth in the G1 Prix Vermeille also over 12 furlongs on livelier ground back at ParisLongchamp in September prior to her victories in the 14-furlong Royallieu there and British Champions Fillies & Mares S. over this track and trip.

Free initially before Buick found cover behind Thunderous (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) as fellow Mark Johnston trainee Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) took up pace-setting duties, Wonderful Tonight had everything covered behind with Broome tracking her but unable to begin to match her change of pace after straightening up. Just as Fanny Logan (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) had in this 12 months ago, she was quickly gone beyond recall with the colts beaten up in her wake. David Menuisier was leaving no one in any doubt as to the importance of the moment in his training career afterwards. “She keeps on amazing me–she is so game and tries hard, as she's only 85% fit today,” he said. “She runs her heart out and I'm so proud of her–no words can describe what it means. You carry it like a monkey on your back until it happens and I'm pleased that Her Majesty managed to come to see Wonderful Tonight! She will go where the ground is softest, whether that's in the [July 4 G1] Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, or the [G1] King George [VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot July 24] or the [Aug. 19 G1] Yorkshire Oaks–anywhere over a mile four where there is a good downpour. The [Oct. 3] Arc is the target. Would we try her on good ground before that? I don't know.”

The success was also a first for Christopher Wright, who said, “I couldn't believe it. What a filly. She is amazing. I have been running horses here for 40 years, almost every year at least one, sometimes several. I've never ever had a winner at Royal Ascot–lots of seconds, lots of very good horses. Culture Vulture, who won a Classic, was second twice, but I've never had a winner here. I almost can't believe it–I thought I never ever would have a winner here, but I have. It means everything, actually. There are winners and winners, but a Royal Ascot winner. I've won a lot of very good races, but to win at Royal Ascot is like I've died and gone to heaven.”

“After last year, when we almost ran Wonderful Tonight in the Arc, we thought that we would target the Arc this year. I know that's like shooting for the moon and it's a pretty tough target to aspire to, but that has been the target and her programme has been based round it, so we didn't want her to start the season too early,” Wright added. “We don't think she's a filly who will like a mid-season break particularly, so we wanted to start the season and gradually bring her along so she could peak on the first weekend of October. This was step one of that plan.”

Wonderful Tonight, who was a €40,000 private purchase at the 2018 Arqana August Sale, is a daughter of Salvation (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) whose first progeny was the stakes winner Penjade (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}). They are out of the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial scorer Birdie (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}), who produced the GIII Providencia S. scorer Hostess (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}). Birdie is kin to the listed-winning Fickle (GB) (Danehill), whose G3 Dahlia S.-winning daughter Tarfah (Kingmambo) was responsible for the G1 2000 Guineas, Epsom and Irish Derby hero and leading sire Camelot (GB) by Salvation's sire Montjeu. Also connected to the G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Polygamy (GB), Salvation's 2-year-old colt by Recorder (GB) was bought by Haras de Montfort and Preaux for €70,000 at the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale. Her yearling filly is by the same sire.

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
HARDWICKE S.-G2, £160,000, Ascot, 6-19, 4yo/up, 11f 211yT, 2:35.31, sf.
1–WONDERFUL TONIGHT (FR), 124, f, 4, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Salvation (GB), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Birdie (GB), by Alhaarth (Ire)
3rd Dam: Fade (GB), by Persepolis (Fr)
(€40,000 Ylg '18 ARAUG). O-Christopher Wright; B-Ecurie La Cauviniere (FR); T-David Menuisier; J-William Buick. £90,736. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 14f+, G1SW-Eng & Fr, 9-5-1-1, $595,662. *1/2 to Penjade (Fr) (Air Chief Marshal {Ire}), SW-US & MSP-Fr, $376,306. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Broome (Ire), 127, h, 5, Australia (GB)–Sweepstake (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (€120,000 RNA Ylg '17 GOFOR; 150,000gns Ylg '17 TATDEY). O-Masaaki Matsushima, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £34,400.
3–Hukum (Ire), 127, c, 4, Sea the Stars (Ire)–Aghareed, by Kingmambo. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Owen Burrows. £17,216.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, 2HF. Odds: 5.00, 2.25, 8.00.
Also Ran: Thunderous (Ire), Albaflora (GB), Japan (GB), Sir Ron Priestley (GB), Ilaraab (Ire), Highest Ground (Ire), Deja (Fr). Scratched: Bangkok (Ire), Logician (GB), Mogul (GB), Pablo Escobarr (Ire), Tiger Moth (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Adlerflug’s Alenquer Prevails In King Edward Test

After Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) had provided William Haggas with solace for having to watch the G1 Epsom Derby take place without his star colts, M M Stables' Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) also came to Royal Ascot to add further consolation in Friday's G2 King Edward VII S. There is no doubt he would have played a major role in this year's blue riband on the bare form of his defeat of Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Apr. 23 G3 Sandown Classic Trial, but after a subsequent setback this was the path he was set upon and he duly regained all momentum in the 'Ascot Derby'. Always comfortable racing in rear in the rain-soaked ground, the 13-8 favourite was sent forward by Tom Marquand to tackle Tasman Bay (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) inside the final two furlongs and he was already in command as they passed the furlong pole. At the line, he had 1 1/2 lengths to spare over that imposing rival, with Title (GB) (Camelot {GB}) 2 1/2 lengths back in third. “When a horse does that, with a subsequent Derby winner behind, everyone expects a high level afterwards and he made my life easy,” the winning rider said. “William showed that patience is a virtue yesterday and it shows the wisdom he brings–they could have supplemented this horse and thrown him in the deep end in the Derby but instead came here and I think looking back in a few months time it will have been a blessing. On this ground, saving energy is key and I was really happy with the rhythm he found. The race opened out beautifully from the three and I always felt like I had plenty of horse to go for. It's onwards and upwards for him, I think.”

Alenquer, who was also second in the Listed Ascendant S. on testing ground at Haydock in September, could yet be Classic-bound according to Maureen Haggas. “He could easily be a [Sept. 11 G1] St Leger horse, but it's hard to know really,” she said. “He wasn't stopping here, so I think we will just see how it goes. He didn't do much wrong last year, but he was probably a bit immature still. He surprised us a little bit at Sandown, but he's more grown up this year. He's a bit of a boy at home, but at the races this year he's been really professional and focused and he's definitely going the right way.”

“I think he was a bit fresh though, a little bit keen the first furlong, but once Tom had him in behind and settled, he was great. To be honest, we didn't know whether the ground would suit or not, but this horse is German and German horses often go in the slow ground, so we thought we'd give it a go and find out. I think he is pretty versatile–just a thoroughly nice, tough, genuine horse and a good guy to have around. He's got a pretty good action on him–I wouldn't say he was ground-dependent.” William added, “He isn't in the [G1] Grand Prix de Paris, but we could go there. It is such a pain getting to France at the minute, but it's on July 14, so it's pretty good timing. We could supplement, because it's a good race. He's not a 'today' horse–he's very much for the longer term as well, so we've lots of exciting options.”

Sir Mark Todd said of Tasman Bay, “That was a super run. He is such a lovely horse–he is huge, with a massive stride. He is lovely to ride. He just got a bit keen early on, but when he kicked I thought he might have had it but the other horse just came at him. He is a beautiful mover and seems to act on anything.”

Alenquer is the second foal out of Wild Blossom (Ger) (Areion {Ger}), who is a half-sister to the Listed Junioren-Preis winner Wilder Wein (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) and a granddaughter of the influential Waitotara (Ire) (Habitat). The second dam of Hong Kong's champion stayer Mr Medici (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and the excellent producer Wild Romance (Ger) (Alkalde {Ger}), she is therefore the ancestress of the likes of the G3 Prix Miesque winner and G1 Preis der Diana runner-up White Rose (Ger) (Platini {Ger}), the G2 EuropaChampionat winner Wild Side (Ger) (Sternkonig {Ire}), her triple group-winning daughter Wild Coco (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}) and the G2 Oettingen-Rennen scorer Vintager (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Wild Blossom also has a 2-year-old filly by Zarak (Fr) and a yearling colt by Galiway (GB) bought for €100,000 by Haras de Meautry at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale.

Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING EDWARD VII S.-G2, £173,400, Ascot, 6-18, 3yo, c/g, 11f 211yT, 2:41.31, hy.
1–ALENQUER (FR), 126, c, 3, by Adlerflug (Ger)
1st Dam: Wild Blossom (Ger), by Areion (Ger)
2nd Dam: Wind in her Hair (Ger), by Turtle Island (Ire)
3rd Dam: Waitotara (Ire), by Habitat
(€18,000 Wlg '18 ARQDE; 80,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-M M Stables; B-Gestut Romerhof (FR); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £98,335. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $183,498. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tasman Bay (Fr), 126, c, 3, Le Havre (Ire)–Purely Priceless (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). (€220,000 Ylg '19 ARAUG). O-Sir Peter Vela; B-SARL de Chambure, Haras d'Etreham & SARL Ecurie des Charmes (FR); T-Sir Mark Todd. £37,281.
3–Title (Ire), 126, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Danehill's Dream (Ire), by Danehill. (€175,000 Ylg '19 GOFOR). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Charles Church); B-Llang Bloodstock (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £18,658.
Margins: 1HF, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.63, 10.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: The Mediterranean (Ire), Gear Up (Ire), Belloccio (Fr). Scratched: Gloucestershire, Yibir (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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