Arqana Unveils Inaugural September Yearling Sale Catalogue

The 315-strong Arqana September Yearling Sale catalogue was released on Friday. Slated for Sept. 8-9, the sale will offer a selection of forward and mature yearlings, and is an substitute and extension of the v.2 Yearling Sale that was traditionally held directly after the August Yearling Sale in Deauville. Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}), a €40,000 purchase out of the v.2 Sale, went on to win the G1 French 1000 Guineas.

One of only two Wootton Bassett (GB) yearlings in the catalogue is lot 217, a son of Group 3 winner Breath of Love (Mutakddim). Consigned by Haras d'Etreham, the colt is a half-brother to listed winners Bocaiuva (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Beauty of Love (GB) (Elusive City).

Some of the other lots on offer include lot 55, a Normandie Breeding-consigned daughter of Ribchester (Ire) out of a half-sister to dual Grade/Group 1 winner Flotilla (Fr) (Mizzen Mast), who won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and the G1 French 1000 Guineas, as well as the extended family to this season's French 1000 Guineas victress Mangoustine (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}); Haras de Beauvoir's lot 98, a son of Dark Angel (Ire) whose dam is a full-sister to G1 Prix Marcel Boussac victress Rosanara (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}); an Intello (Ger) colt (lot 157) who is a half-brother to G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Morandi (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) from the draft of Coulonces; Haras de Bourgeauville consigns a colt (lot 179) by Olympic Glory (Ire) out of Agua de Valencia (Fr) (Approve {Ire}), herself a half-sister to G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner and €2.5-million Arqana December purchase Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}); and a Shalaa (Ire) half-sister (lot 271) to Group 3 winner Vue Fantastique (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), also placed at the top level, hails from Haras de Maulepaire.

The sale will begin at 2 p.m. local time each day, with 157 going under the hammer on Thursday and 156 yearlings set to sell on Friday.

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Deauville August Kicks Off In Style

Deauville's month-long festival begins on Tuesday, with the G1 Prix Rothschild the central focus of the opening fixture switched from its customary slot on the last Sunday in July.

As usual, the foreign presence is strong and foreboding, with Aidan O'Brien looking to continue his golden year in France with Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Successful in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 2, she has since run second to Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}) in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp May 16, third in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 18 and runner-up again in the G1 Falmouth S. on Newmarket's July course. The form of that July 9 contest could hardly have worked out better at Goodwood this week, with Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) making their presence felt in the G1 Sussex S. and the fourth-placed Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) scooping the G1 Nassau S.

Fifth in the Falmouth and finishing strongly to beaten just over a length in total, David Ward's Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. winner Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) tries again with trainer Ed Walker expecting her to be in the mix.

“I'm very hopeful,” he said. “She's only had three runs this year and the only time she had an uninterrupted passage she absolutely trotted up. She is massively exciting and she's in great form. We haven't had to do a lot with her since the Falmouth to keep her happy and well. This year, we seem to have found the hottest renewal of the Falmouth in history. We've got to turn the form round with Mother Earth, which I wouldn't bet against her doing. We're just hoping we have a smooth trip and if she does I think she'll be bang there.”

Of the home team, the Katsumi Yoshida-owned Coeursamba, who after her Pouliches victory has subsequently finished 11th trying the 10 1/2-furlong trip of the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly June 20, and Teruya Yoshida's acquisition Tahlie (Fr) (Rio de la Plata) appear to hold the strongest claims. Tahlie beat the Pouliches third Kennella (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) in the G2 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly June 6, but needs to improve significantly to put it up to the raiding party.

Germany are well-represented, with Gestut Brummerhof's Novemba (Ger) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Cayton Park Stud Ltd and Team Valor's Axana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). Novemba was the impressive winner of the May 30 G2 German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf before finishing a respectable fourth in the Coronation and is set to give jockey Bauyrzhan Murzabayev the ultimate thrill, while Axana faces the sternest test of her career having annexed Lingfield's G3 Chartwell Fillies' S. over seven furlongs May 8.

 

Colts Eye Group 3 Laurel

The card kicks off with two races for juveniles headed by the six-furlong G3 Darley Prix de Cabourg, where John and Jess Dance's Sam Maximus (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) could set off another spree for overseas challengers who perennially farm the black-type races at this meeting.

Setting the clear form standard on his latest third in the G2 July S. at Newmarket July 8, where the subsequent G2 Richmond S. winner Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) was a head in front in second, the Tom Dascombe-trained bay has a trio of domestically-trained unexposed colts to contend with. They are Gerard Augustin-Normand's impressive July 13 Prix des Yearlings winner Toimy Son (Fr) (Twilight Son {GB}) from the Yann Barberot stable, Hollymount Stud France's Sunday Best (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), who was a five-length winner also over this course and distance July 13, and the Andre Fabre-trained Trident (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier and Westerberg's bay beat a subsequent winner over 6 1/2 furlongs on a testing surface at ParisLongchamp June 24 and it is interesting that the master of Chantilly pitches him in here in the race he has won on seven occasions.

 

Hunt For Perfection

In the G3 Prix Six Perfections Sky Sports Racing, Fabre also has the exciting unbeaten Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who has been purchased by Ali Hamad Al Attiya after her dazzling success in the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure over this seven-furlong trip and track July 11. George Boughey sends across Nick Bradley Racing's Galileo Gold (GB) duo Oscula (Ire) and Hellomydarlin (Ire), with the pair third and 12th respectively in the six-furlong G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot June 18. The former was fourth next time in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at Newmarket July 9, while Hellomydarlin managed third in the G2 Prix Robert Papin also over six at Chantilly July 18.

“The ground was too quick for Oscula at Newmarket last time,” Boughey said. “It looks like there's a bit of ease out there this time, which should suit her. She was third in the Albany on heavy and then it was very soft ground on Oaks day when she won the Woodcote. She's rated 100, goes there in good shape, so I think she has a good chance. Jockey reports and everything I've seen have always suggested Hellomydarlin would get seven. She's a big, strong filly and goes there with a decent chance as well. They worked together the other day and they worked as well as each other. Obviously one will beat the other, but where they finish, I'm not sure.”

Another British raider is Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Daneh (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was impressive when beating a subsequent winner in a novice over this trip on her sole start on Kempton's Polytrack June 23. A daughter of the top-class Rizeena (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), she is an unknown quantity in this line-up.

“She won very well at Kempton and we thought she deserved a chance in a stakes race,” Ed Crisford commented. “We were going to run her in a listed race at Sandown the other day, but it was very firm ground and she wouldn't want that. It still looks a very punchy affair out there, but she's in good form and I think she's come on again from her first run so we're expecting a good run from her.”

Also in the mix is Alain Jathiere and Guy Pariente's Pascal Bary-trained Lovamour (Fr) (Goken {Fr}), who took a 5 1/2-furlong Chantilly maiden June 20 which has received several boosts and in which the aforementioned Cabourg contender Sunday Best was third, and The Aga Khan's impressive July 15 Chantilly conditions winner Soumera (Fr) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).

 

Angel Hoping to Earn Halo in Psyche

The 10-furlong G3 Prix de Psyche Sky Sports Racing features the June 4 G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) who is another Nick Bradley-Boughey project excelling above expectations.

“It seems everywhere she goes, the rain follows her. She's in very good form–she's been busy, but she takes her racing incredibly well,” her trainer said. “She's not bred to get a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half, but I think because she's so relaxed she's able to. We'll probably look to make plenty of use of her and get on the front. James Doyle will know that she stays a mile and a half well and be pretty positive on her.”

Among her seven opponents are Irish challenger The Blue Brilliant, who moves up in class in search of her hat-trick for Jessica Harrington.

Click here to view the group fields.

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Arqana V.2 Yearling Catalogue Released

The Arqana v.2 Yearling Sale, which took a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will return to its home in Deauville directly after the Arqana August Sale. A one-day event, the Aug. 17 sale features 146 colts and fillies geared toward precocity on the racecourse. Current poster girl is 2021 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}), while earlier distinguished alumni include fellow French 1000 Guineas heroine Teppal (Fr) (Camacho {GB}) and Olmedo (Fr) (Declaration of War), who won the colts' equivalent in 2017.

There are a wide variety of established sires represented, among them Acclamation (GB) (1), Dabirsim (Fr) (8), Dream Ahead (4), Footstepsinthesand (GB) (1), Galiway (GB) (2), Gleneagles (Ire) (1), Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) (1), Kendargent (Fr) (1), Kodi Bear (Ire) (1), Kodiac (GB) (3), Mehmas (Ire) (4), Night Of Thunder (Ire) (1), Oasis Dream (GB) (1), Olympic Glory (Ire) (4), Wootton Bassett (GB) (3) and Zoffany (Ire) (3). Some of the sires with first-crop yearlings set to go through the ring are: Cloth Of Stars (Ire) (2), Expert Eye (GB) (1), Harry Angel (Ire) (1), Havana Grey (GB) (1), Recoletos (Fr) (3), Seahenge (5) and Sioux Nation (5).

Among the lots of interest are: lot 480, a son of Kodiac out of listed winner Beauty of Love (GB) (Elusive City) consigned by Haras d'Etreham; a Dabirsim filly (lot 361) who is a half-sister to stakes winner Eleni (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) from the extended family of Grade I winner Gorella (Fr) (Grape Tree Road {GB}) offered by Haras de Grandcamp; a Haras des Faunes-consigned Kheleyf half-brother (lot 389) to G3 Prix du Bois winner Livachope (Fr) (Goken {Fr}); lot 435, a Recoletos filly who is a half to group winner Absolutly Yes (Fr) (Country Reel) from the draft of Haras de lAumonerie; and a Shalaa (Ire) half-brother (lot 498) to the listed-winning trio of Prince Falcon (Fr) (Shirocco {Ger}), Cashman (Fr) (Soldier of Fortune {Ire}), and Only The Brave (Fr) (Iffraaj {GB}) from Haras de Castillon.

In 2019, the sale grossed €4,080,000 for 110 sold (79%) from 139 offered. The average was €37,091 and the median was €31,000.

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Diane Draw Kind to Joan of Arc

Thursday saw the draw made for Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, with a field of 18 diminished to 17 following the instant withdrawal of Dr Christoph Berglar's G2 Diana Trial winner Amazing Grace (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}) due to her outside stall in 17. Aidan O'Brien is looking for a third French Classic in 2021 and a first success in the 10 1/2-furlong feature with Joan of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who was denied late by Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh May 23. She will be ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal, who partnered St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) to a first G1 Prix du Jockey Club for Ballydoyle over the same course and distance two weeks ago. Upped to middle distances for the first time, she has been favourably drawn in five while Godolphin, Ecurie des Monceaux and Ecurie Skymarc Farm's Apr. 6 G3 Prix Penelope winner Philomene (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is in eight. Abdullah bin Fahad Al Attiyah's May 16 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Coeursamba (Fr) (The Wow Signal {Ire}) is next door in nine, with trainer Jean-Claude Rouget explaining his decision to re-route his filly here.

“It's true that after the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches that I had talked about the possibility of keeping Coeursamba to a mile and having a crack at the Coronation S. was mooted. However on the one hand, making travel arrangements is very complicated, and on the other she would have had to be supplemented,” he said. “There would have been a significant cost factor to all of us and we had to weigh this against the prize money on offer for the Diane, even if you only get placed. Therefore, we'll try the step up in distance, knowing that the filly worked very well on Monday morning. If the 2100 metres proves to be too far, we'll still have the option of reverting to a mile without having devalued the filly. Cristian Demuro will ride her.”

There was a blow for Gerard Augustin-Normand, with his May 24 G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Incarville (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) drawn widest of all in 18, and the news what not much better for Yeguada Centurion SL's 'TDN Rising Star' Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) who will have to navigate stall 15.

Chantilly's Marin Le Cour Grandmaison is hoping the forecast thunderstorms do not wreak havoc. “On Wednesday morning, the ground rated 3.2 [good] on the penetrometer scale, so we are in the same situation as we were before the Qatar Prix du Jockey-Club,” he said. “Thunderstorms are forecast from Thursday morning onwards and, for the moment, it is difficult to predict how the ground will ride on Sunday. It will really depend on the amount of rainfall and it's quite random. Given the very sandy nature of the soil, the course drains and the track hasn't been used since the Jockey-Club. It has been mowed, rolled and aerated. The far running rail will remain in its usual place. It's really a headache when it comes to anticipating how many millimetres of rain will fall on the course and the storms will be the key determiner regarding the state of the ground.”

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