You can find Cooper's letter in full here. In essence, it highlights the fortunes of two Frankel colts, the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner and Arc runner-up Westover and the Dewhurst and 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean, both of whom raced for Juddmonte. The latter is now a Juddmonte stallion at Banstead Manor Stud, while Westover is about to embark on his first season for the Yushun Stallion Company in Japan.

It is worth pointing out that another son of Frankel, the Derby and King George winner Adayar, plus his fellow King George winner Hukum, have both also been exported to Japan. This lack of a Flat stud berth in Europe is not a problem solely affecting Irish Derby winners, though admittedly the last three winners prior to Auguste Rodin are all now at Coolmore's National Hunt division, along with another King George winner, Pyledriver.

In the cases of Westover, Adayar and Hukum, however, there are also extenuating circumstances, up to a point. It is easy to understand that neither Darley nor Juddmonte want to retire two new sons of Frankel to their stallion units for the forthcoming season. Juddmonte, after all, has the goose who lays the golden eggs, Frankel himself, while Darley has Cracksman, who has recently been joined by Triple Time. Like Chaldean, the latter is a Group 1-winning miler and therefore, in the current climate, deemed to be an easier sell to breeders. It is a depressing fact, but I can see that it makes business sense.

Hukum is of course a son of Sea The Stars and, had his full-brother Baaeed not retired to Shadwell's roster the year before him, then it is hard to imagine that homebred Hukum would have joined Adayar on the plane to Darley Japan, despite the retirement of Mostahdaf – yet another Frankel – this year.

Cooper ended his letter with the plea: “Shorten the Irish Derby.”

He is not alone in considering this the best option. John Hammond, trainer of one of the best Irish Derby winners of the modern era in Montjeu, agrees with him, and said, “I was always in favour of the Prix du Jockey Club being reduced to 2,100m, even though it wasn't unanimously popular at the time.”

The difference then though was that the shortening of the Jockey Club coincided with the extending of the G1 Grand Prix de Paris, which is also only open to three-year-olds and has been run over 2,400m since 2005 (having also been run at up to 3,100m in its history, and at 2,000m from 1987 until the most recent change).

Hammond added of the Prix du Jockey Club, “It was silly having two 2,400m Derbys so close to each other while the only 2,000m Group 1 for three-year-olds only was the Lupin which was effectively a Derby trial and frequently a weak race. The Jockey Club is a better race now and I would imagine the average field size has increased too. Everyone has a crack now, the milers, mile-and-a-quarter horses and mile-and-a-half horses. Last year a champion 2,400m horse won and a top miler was second.”

Ireland has no such option to alternate between Group 1 races for three-year-olds. If the Irish Derby is shortened the only Group 1 race beyond 10 furlongs and available to three-year-old colts would be the Irish St Leger in September, which is also open to older horses. How can Ireland pride itself on being the cradle of the Thoroughbred if this becomes the case?

Hammond is not the only supporter of Cooper's argument. Charlie Murless also got in touch to say, “I hate to say it because I grew up on the Curragh, and all my life Irish Derby Day was a very special day and a very special race. Sadly no longer, for a number of reasons (a large number!) in addition to Patrick's excellent breeding rationale. The distance must be changed.”

We can count Hammond as Irish-assimilated despite being English-born and a long-term resident of France because he spent many of his formative years in Ireland. Cooper and Murless, too, have longstanding ties to the race and feel that it must be shortened. Is that the answer though? I do not believe so, but then I live on the other side of the Irish Sea. 

Another Brit, Gerard West, contacted us with a strongly-worded email. “This would be catastrophic for Irish and European racing,” he said. 

“The very foundations of our racing are based on our variety of race distances, something that has attracted breeders from all over the world. Breeders are no longer breeding to race, they're breeding for the yearling and foal sales ring. Stallion masters are recruiting colts for that purpose too. 

“For some years now come Derby time it's not a matter of who's going to win but more a matter of who's going to stay. We not only need staying types for the Flat but National Hunt too.”

We all have a metaphorical hill on which we would die, and mine is that if it ever comes to pass that the Derby is shortened from a mile and a half I would find it hard to continue my association with racing, notwithstanding the fact that it was a mile race for its first four runnings. Of course Derby Day is now nothing like Frith's great painting of the 1850s depicting all manner of human life on the Epsom Downs. 

The painter described in his autobiography his first visit to Epsom in 1856: “My first Derby had no interest for me as a race, but as giving me the opportunity of studying life and character it is ever to be gratefully remembered. Gambling-tents and thimble-rigging, prick in the garter and the three-card trick, had not then been stopped by the police.”

Whether or not we are to be grateful that the police are now more preoccupied with animal rights protesters is a moot point, but Derby Day was always a great occasion for all walks of society. It is less so now, but in England the day and the race still feel special. 

Is that the same in Ireland? I have been at the Curragh for the Irish Derby too infrequently to know, though Alamshar's downing of Dalakhani is a race that will stay with me for as long as I retain my memory. But that was two decades ago, and straight after some truly special years of the race being won by Montjeu, Sinndar, Galileo, and High Chaparral.

If Irish Derby Day no longer feels special, surely it is the occasion that needs work as much as the race itself. The recent switching of days and times can't have helped it to retain its identity and importance for racegoers.

Since Montjeu's time the resurgence of Ballydoyle in the Aidan O'Brien years has also occurred. The trainer won his first Irish Derby in 1997 with Desert King and has claimed another 14 victories since then. Has this domination aided the race's demise, or without the support of Coolmore would it have dwindled further? It is worth noting that between 1980 and 2000, the race was won by 14 non-Irish trained horses from 11 different stables. This century, that number has been reduced to four: Hurricane Run (trained in France), and Jack Hobbs, Hurricane Lane and Westover (from Britain). A reduction in overseas challengers is certainly an issue, but then there are not too many stables beyond Ballydoyle which regularly field a runner in the Derby at Epsom either. 

There are implications beyond Ireland for the race being shortened, including what effect it may have on the Eclipse, which last year was run six days after the Irish Derby. Admittedly, in 2023, both races were won by colts from Ballydoyle who would have been kept apart anyway. In Westover's year, he would surely have won the Irish Derby had it been over 10 furlongs, but would that have increased his commercial appeal enough to have pushed Chaldean aside? I don't believe so.

We are venturing towards a situation of the tail wagging the dog. We need a balance in our breeding because we need sprinters, we need milers, we need middle-distance horses and we need stayers. That is the beauty and the allure of racing in Europe: the variety, underpinned by Classic bloodlines in order to achieve the pinnacle of producing that rare horse who has the class and turn of foot to race over a mile and a half at the top level. Don't think for a moment that that's a slow horse.

It is a self-fulfilling prophesy that if we stop standing and using Derby winners and their like at stud, then sooner or later we won't be able to breed horses to run over that range of distances. In fact, it is easy to envisage the day when horses can barely stay the mile of the Guineas. Good luck then trying to sell our racing product overseas. Why would they want to buy the same horses they can breed at home? 

The two best horses in the world last year, Equinox (Jpn) and Ace Impact (Ire), both won major Group 1 races over 10 furlongs, but it hurt neither of their careers to win over a mile and a half. In fact, the Japan Cup and the Arc were respectively their crowning glories.

Ireland has a long way to go to return its once-special race to its halcyon days but it should try, whether through a different approach to race programming for budding middle-distance colts, breeder incentives, or a significant bonus connected to the Irish Derby for horses who have won a Classic elsewhere. But whatever else happens, do not shorten the Irish Derby.

The post Dear Patrick: With Respect, I Disagree appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Part of the Fairway Consignment draft and already named Tomokay (Fr), lot 34 is the fifth foal from his dam, the winning Hold That Tiger mare Loumaxaye (Fr). His half-brother Hayejohn (Fr), by first-season sire Johnny Barnes (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), carried all before him in the Listed Prix des Jouvenceaux et des Jouvencelles at Vichy after the catalogue was published.

This is also the extended family of the dual listed winner Sully (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and G1 Futurity S., G1 Queen Elizabeth S. and G1 Caulfield Cup S. heroine Aqua d'Amore (Aus) (Danehill).

Second on the buyers' sheets was lot 82, Tiger King (Fr) (Inns Of Court {Ire}). Originally a €9,500 in utero purchase by Jean-Claud Olivier out of the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale in 2020, the colt was re-sold one year later in that same sale for €19,000 to Six of Us. Offered by Haras de Grandcamp on Thursday, the February-foaled colt was snapped up for €85,000 by John Hassett of The Bloodstock Connection for GET IN THE GAME. Out of the listed-placed Pink Cloud (Fr) (Octagonal {NZ}), his dam is a half-sister to two-time listed winner Pink Gin (Fr) (Kouroun {Fr}), as well as the stakes-placed Pink Anabella (Fr) (Anabaa).

John Hassett said, “He's a magnificent colt, that comes from a good stud. I'm very pleased with this purchase. It's possible that he might come back to Deauville for the Breeze Up next May, but nothing is decided yet.”

Hassett had struck for a colt by Shalaa (Ire) earlier in the day, when shelling out €68,000 for lot 71 as JCH Bloodstock. Haras de Castillon consigned the bay, whose dam is a half-sister to none other than outstanding third-crop sire and dual Group 2 winner Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who was also runner up in the G1 National S. and third in the G1 Middle Park S.

John Hammond bought four on the day for owner Gerard Augustin-Normand ranging in price from €5,000 to €80,000. Leading the quartet was a colt by City Light (Fr) (lot 101) from the draft of Haras d'Aspel. His dam is a half-sister to the stakes winner and stakes producer Rioticism (Fr) (Rio de la Plata), responsible for three-time stakes winner and G3 Round Tower S. third Ladies Church (GB) (Churchill {Ire}), while his half-brother by Birchwood graduated at Deauville this summer for Joel Boisnard. This colt will also join the Boisnard string.

Thursday's most expensive filly was a daughter of Ten Sovereigns (Ire) (lot 47). Purchased for €77,000 by Hammond from Haras de la Haie Neuve, the well-bred miss is from the same family as Group 1 winner Sequoyah (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), the dam of dual Classic winner Henrythenavigator (Kingmambo), and the Classic-placed Group 3 winner Queen Cleopatra (Ire) (Kingmambo); while Sequoyah's half-sister Listen (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) took the G1 Fillies' Mile and was runner-up in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. Carrying this filly, her dam brought €55,000 from Narvick International at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale in 2020.

“She's a lovely filly, that is very like her sire,” said Hammond. “I really like her physique and she has a lot of strength. We'll decide on her future at a later date.”

At the end of the day, 101 yearlings (71.6%) had sold from 141 offered. The gross was a respectable €2,113,000. The average was €20,921 and the median settled at €15,000.

The sale continues Friday at 2 p.­m.

The post Toronado Colt Shines At Arqana September appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

It was Lester Piggott who was responsible for my being in France. Returning from America in early 1985, jobless, I had bumped into him and he asked me if I had any plans. I didn't. 

'You should go and work for this Fabre guy in France, he's very good, you know.' 

He wasn't wrong there. It was the year he was to spend much of riding for André so he kindly made the phone call and got me the job. I got to know him quite well, often ferrying him from the airport to the races in my Austin mini. He was fun, chatty. Those in the car park at the races were always baffled by the mode of transport of this icon of the sport but I think it rather amused him. Lester was never about bling; limousines weren't required to go from A to B.

Returning to Saturday, 8 December 1990. It was a miserable day, raining hail. The old horse cocked his jaw, pulled Lester's arms out, came to win then faded to be third. Returning to the unsaddling enclosure dripping wet, freezing cold, Lester got off and gave the horse a friendly pat before trudging off to the jocks' room. There wasn't much to say. 

Back in the car, returning to the airport after his one ride, he said  'He's silly that old horse, he shouldn't pull like that, he could have won, you know.' 

I think most jockeys would have used considerably saltier language about the horse or, more so, the fact that he had paid for his own plane ticket and sacrificed a day to come to France for one average ride in shocking weather. But he wasn't unhappy, more the opposite: I had the impression he'd enjoyed his day.  It was a month after his famous comeback ride on Royal Academy in the Breeders' Cup and he knew how much he'd missed it.

He had a unique empathy, relationship, with horses. It wasn't sentimental, more mutual respect. He would ask for more when they had more to give but not when a horse was empty. He knew the difference, sometimes being unjustifiably penalised for easing one down. Never did I hear him using pejorative language about a horse that, occasionally for understandable reasons, some do. He liked them.

I  feel lucky to have known him.

John Hammond
Chantilly

The post Remembering Lester: A Personal Recollection by John Hammond appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

It is a deserved uplift. Last year's winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup, Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), was a Classic winner coming into the race, and won another two Group 1s in Dubai and Britain following his success in Riyadh. What's more, he had the subsequent Breeders' Cup Classic winner and American Horse of the Year Knicks Go (Paynter) behind him in fourth in the Cup.

This triumph by a globetrotting star owned and bred by Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal was everything the race needed following an unwelcome turn of events in the aftermath of the inaugural Saudi Cup. A matter of days after Maximum Security (New Year's Day) won in 2020 his initial trainer Jason Servis was charged with race fixing and the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the U.S. and is currently awaiting trial. Within a month of that first international gathering, the world went into a Covid-enforced lockdown, which persisted though last year's meeting, staged in an elite sport 'bubble' with only a small number of participants and spectators present. 

This time around, the world is a little freer but no less dappled by ongoing controversies within the wider racing world. In the quarantine barn is stabled the horse who has just been crowned the Kentucky Derby winner of 2021, some ten months after the race was run. Mandaloun (Into Mischief), who is one of the main chances to take the third running of the Saudi Cup on Saturday, could well be in the unusual position of having 'won' two Group/Grade 1 races within a week, having been awarded the Kentucky Derby on official confirmation on Monday of the disqualification of the late Medina Spirit. The latter's trainer Bob Baffert now faces a 90-day suspension and is represented in the Saudi Cup by Country Grammer (Tonalist), who, like Medina Spirit, is owned by Saudi-born Amr Zedan.

Mandaloun remained in the barn on Wednesday morning. His compatriot  Art Collector (Bernardini) ventured out and stood placidly watching the equine world go by on the main track at King Abdulaziz racecourse. Breezing past amid the strong Japanese contingent–always a delight at any international race meeting–was the shock GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Marche Lorraine (JPN) (Orfevre {JPN}). The 6-year-old mare, looking pretty woolly having been plunged back into a Japanese winter after her golden autumn in California, will be without her big-race partner Oisin Murphy. The reigning champion jockey in Britain was suspended from race-riding for 14 months on Tuesday following a BHA Judicial Panel hearing into various offences pertaining to failed breath tests and Covid protocol breaches.

Ah, racing. You're hard to love sometimes. But whatever slings and arrows are thrust upon the sport by a minority of the humans involved, there are at least those four-legged wonders who remind us, happily, on a daily basis exactly why we fell for the game in the first place.

In Riyadh this week, no horse deserves a cape and a gold star more than the mighty Mishriff. They say, apparently, that 80 per cent of success is just showing up. Mishriff has shown up every year since the Saudi Cup was launched, running second to Full Flat (Speightstown) in the first Saudi Derby before his glorious hurrah, as much for locals as for Britain, in the big one last year. His success is clearly down to much more than simply being present, not least his owner's formidable boutique breeding operation which has been honed with panache though generations. But he's back again, and if looks and glowing good health are anything to go by, Mishriff will not surrender his crown easily, even from the widest draw of all.

As the tractors exited the dirt track on the dot of seven on Wednesday morning, it was only fitting that the poster boy for the Saudi Cup was out first and almost alone, followed at a respectful distance by his stable-mate Harrovian (GB) (Leroidesanimaux), who runs in the Neom Turf Cup. John Gosden is not in Riyadh, but his son Thady, arriving at the track by bicycle, has already proved his mettle in overseeing a major international runner when travelling with Mishriff during last year's lockdown. A month later, the younger Gosden's name was officially added to the licence as co-trainer.

Out even earlier than Mishriff were Jocelyn Targett–former creative director for the inaugural Saudi Cup–and John Hammond, former trainer, notably of Montjeu (Ire), one of the few horses who was even better looking than Mishriff. The two old pals are on something of a busman's holiday as owners of runners trained respectively by the up-and-coming French trainers Jerome Reynier and Edouard Monfort. Targett is in town to cheer on his homebred Saudi Derby runner Jacinda (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}), her background memorably described by him on Tuesday as “the story of a mare I shouldn't have bought, a yearling I couldn't sell and a claimer that no-one wanted to claim.” Look how far you can go with horses if you never stop believing. Targett never does.

Hammond meanwhile has a runner in the Neom Turf Cup, a mare he owns with Rebecca Philipps and who was selected by his son Oscar at the BBAG Yearling Sale some years ago for €14,000. Eudaimonia (Fr) (Vision d'Etat {FR}) has merrily skipped her way through plenty of dances in some pretty fancy halls since then, and the music plays on. 

French racing has not been immune to turbulent times of late, and Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) has arrived in Saudi with a different trainer to the one who saddled him to win the G1 QIPCO British Champion S. last October. With both his former trainers Cedric and Frederic Rossi currently suspended, the 4-year-old now represents Francis Graffard's stable, and he has been exercising along with the Aga Khan's Ebaiyra (Distorted Humour), who was Alain de Royer Dupre's final Group 1 runner in Hong Kong before his retirement in December. She is another new recruit to Graffard's increasingly powerful string. Their compatriots Skazino (Fr) (Kendargent {FR}), another former Rossi incumbent now trained by Richard Chotard, and the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Glycon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) have been keeping them company and the quartet took the opportunity for a little paddock schooling after cantering on the main track on Wednesday morning. 

Wandering past them as they circled the parade ring, head in the air but ears firmly pricked, was one of the most likeable mares of recent racing seasons, Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}). We hear plenty about Willie Mullins at this time of year, usually in relation to Cheltenham, though the over-achiever also sent True Self (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) to score at last year's Saudi Cup meeting with another formidable female, Hollie Doyle, in the Neom Turf Cup. But Willie's brother Tony has received deserved plaudits for his handling of the super staying mare Princess Zoe, now seven, who is another to have taken her happy team of connections on many memorable days out having been racing off a mark of 64 less than two years ago. Her next challenge is back in tandem with her young jockey Joey Sheridan for the $2.5 million Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap.

Regally named she may be, but Princess Zoe's determined climb to the top is just one reminder here in Riyadh that in the sport of kings, at the world's richest meeting laid on by a prince, even those from slightly humbler origins can have an important part to play in the greatest game of all. 

The post In Mighty Mishriff We Trust appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

First season or proven: Proven

Speed or stamina: Class

Croissant or Full English: A long lunch please

Newspaper or podcast: Newspaper

Ascot or Longchamp: Both on their day

Rock or classical: The late Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman (my generation's Wagner)

Bright young thing to follow: Jack Cantillon

Wise owl to look up to: Daniel Kahneman, never met him and not in racing but the wisest of owls.

The post The Back Nine With John Hammond appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

In short, Arqana is well on its way to record October figures. Wednesday's session posted the highest clearance rate yet this week of 87%, with the 139 horses sold setting an average price of €34,130 (+41%) and median of €28,000, up from €20,000.

Across the road from the sales at the racecourse on Tuesday, Rosacea (Fr) (Soldier Hollow {Ger}) went into plenty of notebooks as a filly to follow towards next season's Classics when winning the G3 Prix des Reservoirs. Fast-forward 24 hours and it was her yearling half-sister's turn in the spotlight–in the sales ring for now, but with the aim being that she can follow her sibling in being an above-average galloper.

“Let's hope she can run a bit. She's an athletic filly from a good family and her sister ran very well yesterday,” said John Hammond after buying Haras de la Perelle's daughter of Tamayuz (GB) for €125,000. Her winning dam Relizane (GB) is a Zamindar half-sister to Reggane (GB) (Red Ransom), winner of the GI EP Taylor S.

The former trainer was standing with Mathieu Alex of Sumbe and confirmed that the filly (lot 377) had been bought to race in partnership for Gerard Augustin-Normand and Nurlan Bizakov, the owner of Haras de Montfort, where Augustin-Normand's former Prix du Jockey Club winner Le Havre (Ire) has stood so successfully since 2010.

Now 15, Le Havre was responsible for the top-priced colt of the day, lot 396, who was bred by Rashit Shaykhutdinov and consigned on his behalf by Haras d'Ombreville. A gaggle of connections gathered in the passage to the right of the auctioneer, with the colt being knocked down at €120,000 in favour of Alain Decrion, who was standing with Nicolas de Watrigant and trainer Jerome Reynier. The latter confirmed that the son of the Group 3-placed Sage Melody (Fr) (Sageburg) had been bought for one of his principal patrons, Jean-Claude Seroul, the owner of two Group 1 winners with Reynier this year in Marianafoot (Fr) and Skalleti (Fr).

Reynier said, “He's a very athletic colt and his dam was a very good racemare. He has a lot going for him and his half-brother Millau (Fr) has just earned some black type.”

The same team later signed for a Zoffany (Ire) grandson of the GI Canadian International winner Sarah Lynx (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) at €70,000. Consigned by Haras de Bourgeauville as lot 406, the colt is the first foal of the listed-placed Segra (Ire) (Shamardal).

Immediately preceding the Le Havre colt's turn in the ring was a young son of Almanzor (Fr), whose first-crop runners have included the Group 3 and listed runners-up Queen Trezy (Fr) and Saving Grace (Fr) in the last two days. Lot 395, from the Haras d'Etreham stallion's second crop, was bred by Pierre Cornou, who will retain a share in the colt, who was signed for by Ghislain Bozo for €100,000.

From the Lagardere family which includes Arc winner Sagamix (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and the G1 Grand Prix de Paris-winning Galileo (Ire) full-brothers Japan (GB) and Mogul (GB), the page has been given another boost this season by the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}).

“The breeder wanted to keep a part of the horse and so we'll put together a partnership,” Bozo said. “He will be sent into training with Edouard Monfort. He may be only of average size but he's a really good-looking colt and the family has done well recently.”

English agent Daniel Creighton stepped in late in the session to buy the Marc Bridoux-bred daughter of Shalaa (Ire) from the Haras de la Hotellerie draft for €110,000. The filly's dam Crystal War (Ire) (Declaration Of War) cut no ice on the track but as a half-sister to the St Leger winner Rule Of Law (Kingmambo) and two other black-type performers, she had plenty of residual value and her first foal (lot 521) was well received at Arqana. The family also includes Sacred Life (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), recent winner of the GIII Knickerbocker S. in the U.S. for Chad Brown and a grand-daughter of Rule Of Law's full-sister Katyusha.

Seabhac, a son of Scat Daddy standing at Larissa Kneip's Haras de Saint Arnoult, has his first yearlings selling this year and the leader so far at Arqana is Thierry de la Heronniere's daughter of Shimmering Sands (Fr) (Medicean {GB}), who sold to Prime Equestrian for €77,000. The filly's 2-year-old half-sister Anterselva (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) has won this season for Gianluca Bietolini as well as finishing runner-up in the listed Prix La Fleche. 

Seabhac, who stood his first season at a fee of €5,000, has had three yearlings sold this week for an average of €39,667.

The demand for the first yearlings of Cloth Of Stars (Ire) also continued on Wednesday, with Tina Rau and Nicolas Clement going to €76,000 for lot 454 from Haras d'Haspel. The filly's dam Vejer (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) is a half-sister to young stallion and Group 1 winner Zelzal (Ire), who is bred on the same Sea The Stars (Ire)-Kingmambo cross as Cloth Of Stars. The latter's 14 yearlings sold at Arqana October have returned an average of €66,500.

There are still two days of the Arqana October Yearling Sale to go, and those who love to find a bargain can take some encouragement from the impressive debut of the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Claymore (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) at Newmarket–one of three juvenile winners for the Ballylinch Stud stallion on Wednesday. Bought at Arqana October last year for €5,000 by breeze-up pinhookers Mary Reynolds and Ambrose O'Mullane of Ardglas Stables, the colt then sold for £10,000 at the relocated Goresbridge Breeze-up in June. 

Claymore made nearly all in the seven-furlong novice contest to post a four-length victory over the Godolphin favourite Noble Order (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and is now being quoted at around 40/1 for next year's 2000 Guineas. Chapple-Hyam is also responsible for New Bay's first Group 1 winner, Saffron Beach (Ire).

Action returns to the ring at Arqana on Thursday at 2 p.m. local time.

The post Rosacea’s Sister Tops Arqana October Day Three appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Augustin-Normand told the JDG regarding the appointment, “I always appreciated and followed the work of John Hammond. More recently, I have appreciated his human qualities. He has a great deal of experience training and a taste for breeding. After 10 years of activity, I thought it was time to breathe new life into our organisation.

“John Hammond is responsible for the entire workforce, breeding and training. He is also in charge of horse purchases and sales. The rest of the organisation remains unchanged. Sylvain Vidal is retained in an advisory role and I am on very good terms with him. At Haras de Montfort et Preaux, the daily activities are overseen by Mathieu Alex, assisted by Laure Frappat. Francois Le Corno retains his organisational and coordination activities, while Stephane Soussan remains the accountant.”

Said Hammond, “I am very honoured by the confidence of Gerard Augustin-Normand, but also very happy to be part of his team. At the same time, I’m going to continue my work for OTI Racing.

The post John Hammond Appointed Racing Manager for Gerard Augustin-Normand appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post