national hunt | Horse Racing Free Tips

Plenty Of Diversity In Arqana February Catalogue

The catalogue for the Arqana February Mixed Sale on February 13-14 was released by the sale company on Friday. Featuring 363 horses comprised of horses-in-training on the Flat and over jumps, broodmares, maidens, 2-year-olds and yearlings, with eight wildcards still to be announced, sessions will begin at 11 a.m. daily.

The Arqana February Sale, which last year sold the G2 Prix du Petite Couvert winner and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye-placed Air De Valse (Fr) (Mesnil des Aigles {Fr}) as a broodmare prospect, this year offers a trio of fillies-in-training who achieved black type in 2023, including Haras de la Beauvoisiniere's Pepete (Fr) (Attendu {Fr}) (lot 1), listed-placed as a 2-year-old and from the family of the multiple Group 1 winner Peintre Celebre (Nureyev); Princess Child (Fr) (Dariyan {Fr}) (lot 6), last seen filling the runner-up spot in a listed race at Saint-Cloud in November and out of a half-sister to the G3 Prix la Force winner Chilean (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}); and Vasda (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire}) (lot 10), listed-placed at Milan in September and a half-sister to four black-type winners, including G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Rocques (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) and listed winner Mea Domina (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}).

The Wertheimer et Frere homebred Adeliade (Ire) (Australia {GB}) (lot 79), a winner at two and out of a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), is another name to note among the fillies-in-training, while the broodmares in foal include the listed winner Rolleville (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) (lot 163), offered carrying her first foal by Sioux Nation, and the Group 3-placed Lady Paname (Fr) (Soldier of Fortune {Ire}) (lot 251) in foal to Masked Marvel (GB), both offered from Haras de Maulepaire.

Several regally-bred individuals also feature among the fillies out of training and should attract plenty of interest from breeders as potential broodmare prospects. They are headed by two unraced daughters of Group 1 winners in Chesska (GB) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) (lot 160), out of Wertheimer et Frere's G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Queen's Jewel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), and the Aga Khan Studs' Manshina (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (lot 338), a daughter of the three-time Group 1 winner Mandesha (Fr) (Desert Style {Ire}).

The post Plenty Of Diversity In Arqana February Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Half-Sister To La Petite Coco One Of The Highlights Of The Goffs February Sale

La Petite Sissi (Ire) (Ivawood {Ire}) (lot 385), a half-sister to G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), is one of the leading lots catalogued for the Goffs February Sale on Feb. 7-8. A total of 431 lots are spread across the two days featuring both Flat and National Hunt horses of all ages, with each session beginning at 10 a.m.

Wednesday's session begins with 2-year-olds, horses-in-training and stores followed by a weanling section with a wide variety of sires represented. Foals kick off Thursday's session, that will end with breeding stock from both codes.

Some lots of note include White Caviar (Fr) (Australia {GB}) (lot 360), a sister to G1 St Leger winner Galileo Chrome (Ire) (Australia {GB}); the stakes-placed Pretty Rebel (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) (lot 384); and Grade 3 chase winner Waitnsee (Ire) (Arctic Cosmos) (lot 392).

Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “Following a phenomenal 2023 at Goffs–a year full of highlights which began with the February Sale reaffirming its market-leading status–we are delighted to present a catalogue of real quality and diversity under both codes for our first sale of the New Year.

“Goffs February is always very popular with breeders, pinhookers and end-users alike, and the Goffs team together with our friends at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing look forward to welcoming buyers from home and abroad to Kildare Paddocks to what we hope will be a strong start to our 2024 sales year.”

The print edition of the catalogue will be available next week.

The post Half-Sister To La Petite Coco One Of The Highlights Of The Goffs February Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

What Was Your Favorite Moment Of 2023: Geoffrey Russell

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com

I have been fortunate to experience many wonderful days racing, but NEVER I have EVER heard a crowd response like when the two Queens of National Hunt racing, HONEYSUCKLE and Rachael Blackmore, returned to the Cheltenham winner enclosure the after the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) in March of this year. The place was packed 20 deep, it went wild, it was electric, you did not want it to end and then you wanted to bottle it up to use again and again. Thanks HONEYSUCKLE and Rachael.

–Geoffrey Russell

The post What Was Your Favorite Moment Of 2023: Geoffrey Russell appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Blue Bresil Yearling Heads Final Day of Tattersalls November NH Sale

A yearling by Blue Bresil (Fr) led the final session of the Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale NH Sale Thursday. Out of the Shantou mare Thanks For Tea (Ire) (lot 992), the colt was purchased for €58,000 by Kevin Ross Bloodtsock. Sold by Ballyhampshire Stud, the yearling was the 18th foal or yearling by Blue Bresil to sell for €50,000 or more over the five days' sale, and was the week's third session topper for the Rathbarry Stud stallion.

“The gelding has been bought on spec,” said Anna Ross. “We have the 4-year-old half-brother by Mount Nelson (GB), he goes pointing next spring and we like him. The two are quite different types of horses. The sire speaks for himself and we have been very lucky with the broodmare sire Shantou.”

Consignor Edmond Kent added, “We had a lot of fun with Thanks For Tea, she won some bonuses for us, picked up black-type and was a hardy mare. She is back in-foal to Blue Bresil and is due on Jan. 12–she looks very big at the minute, I won't be taking any holidays in January!”

Of this yearling, he said, “This was always a nice foal, he was born a bit late and I said I'd keep him until he was a yearling.”

It was a two-way split for leading honours in the NH broodmares session with the Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Bonny Kate (Ire) (Beneficial {GB}) from Clonbonny Stud, and The Twelve Pins (Ire) (Beat Hollow {GB}) out of Sixhills (Fr) (Sabrehill) from the Closutton Stables draft, both bringing €40,000.

The Twelve Pins was purchased by Temple Bloodstock.

Aubrey McMahon said, “She has been bought to stay in Willie's. She is a sound racemare, she will race on and has been bought as a broodmare prospect, hopefully, she will do the two jobs.”

At the conclusion of the November NH Sale, Simon Kerins, CEO of Tattersalls Ireland commented, “It was always going to be a tough ask to follow two years of record-breaking trade at the November NH Sale, so for the foal section to return an average just off €18,000 and a commercially-bred yearling to fetch €58,000, the best price given for a yearling at the sale since 2021, is a satisfying result.

“The mares' session lacked the stars from previous years reflecting the desire for owners to retain good racemares as breeding prospects. We recognise that the yearling format on the last day did not prove effective, and we are committed to a thorough reflection on improving this particular section for 2024.”

A total of 641 head sold this season, down 17% from 772 sold in 2022, while gross also dipped to €11,395,200 from €13,883,050 last term. This year's average was €17,777, down slightly from €17,983 in 2022 while media fell 14% from €14,000 to €12,000. Lots listed as unsold stood at 371–a 12% decrease–after this season's five-day run.

“Foals sold at that top level were a feature of all four days' trade, but whilst that top bracket of foals sold this week over €50,000 was a joint record and more foals were sold in excess of €80,000 than ever before, undoubtedly there are trade gaps further down the level and there is no denying the current market is selective.”

The post Blue Bresil Yearling Heads Final Day of Tattersalls November NH Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post