In the G1 Ranvet S., six of the seven runners were bred in either Britain, Ireland or France, and they include two seven-figure purchases made by Yulong Investments last December. 

Group 1-winning mares Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who was bought for 2.7 million gns at Tattersalls, and Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), a €4.025 million Arqana purchase, are now trained respectively by Chris Waller and Anthony and Sam Freedman. They are set to go head to head in the 2,000-metre contest which also features Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a former dual Listed winner in Ireland, French Listed winner Bois d'Argent (GB) (Toronado {Ire}), Military Mission (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), and Zeyrek (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Nine of the last 12 runnings of the race have been won by a horse bred in Europe.

Waller, who saddles both Via Sistina and Buckaroo for the A$1 million race, told Australia's Sky Racing World that he has been following the example set by his British counterpart William Haggas, who has twice won the Ranvet, with Addeybb (Ire) and Dubai Honour (Ire).

He said of Via Sistina, the winner of the G1 Pretty Polly S. and runner-up to King Of Steel in the G1 Champion S. for George Boughey  last year, “We prepared her in Newmarket, I kept a close eye on what Mr Haggas has done with a few of his horses which have beaten Verry Elleegant a number of times. He just gets it right every year. Firstly he brings the right horse. Secondly he prepares them well and thirdly they cope with the trip. So she looks like she's that type of horse.”

Waller added, “She's thrived the last two weeks. She's just going on the right path forward and I've been impressed with her.”

Some familiar names also make the cut for Saturday's 19-strong G1 George Ryder S.

The 2022 Irish 2,000 Guineas runner-up New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), whose move from Sheila Lavery to Ciaron Maher last year was not without controversy, makes his second start for Maher after finishing second in the G3 Liverpool City Cup at Randwick on his Australian debut.

He is set to face the former John and Thady Gosden trainee Mighty Ulysses (GB), the winner of last season's G3 Sovereign S. at Salisbury who is now trained by Annabel Neasham. The Irish Listed winner Cosmic Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who changed hands for 100,000gns at Tattersalls last October, is also in the line-up along with Cepheus (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Unspoken (Ire) (Territories {Ire}).

The G3 N E Manion Cup, run over 2,400 metres, is another race in which the European imports have dominated over the last decade. Haggas won the race with Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) in 2020 and this year fields Post Impressionist (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who is now owned by Lloyd Williams.

“He's a nice horse and I think he's done enough to run to his best,” said Haggas on Wednesday. “Bit of a wide draw but he's a good stayer. He just hits a bit of a flat spot but maybe first time out he'll be fresh enough not to do that. It's quite a competitive race but if he has any aspirations to win a better class of race then he needs to be running well on Saturday.

“The Manion Cup followed by the Sydney Cup has always been the plan. Let's just hope he's good enough. He'd have 50kg in the Sydney Cup so Tom [Marquand] wouldn't be able to ride him but let's just worry about one race first, and that's Saturday. It's a pretty inconvenient time for a Newmarket trainer because I think the race is off at ten to two in the morning but that's the way it is. We'll look forward to it.”

Post Impressionist is up against last year's Listed Feilden S. winner Canberra Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who is another to have joined the Waller stable. 

Another expensive Yulong acquisition to now be under the care of Sydney's champion trainer is Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), who is an interesting entrant for the G3 Epona S. Bought from Boherguy Stud for 1 million gns in 2022 after finishing runner-up to Blue Rose Cen (Ire) in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, she subsequently finished third in the G3 Lexus Archer S. at Flemington last November. 

The post Yulong’s Via Sistina and Place Du Carrousel to Clash in G1 Ranvet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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DEAUVILLE, France — The sales at Arqana this year have largely retained their momentum, but the company was not immune to the retraction that has been present across the market for mares and foals this winter. With the clearance rate being lowered to 71% from the 78% of 2022, the turnover fell by 20% to €36,467,000, and the average was down by 7% to €227,919. 

Four millionaire fillies and mares featured in the opening session, compared to seven last year, but the one sector that did improve, and one which is usually the most important, was the median, which was up to €120,000 from €115,000.

There was plenty of time to admire the statuesque Group 1 winner Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) as she topped the sale at €4,025,000. A prolonged spell of bidding which involved Northern Farm and Coolmore saw the eventual successful bid placed online, with the buyer believed to be Zhang Yuesheng's Yulong operation.

In the latest example of the tedium which is facilitated by the online bidding process, the four-year-old filly was held in the ring for 14 minutes as the hidden buyer increased their offer in increments of 25,000gns – a practice which is not usually accepted for those bidding ringside when the price is already into the realm of millions. 

After a round of ping-pong between a bidder in the restaurant and the Northern Farm team in the seats in the ring, the bid went online at €3.5 million, with underbidder Coolmore making a play outside up to €4 million. 

Bred by Ballylinch Stud in partnership with Alexis and Fan Adamian, Place du Carrousel, whose wins include the G1 Prix de l'Opera and G2 Prix Foy, was trained by Andre Fabre for Al Shaqab Racing, who bought her as a yearling for €260,000, with Ballylinch retaining a share. 

John O'Connor of Ballylinch Stud said, “It was a racing partnership and we thought she had done enough on the track and that it was time for her to move on to the next phase of her career. We were happy to put her in the ring. Everybody from the partnership has done well. [Lope De Vega's] fillies are in very high demand at the moment. It's not a surprise, because so many of his fillies are very good, and now his daughters are making an impressive start as a broodmare sire. He's one of those stallions who has succeeded all over the world with two-year-olds, sprinters, middle-distance horses and Classic milers. 

Spain to England via France

Newsells Park Stud has been recruiting some select mares and foals in recent weeks, and Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) became the latest addition to the broodmare band on Saturday when Jill Lamb went to €2 million to buy the Group 2 winner from Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals.

The five-year-old sister to G3 Vintage Crop S. winner Master Of Reality (Ire) from a family strewn with black type was bought in the same ring for €240,000 as an August yearling. In the now-familiar colours of Yeguada Centurion, she became the first group winner for her young trainer Christopher Head in the Prix du Muguet.

The mare was consigned by Haras de la Hotellerie on behalf of her owner and Newsells Park's Graham Smith-Bernal couldn't hide his delight in acquiring her. 

He said, “She is a lovely mare – she's beautiful. Of course, she won a Group 2 and was very tough and competitive. She was fourth in two Group 1s and we loved her. She's in foal to Dubawi and the Frankel-Dubawi cross is very good. We thought we might have had to go a bit further but we were getting close to our final bid. We're absolutely delighted.”

Through Lamb, Newsells Park also signed for G2 runner-up Sparkling Beauty (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) from Haras des Capucines for €450,000 [in partnership with Bertrand Lemetayer] and Dubawi (Ire) mare Galibawa (GB) in foal to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) for €360,000.

Smith-Bernal added, “That's our third purchase.The first two were bought with partners and we're very happy with those. One was bought in foal to St Mark's Basilica and we got a very nice Oasis Dream mare, but that was the big one we wanted.”

Channel Heads to Japan at €1.2 Million

Channel (Ire), the Classic-winning daughter of Nathaniel (Ire) from a family whose luminaries include the Group 1 winners Magical Romance (GB), Alexandrova (Ire), Chicquita (Ire) and Magic Wand (Ire), may have commanded a seven-figure sum but, at €1.2 million she could end up looking to have been well bought by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm.

She is after all only seven, and she has fillies by Sea The Stars (Ire) and Wootton Bassett (GB) on the ground, as well as a colt by Kingman (GB), and she was offered through La Motteraye Consignment back in foal to Wootton Bassett. 

Indeed, the Prix de Diane winner was described by Emmanuel de Seroux, who signed for Channel on behalf of Northern Farm, as good value.

He said, “There is a large choice of stallions for her. She was one of two or three Group 1 winners we were trying to buy today and she was the best value of them all. We are very happy with her price compared to some of the others. We didn't have to pay as much for the same quality. She was one of the top choices.”

Completing the participation of all three Yoshida brothers in the higher echelons of Arqana's Breeding Stock Sale, French-based Japanese trainer Satoshi Kobayashi signed for the Group 3 winner Minaun (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) on behalf of Teruya Yoshida's Shadai Farm at €500,000, as well as Lightning Lady (Ire), by Kingman (GB) out of a half-sister to Lope De Vega (Ire), who was bought for €600,000 by Haruya Yoshida of Oiwake Farm.

Ammerland's Leading Lights

Outbid by Ammerland when the latter bought Sea The Sky (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) for a sale-topping €850,000 at the BBAG Yearling Sale three years ago, Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation is now the owner of the Listed winner. Anthony Stroud was determined to secure the full-sister to Sea The Moon (Ger), going to €1.25 million in pursuit while standing in the gangway alongside the team from Shadai, who ended up as underbidders.

Stroud said of Lot 171, “She's a very nice filly. We nearly bought her as a yearling and were very keen on her. [She's by] Sea The Stars, we can breed her to Frankel or Dubawi. Good racehorse, it's a wonderful family and I think she will be a good addition to our broodmare band.”

The Ammerland draft provided plenty of Saturday's highlights in the Arqana sale ring. Bidding online, American breeder Bobby Flay had the final say for Lady Frankel (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the half-sister to Lope De Vega (Ire), who was sold in foal to New Bay (GB) for €900,000. 

Lady Frankel (Lot 172) was herself a Group 3 winner and, along with Lope De Vega, her other siblings include Group 3 winner Bal De La Rose (GB) and Listed winner Lord Of The Land (Ire).

Following the string of high-priced lots from the Ammerland dispersal, Lady Frankel's daughter, the aforementioned Lightning Lady (Ire), an unraced three-year-old by Kingman (GB), is heading to Japan after being bought by Haruya Yoshida for €600,000.

Wildfeder (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), the winning full-sister to Arc winner Waldgeist (GB), was offered as Lot 209 in foal to Siyouni (Fr) and elicited a final bid of €450,000 from Nicolas de Watrigant.

In total, the 12 horses sold from the Gestut Ammerland dispersal brought €4,002,000.

Goldikova's Granddaughter to Sumbe 

Sumbe took the enterprising step of bringing its entire stallion roster to nearby Clairefontaine racecourse so that breeders in town for the sale could view them more easily, and one of that quintet will be the covering sire next year for the operation's latest purchase, Mirakova (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Bought from the Wertheimer draft for €850,000, the four-year-old filly had suffered an accident which meant she retired unraced, but she has strength in depth when it comes to pedigree. Her granddam Goldikova (Ire) needs no introduction, and dam Terrakova (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was herself pretty decent when winning the G3 Prix Cleopatre and finishing third in the G1 Prix de Diane. 

After signing for the filly, Sumbe manager Tony Fry said, “We'll take her home and have a think but I'd say it's likely she'll go to either Mishriff or Belbek.”

He added, “These families don't come around very often so, when they do, you have to be strong. She's a lovely mare that comes from a stud that needs no introduction and produces very good horses. We're very happy.”

Study Of Man's Sister to Fahrhof

One leading breeding operation made a significant investment in one of the jewels of another when The Planets (Ire), a Sea The Stars (Ire) half-sister to Classic winner and young sire Study Of Man (Ire), was bought by Gestut Fahrhof at €700,000.

Continuing the restructuring of the Niarchos operation, Baroda Stud offered three fillies on the family's behalf, with The Planets (Lot 121), a granddaughter of the great Miesque, being an obvious draw. Bidding opened for the three-year-old winner at €200,000 and it was Fahrhof's Stefan Ullrich who came out on top.

He said, “We want to establish this family in Germany. She's very closely related to Miesque and everybody knows this family. We are looking to make our broodmare band more international and this is part of our plan in buying a filly like this. She's a winner and sound with no vices.”

He added, “We had a very good partnership with the Niarchos family when we stood Maxios at the stud and we know their breeding well.”

David Cox of Baroda Stud, who also consigned some of the Niarchos mares at the Goffs November Sale, said, “We've been working with the Niarchos family for over eight years now. They kept mares in Baroda Stud before we were there so they know the farm well. Maria and her family, including Electra and all the team — Alan [Cooper] and Aurelien [Voileau] — they're great people to work with. With pedigrees like this, they're just highly sought after. There were a good number of people who wanted that filly and, fair play, she sold very well. We're delighted.”

He added, “It has been a credit to my team, they've done a great job with the Niarchos draft. I have really good staff and they handle everything really well for the amount of horses we had. Tattersalls and Arqana came quickly off the back of Goffs, so we have a well-oiled machine. The likes of Pauric [Gahan] and Noel [McDonnell] at home, they keep the show on the road while I am away.”

Without Words Provides Boost for Longways 

There were emotional scenes in the early parts of the Saturday session at Arqana when Without Words (Mendelssohn), who Mick Murphy and Sarah O'Connell of Longways Stables failed to sell at the breeze-up here in May, was knocked down to Justin Casse on behalf of Joseph O'Brien for €450,000. 

Without Words carried O'Connell's colours to victory on her second start for trainer Francois Rohaut at Toulouse. There was a kaleidoscope of significance to the win and subsequent sale with Murphy revealing afterwards that his wife had recently been diagnosed with cancer and is due to undergo chemotherapy next week. 

He said, “We've had a good year but there have been ups and downs. Sarah is sick at the moment. She was diagnosed with cancer and starts her chemotherapy on Tuesday. She will be okay but she has a tough few months ahead of her.”

It has been another successful year for Longways Stables on the track, highlighted by the Listed-winning and Group 2-placed graduate Flora Of Bermuda (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and Saturday's result in the ring clearly meant a great deal.

Murphy continued, “We breezed her here in May. We liked her a lot and felt we weren't getting what we deserved so we bought her back at €175,000. 

“I bought her in America for $85,000 and thought that she was always going to be worth that because of her pedigree alone. We liked her, took a chance to race her, and Francous did a great job with her. He thinks she is a stakes filly. Sarah didn't want to sell her.”

Without Words is a half-sister Combatant (Scat Daddy), a Grade I winner for John Sadler, and Long Lashes (Rock Hard Ten), a Group 3 winner for Saeed Bin Suroor. She was consigned by La Motteraye on behalf of O'Connell and Murphy.

Hawthorne Recruits Two Well-Bred Fillies For Australia

Dean Hawthorne spent just shy of €1.5 million on two fillies — Mise En Scene (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and French Bob (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) — to go to Australia.

Striking first at €675,000 for French Bob, the well-bred daughter of Galileo (Ire) out of Classic winner Beauty Parlour (GB) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Hawthorne went on to snap up Mise En Scene for €800,000. He was accompanied by Grant and Tom Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock.

On Mise En Scene, a Group 3-winning daughter of Siyouni, Hawthorne said, “Mise En Scene is a really good filly who will suit Australia. Obviously she won a Group race at Goodwood, which is a good track, and Siyouni is getting a hell of a presence in Australia through Amelia's Jewel (Aus) and Amelia's Dream (Aus). It's blood we can do a lot with in Australia. Happy to get her and we had to pay for her but she was probably one of our main targets in the entire sale.”

In Brief

• La Motteraye Consignment was the leading vendor on the day with 12 sold for €4,367,000.
• Buying on behalf of the China Horse Club, Matt Holdsworth landed the regally-bred Plumage (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), a daughter of Plumania (Fr) (Anabaa {Fr}) and from a deep Wertheimer family. Holdsworth revealed that Plumage–who was sold in foal to Intello (Fr)–would likely be mated with Siyouni next year (Fr).
• Lot 127, a Kingman (GB) filly foal out of a half-sister to Derby winner Wings Of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}), was sold by her breeder Haras de Montaigu to Frederic Sauque for €400,000.
• A filly foal by Too Darn Hot (GB) and her dual Listed-winning and Classic-placed dam Reine d'Amour (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) went through the ring in consecutive lots, bought by Anthony Stroud for €170,000 and €200,000. Lot 103 Too Darn Hot (GB) filly from Haras des Capucines for €170,000. 
• The common theme of the breeding stock and foal sales in Europe this year has been the wave of support behind Pinatubo foals and mares in foal to the Darley stallion. Big things are clearly expected from Pinatubo when his first runners hit the track next year and it was interesting that Shadwell rowed in behind the stallion when buying a colt from La Motteraye for €300,000. 
• Eddie Rosen and Alex Solis, representing American-based owner Mike Repole of Repole Stable, signed for four horses on the day for a total of €780,000. The quartet included two mares in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB) and one to St Mark's Basilica (Fr), and the two-year-old Siyouni (Fr) filly High Handed (Ire), who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and producer Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).

Buy of the Day

Lot 37: WATCHOUT (Fr), Golden Horn (GB) – Watchful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Buyer: Billy Jackson-Stops, €35,000
Vendor: Fabrice Chappet

As a half-sister to the G1 Prix Rothschild and G1 Coronation S. winner Watch Me (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), this three-year-old filly already has plenty in her favour. Watchout raced just once for her owner/breeder Antoinette Tamagni but was far from disgraced in that outing. Another half-sibling, Watch Him (Fr) (Elvstroem {Aus}), has won at Listed level, and Watch Me has her first foal, the Siyouni (Fr) filly Why Not Again (Fr), to run for her next year. 

Watchout's third dam Sharaya (Youth) won the G1 Prix Vermeille for the Aga Khan, with the further family including the Classic winners Shawanda (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}) and Encke (Kingmambo).

Cape Cross (Ire) is already proving his worth as a broodmare sire and there's every reason to expect his son Golden Horn to be similarly effective in this sphere. In this case, seeing mares by Galileo and Darshaan (GB) on Watchout's bottom line gives extra encouragement.

Best of luck to Watchout's new owner Paul McDonnell, the manager of Triermore Stud, who will be breeding from her in Ireland.

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She will be offered by Haras de Bouquetot and boasts a fantastic race record that features G2 Prix Foy success and a pair of Group 3 wins.

Place Du Carrousel accounted for Group 1 winners Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Above The Curve (American Pharoah) when landing the Prix de l'Opera.

The 112-rated Place Du Carrousel is out of Group 2 winner Traffic Jam (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) and from the family of numerous Group 1 scorers including Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire})–through her, Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and that one's full-sister, GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Tuesday (Ire); and G1 Cape Guineas victor Russian Rock (Saf) (Pomodoro {SAf}).

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Last year's G1 Prix de l'Opera winner Place Du Carrousel beat the boys in the G2 Prix Foy last weekend and is now bound for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. She could also be on the plane to America, according to Fabre, who revealed an audacious tilt at the Breeders' Cup and then Hong Kong could be in store.

Fabre said of Place Du Carrousel, who passed up an option against her own sex in the G1 Prix Vermeille most recently, “I wanted to run her against the colts to see how she did because that is what she is going to be running against in the Arc. I was quite happy.

“She proved she stayed 12 furlongs well. I need to discuss things with the owner, but if she remains in good shape she's quite fresh because she hasn't run much this year, we could look at big races in the States or in Hong Kong. She's proving that she can handle any sort of ground, but the Arc will be tough. She's going to run well.”

Mqse De Sevigne has won Group 1 races over a mile and 10 furlongs in her last two races and is likely heading to Newmarket next for the G1 Sun Chariot S. before she runs in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile.

Fabre explained, “She's a very nice filly. She will go to Newmarket next back over a mile. Her plan is the Breeders' Cup Mile so running her at Newmarket will sharpen her up a little bit–a mile race will be perfect.

“She has really improved this season, she's got stronger, but we always liked her. Ground doesn't matter to her, the ground is always nice at Newmarket. Alexis [Pouchin] has a good relationship with her and he will probably be on at Newmarket.”

The post Fabre Outlines Plans For Star Fillies Place Du Carrousel And Mqse De Sevigne appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The second of City Of Troy's outings in a renewal of the G2 Superlative S. which contained some smart types including the subsequent G2 Vintage S. winner Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) marked him out in terms of stride pattern and sectionals as a rare jewel. Extremely rare. It will be a shock if he is overturned so early with conditions likely to suit and there is every chance we will witness another Hawk Wing or Pinatubo moment in this esteemed race despite the trainer's reservations as to his condition.

“He's a good bit heavier than he was at Newmarket, as he's done very well so that's a little bit of a worry but he's ready for his start-back run of the autumn and everyone is very happy with him,” Aidan O'Brien said. “I'd imagine he'll come forward for the run.”

Whatever happens here, we will find out just how good City Of Troy is with Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in attendance. While he could not match Ballydoyle's River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Royal Ascot's G2 Coventry S., Amo Racing and Giselle De Aguiar's kingpin has gone from strength-to-strength in the meantime and improved off a narrow G2 Railway S. win to inflict a four-length defeat on the G3 Albany S. scorer Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) in the G1 Phoenix S. last month. Whether seven furlongs is his bag remains to be seen and the long-striding favourite will be testing that premise for sure.

Bucanero Fuerte's trainer Adrian Murray is living the dream. “He seems to be getting better and better–it's hard to believe,” he said. “He looks like a horse that's going to train on, he's a big, long scopey horse and has a beautiful mind. He's thriving with racing and hopefully he keeps it going.”

Aidan O'Brien is suggesting at present that he is also going to run fellow TDN Rising Star Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), with the son of Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) there also as ample back-up should the rains come. Reportedly underwhelming compared to his homework when taking the course-and-distance G2 Futurity S. last month, this experience will do him no harm based on the workrate of his dam, who first showed her raw material when winning this card's G1 Moyglare Stud S. back in 2015.

Kyprios | Scoop Dyga

Welcome Back Kyprios…

The Irish St Leger is short on numbers and depth in terms of group 1 talent, but it does at least see the near-miraculous comeback of the badly-stricken Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). While he has a 344-day absence to overcome, such was his dominion in 2022 that it is possible he could pick up the thread where he left off with that remarkable performance in the G1 Prix du Cadran. It is hard to say whether that errant 20-length romp rates higher than his defeat of Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) in this or his thrilling denial of Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Goodwood Cup, but all three victories along with his first G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot place him alongside Ballydoyle's great stayers. Only stablemate Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the G1 St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) can get anywhere in the same vicinity in terms of class, so a 90% Kyprios might still be good enough.

Aidan O'Brien spoke earnestly on Saturday of the ordeal of getting Kyprios back to the track. “I can't believe he's here,” he said. “It's not that long ago that I didn't think he was going to make it, so all credit to the team–he had to be taught to walk, trot and canter again his injury was that bad. The intensity of his training has got stronger and stronger and it is testament to his constitution that he is going to run. You'd be afraid of your life watching him and I don't know if it is possible to win a race like this from where he is. Emily Dickinson needs rain, even though we have run her on faster ground and there are showers around. It's just whether they come or not.”

Moyglare Stud's Fiona Craig added of Kyprios, “He's just a bigger horse than he was before and I think they've gone steadily with him because of the injury, but I don't think Aidan would be running him if he didn't think he was going to run well. It will just be great to see him back at the races because he's a very popular horse, there's more people ask me about Kyprios than anything else we own! He's the horse that wherever you are in the world, people ask you about the big chestnut horse.”

Ylang Ylang Poised For Moyglare Test…

Saturday's action confirmed that Ballydoyle's juvenile team seem even more formidable than usual in 2023 and it is up to the unbeaten TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to uphold the fillies' end in the G1 Moyglare Stud S., a qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Juveniel Fillies. The 1.5 million Tatts Book 1 sensation could do no more than beat Al Shira'aa Farms' subsequent G2 Debutante S. winner Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the G3 Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown in July, but she might need to raise her level again here judged on the runner-up's rate of progression in the interim.

Vespertilio's trainer Willie McCreery is happy to re-engage. “The going is down as good for Sunday and it may well quicken up a bit before her race, but it was similar ground last month,” he said. “Ylang Ylang is the obvious one we've got to beat, but if you're not in it, you can't win it. We'll just let Billy see how the race pans out before he decides how to take things, but we're looking forward to it, that's for sure.”

There is also the aforementioned G3 Albany S. winner and G1 Phoenix S. runner-up Porta Fortuna and Clipper Logistics' impressive G3 Sweet Solera S. scorer Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) to contend with, along with the sponsors' dark horse Red Viburnum (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to consider. She showed up well when third on debut in a decent course-and-distance conditions race last month and it is significant that Dermot Weld is pitching her in at this level so soon in the race he would so love to win for the owner-breeders.

“She's come on for her first run, when she ran very well,” Moyglare's Fiona Craig commented. “To give Chris Hayes his due, he dropped her in behind and taught her and I've seen her work since and she worked much sharper. I think it was more greenness than anything and it took a few strides for the penny to drop, but she galloped out way beyond the others at the end. She'll have moved on a bit since then, whether she's moved on enough to win this race is another matter, but all you can do is compete and see.”

Highfield Princess | Scoop Dyga

Highfield Princess Flying…

Despite the obvious kudos that Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) carries around with her, The Curragh's G1 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five S. is no penalty kick for last year's winner with her G1 King's Stand S. conqueror Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) in action along with another compatriot in Art Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). This ground is quick enough for John Quinn's star mare and Art Power's quirky yet formidable 100% record in Ireland really is something to behold. Just witness his emphatic latest win in the course-and-distance G2 Sapphire S. for the evidence of what he can do when in the zone.

Quinn is aware of the challenge in this “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. “It's a tough race and Bradsell is in it and Tim Easterby's horse who is absolutely dynamite at the Curragh and then there are a few others as well, but we're happy with our filly,” he said. “The Curragh suited her last year, so I hope it suits her again on Sunday. Everything has been fine since York and it's great to have an animal like her. She wears it on her sleeve and we're looking forward to Sunday.”

Alastair Donald, racing manager for Art Power's owners King Power Racing, said, “He seems to have a bit of a love affair with Ireland and seems to find a key couple of lengths over there. He has often been a length short in group ones over here and we're looking forward to seeing him. The ground should be fine and he has a good draw, but obviously Bradsell and Highfield Princess make it a very strong renewal. Without being rude to the others, it looks to be between the three of them and if he can show his previous Irish form, he has to be a live contender.”

Blue Rose Cen Back In The Vermeille…

Away from the Irish Champions Festival, ParisLongchamp's Arc Trials card sees the return of Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille as she moves up to a mile and a half for the first time. Looking as if it would suit when a close-up fourth in a tactically-compromising running of the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood last time, Yeguada Centurion's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane heroine has the pedigree to last and the heart for it also. Whether she can cope with the G1 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is another matter given that Ballydoyle raider's effectiveness on a fast surface and their clash is eagerly-anticipated.

Christopher Head said of Blue Rose Cen, “We are trying her over a distance that is very different from the beginning just to see what we will do in the future. We need to see what she can do over 2400 metres to be sure about what we do over the next year. There is still the possibility she will get supplemented for the Arc. That will all depend on the result of the Vermeille and her aptitude over that kind of distance.”

Aidan O'Brien said of Warm Heart, “She's in good form and her last run at York was very good. She likes nice, fast ground and she's very comfortable at a mile and a half so we're looking forward to seeing her run again. She probably won't run get to run in this part of the world after Sunday, as the ground might get soft so she might head for the Breeders' Cup, if everything went well.”

Arc Picture To Become Clearer…

It is hard to imagine at present with the sun so intense and the temperatures so high, but ParisLongchamp's autumn showcase is just around the corner and Sunday's card will start to set the tone. The G2 Qatar Prix Foy, which has produced just the one Arc winner this century, sees a fascinating clash between two lively outsiders for the main event in Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger})–successful in this 12 months ago before adding an eclectic mix of the G1 Prix Royal-Oak and G1 Prix Ganay to his tally–and last year's G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). The G2 Qatar Prix Niel looks hotter, with Jean-Louis Bouchard's G1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}) at the moment a genuine frontline contender for the big one. He will be compromised if this gets as tactical as it often does, with the G1 Deutsches Derby winner Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) adding intrigue.

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