Haras du Petit Tellier's The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) became the latest European freshman sire off the mark when the Carlos and Yann Lerner-trained 16-5 favourite Jay Gatsby (Fr) shed maiden status in Friday's Prix de la Vallee de l'Automne (Maiden) over seven furlongs at Compiegne.
3rd-Compiegne, €20,000, Mdn, 7-2, 2yo, 7fT, 1:29.13, vsf. JAY GATSBY (FR) (c, 2, The Grey Gatsby {Ire}–Hijaziyah {GB}, by Testa Rossa {Aus}), who posted a June 11 debut fourth over course and distance last time, was well away to race on the front end from flagfall in this one. Threatened on all sides once into the straight, the 16-5 favourite was stoked up approaching the final furlong and driven out in the closing stages to assert by two lengths from Balnikhov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}), becoming the first winner for his freshman sire (by Mastercraftsman {Ire}). He is the latest of seven foals and fifth scorer produced by a winning half-sister to Listed Prix de Boulogne winner Mundybash (GB) (Diktat {GB}). The April-foaled chestnut is a half-brother to the dual stakes-placed Yanling (Fr) (Rio de La Plata) and Listed Prix Saraca runner-up Golconda (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}). Sales history: €55,000 Ylg '20 ARQSEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, €12,700. Video, sponsored by TVG.
O-Paul Le Solleu, Remy Dupuy-Naulot, Ecurie JML Racing & Marc Leonetti; B-Patrick Chedeville (FR); T-Carlos & Yann Lerner.
In a feat rarely seen nowadays, Arazi traveled to the Breeders' Cup in 1991 to take on the best American colts on the dirt. The chestnut was favoured even though he had never run on the surface and despite the presence of leading American 2-year-old Bertrando, so dominant had his campaign been in France. Second on debut at Chantilly, Arazi-bred by Buffalo Bills football team owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. and bought by aviation magnate and racehorse owner Allen Paulson as a foal for $350,000 at Keeneland November-subsequently rolled through five consecutive victories for trainer Francois Boutin, all in stakes company including the G1 Prix Morny, G1 Prix Salamandre and G1 Grand Criterium under Gerald Mosse by a combined 11 lengths. So tall was Arazi's reputation that by the time he lined up in the starting gate at the Breeders' Cup, Sheikh Mohammed had purchased a 50% share in the horse for a reported $9-million.
Breaking from the extreme outside gate 14 under the Twin Spires and partnered by leading American rider Pat Valenzuela for the first time, Arazi was soon among the back markers in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on the short run into the first turn. Meanwhile, Bertrando had broken like a rocket and grabbed the early advantage, allowing him to control the race uncontested through moderate fractions while Arazi languished a dozen lengths in behind with just one horse beaten. Suddenly, however, Arazi was languishing no more. Kicking into a scarcely believable gear with about a half mile to run, Arazi and Valenzuela weaved their way through the field, suddenly arriving alongside Bertrando at the quarter pole. And just as quickly as he got there, Arazi buried his rival, effectively bolting off the turn as he left Bertrando in his wake and charged down the middle of the track on the wrong lead. Arazi pulled further clear with each stride, building up an advantage of as much as 10 lengths by the time Valenzuela eased him approaching the wire, with the official margin coming in at five lengths-a record for the race at the time. Arazi became the second European-trained winner of a Breeders' Cup dirt race, the first having come just hours earlier when Sheikh Albadou (GB) (Green Desert) won the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Bertrando was a further 3 1/2 lengths clear of any other rival in the Juvenile. In a cruel twist of fate, Bertrando would again be second at the Breeders' Cup two years later, once again stunned by the freak performance of a French-trained horse on the dirt, on that occasion the 133-1 Andre Fabre-trained Arcangues (Sagace {Fr}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.
Arazi's feat in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile was masterfully immortalized by legendary American race caller Tom Durkin, who exclaimed as Arazi made his move: “there goes the European star Arazi, he's coming with a menacing rush to Bertrando, and now the stage is set as they move toward the top of the stretch…and Arazi runs right by him! Bertrando stunned at the inside with the move of Arazi and he's pouring it on.”
Arazi was named Europe's Horse of the Year-the only horse still to have achieved that honour as a juvenile–and America's champion 2-year-old. He is also the only horse ever to have been a finalist for Horse of the Year in America off a single North American start as a 2-year-old.
Arazi began his 3-year-old campaign with a facile five-length win in the Listed Prix Omnium going a mile on the grass at Saint-Cloud under Steve Cauthen three weeks out from the GI Kentucky Derby, prompting a press frenzy in the lead-up to America's greatest race. Another victory at Churchill Downs seemed a foregone conclusion, leaving reporters and racing fans to speculate as to what might come next. Would the French-trained colt stay in America for a crack at the Triple Crown, or would he head to England and attempt to become the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby and the Epsom Derby? Words like “mythical”, “mystical” and “extraordinary” were tossed around in the media.
In the end, however, racing displayed its uncanny ability to humble. After making a move on the turn at Churchill Downs eerily similar to what he had done six months earlier, Arazi came up empty at the top of the stretch, struggling home eighth behind longshot Lil E. Tee (At The Threshold). Arazi had had bone chips operated on between his 2- and 3-year-old campaigns, something Boutin had reportedly been against, but of course whether that was a culprit in his below-par 3-year-old campaign cannot be known. Arazi ran four more times, returning to Europe to finish fifth in the G1 St James's Palace S., third behind Arcangues in the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange and winning the G2 Prix du Rond Point before returning to America for one more shot at recapturing the glory at the Breeders' Cup in the 1992 GI Mile. Arazi was sent off the favourite but could manage no better than 11th of 14. He was retired to stand at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket with nine wins from 14 starts and earnings of $1,212,351.
Arazi later embarked on a globetrotting stud career. Following his stint at Dalham Hall, the chestnut relocated to Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky and later stood in Japan, Switzerland and Victoria, Australia. His stud career was not nearly as storied as his racing one, but he can lay claim to Congaree, winner of the GI Hollywood Gold Cup, GI Swaps S., GI Carter H. and two renewals of the GI Cigar Mile. Arazi also sired the French Group 2 winners First Magnitude (Ire) and America (Ire), and his legacy will also be felt as a broodmare sire; his daughters have produced six Group 1 winners including the G1 Dubai World Cup scorer Electrocutionist, GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf victress Lahudood (GB) and G1 Melbourne Cup winner Americain.
Arazi had lived out his final years at Stockwell Thoroughbreds in Victoria, which said in a statement, “It is with immense sadness that Stockwell Thoroughbreds announce the passing of one of the racing world's most revered champions, Arazi, at the grand age of 32 years. The little chestnut with a crooked blaze that made him almost instantly recognisable captured the minds of racing people around the globe when in 1991 he produced one of the most memorable performances seen on a racetrack in coming from last to take out the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by an easing five-length margin. Farewell to our mate–you were indeed a superstar.”
Stockwell's Mike Becker said, “It has been an honour never lost on us to have been guardians to such a beloved horse. He had major bowel surgery as a 4-year-old and has lived with a major heart murmur for the past 16 years, but in the end it was his body that gave out, not his big heart. He will be very missed around here.”
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}).
Funded through Horse Racing Ireland's Industry Education and Training Department, EQUUIP–the services offered through the Industry Assistance Programme (IAP)–have been re-configured to an Individual Assistance Programme and expanded to provide a racing and breeding specific support network. The IAP, offering support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year via phone and online chat, is confidential and free to use.
The programme offers a wide variety of services including emotional support, financial advice, legal information, bereavement counseling and medical information. Originally launched in 2016, the IAP is available to anyone working in the Irish racing or breeding industry.
Additionally, users have access to 'My Healthy Advantage'–a comprehensive health and well-being app that gives users access to a range of features, aimed at improving health and well-being, including live chat and support, personalised news feed, weekly mood tracker, four-week plans, mini health checks and breathing techniques.
Access the 24-hour helpline on 1-800 313 661 or visit www.equuip.ie
