Arqana

Godolphin newcomer Ruling Court (Justify--Inchargeofme {GB}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) caused a stir when knocked down for a sale-topping €2.3-million at Arqana's Breeze-up sale in May and made another huge splash with an imperious performance to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette in Thursday's Martin Densham & Peter Deal Memorial British EBF Maiden Stakes at Sandown. The seven-furlong contest has earned its status as an important staging post with recent winners including Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Kameko (Kitten's Joy). Ruling Court becomes the ninth...

The hitherto undefeated Fraise Des Bois (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}--Artifix {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}) registered a hattrick of 5 1/2-furlong victories at Tarbes earlier in the campaign and continued on an upward trajectory with a career high in Sunday's Listed Criterium du Bequet at La Teste. The eventual winner recovered from a stuttering start to track the leaders in fifth after the initial strides of this black-type debut. Fanning wide to the stands' side off the home turn, she seized control with 300 metres remaining and powered clear inside the final...

Pierre Hoyeau, a notable figure in the racing community of Western France, has died at the age of 91. He was the father of former Arqana president and current senior advisor Eric Hoyeau, and the grandfather of bloodstock agent Arthur Hoyeau. Hoyeau got his start in racing by creating a grain and feed trading company in Anjou, which supplied many trainers in the West of France. From there, his interest in racing developed, leading to Hoyeau creating his own stable, which focused primarily on jumping horses, but he worked with...

A share in Group 1 winner and sire Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) brought €710,000 from American chef and owner/breeder Bobby Flay during Arqana Online's Pop-Up Sale on Friday. A resident of The Aga Khan Studs' Haras de Bonneval, Zarak (lot 1) has produced a trio of top-flight winners led by G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Metropolitan (Fr), G1 Prix Ganay victor Haya Zark (Fr), and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden scorer Zagrey (Fr). His worldwide stakes winners stand at 20. His 2024 fee was €60,000. Also selling on Friday...

Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' and G1 Futurity Trophy hero Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Golden Valentine {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) had yet to fire on all cylinders this year and bounced back from an eighth in last month's G1 Derby to regain the winning thread in Thursday's G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket. The 6-4 favourite went forward to assume control after the initial strides of this 13-furlong test. Holding sway thereafter, he was asked to stretch with three furlongs remaining and kept finding for pressure inside the final quarter-mile to comfortably...

Following on from the August Yearling Sale, the v.2 Yearling Sale will take place on Tuesday, August 20 in Deauville. The catalogue, that offers a total of 189 lots, is now available on the Arqana website. Since its inception, the v.2 Yearling Sale has produced a number of top-class performers, including the Classic winners Coeursamba (Fr), Teppal (Fr) and Olmedo (Fr). This year the catalogue of 189 lots, "selected for their precociousness" according to the sales company, includes yearlings by leading sires such as Havana Grey (GB), No Nay Never,...

For the third consecutive year, Arqana's Summer Sale broke the €10-million barrier by gross, with 326 lots (67%) marked as sold from 488 offered in Deauville. Buyers, more selective than in 2023 when the sale boasted an 83% clearance rate, paid €10,711,000 across the three day stand. However, the 2024 catalogue was bolstered by an additional 113 horses compared to the 2023 version. The average closely tracked last year's edition as well at €32,856 (-3%), while the median dropped 19% to €16,000. Thursday's session, which featured breeding stock, added €1,142,500...

A €210,000 daughter of Too Darn Hot (GB) headlined what was a predictably tricky two-year-old section to the Summer Sale at Arqana as the curtain definitively came down on the 2024 breeze-up season.  It was Brendan Holland's Grove Stud who consigned the day one top lot, who was bought by bloodstock agent Arthur Hoyeau on behalf of MyRaceHorse.  "She's been bought for MyRaceHorse and will go to the United States," said Hoyeau. "She's a very interesting filly with lots of qualities and has the perfect profile to go to the...

Filippo Ezri and Jean-Pierre Djian's Une Pointure (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}--Whipcorse {Fr}, by Whipper), a Marcel Rolland trainee, backed up a debut third at Saint-Cloud last month with an impressive seven-length tally over six furlongs in Tuesday's Prix de la Verrerie at Chantilly. 3rd-Chantilly, €30,000, Mdn, 7-2, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:11.57, g/s. UNE POINTURE (FR) (f, 2, Dabirsim {Fr}--Whipcorse {Fr}, by Whipper), who hit the board going seven furlongs at Saint-Cloud in her June 4 debut last time, broke in mid division and moved forward to stalk the leaders in third...

The catalogue for the Arqana August Yearling Sale, which takes place from August 16 to 18, was released on Friday.  The sale has an impressive roll of honour given last year's Prix de l'Arc winner Ace Impact and this year's French Derby hero Look De Vega are both graduates. Add that to the fact top-notchers Unquestionable, Feed The Flame, Ancient Wisdom, Sunway and Bucanero Fuerte were sold at the August Yearling Sale, it's easy to see why Arqana has become and must for many of the top buyers across the...

Yann Barberot trainee Lhakpa (Ire) (Siyouni {Ire}--Enchanting Skies {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), a €650,000 Arqana August half-sister to last term's G3 Prix La Rochette victor and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere third Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), made a winning debut when getting up late in Saturday's seven-furlong Prix des Belles Demoiselles at Compiegne. 1st-Compiegne, €30,000, Mdn, 6-22, unraced 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:30.74, sf. LHAKPA (IRE) (f, 2, Siyouni {Fr}--Enchanting Skies {Ire} {SP-Fr}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) recovered from a sluggish exit to track the leaders in...

Iraj Parvizi's Listed Dee Stakes third Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}--Alakhana {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}), who made an impressive black-type breakthrough in April's Listed Feilden Stakes, bounced back in style to secure a career high in Thursday's G3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. Jayarebe broke smartly from the outside gate, but was trapped wide in a prominent position before accepting a tow in a share of third. Looming large when taking closer order off the home turn, the 7-1 chance hit the front passing the quarter-mile marker and was driven...