Earthlight

DONCASTER, England--A serious tempo was set to the European yearling sale season at Arqana last week with strong trade recorded in the August and V2 sales. If the momentum is to continue into the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale this week, Goffs could be in for a productive week.  G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Sacred Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was sourced here 12 months ago for £52,000 while similarly smart two-year-old Jasour (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) cost £85,000.  Both juveniles have flown the flag for the Donny yearlings with their...

DEAUVILLE, France--In a departure from the normal schedule, Arqana's August extravaganza kicks off a day early this year, on Friday. With a handful of shows having taken place on Tuesday, viewing began in earnest on Wednesday morning, with Joseph O'Brien first out of the blocks and on parade at the Haras des Capucines draft while most people were still having breakfast. While many of the families of the horses catalogued will be familiar to potential purchasers, each new season brings with it a wave of new stallion names to grapple...

For this final part of the series, we are looking at stallions who have retired to stud since 2021 and will thus have either first foals or yearlings at the sales this year or are about to cover their first book of mares. There is plenty to digest from three years' intake and of course prices can often drop after a stallion's first year at stud, so there could be some value to be found for breeders willing to roll the dice on a stallion about to embark on his...

Whether it was Bayside Boy (Ire) at Ballylinch, Minzaal (Ire) at Derrinstown or King Of Change (GB) and Dubawi Legend (Ire) at Starfield, one of the main takeaways from this year's Irish Thoroughbred Stallion Trail was that the pedigree buffs and bloodstock fans love nothing more than getting a glimpse at the new stallions this country has to offer.  "Don't dream of putting a picture of that lad up on Twitter otherwise I'll have Eddie O'Leary tweeting that it's not the only pig down in Ballyhane," - Joe Foley. Few...

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry   After a hectic few months perusing this year's foal and yearling crops, we asked the buyers to share their thoughts on the young stallions with first foals and yearlings.  Dermot Farrington, agent: "If you look at the list of people who have bought yearlings and foals by Advertise, it's a long time since a young stallion has attracted the who's who of the bloodstock world, and that's exactly what he has done. Whether it be yearlings to breeze, yearlings to race or foals...

NEWMARKET, UK--"If we don't believe in our stallions, who will?" So said breeder and consignor Ed Harper after topping the second day of foal trade at Tattersalls, though in the case of lot 793, the sire in question, this season's leading freshman Havana Grey (GB), has already garnered the support of plenty of breeders and buyers. But to justify the day's top price tag of 250,000gns at this stage of his young life, the colt had to have plenty more going for him, and his half-brother Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable...

The insatiable demand for foals was evident in the figures recorded at Goffs last week with turnover rising 16% to €29,561,000 and the average climbing 16% to €40,110. At the top end of the market, Kingman (GB) dominated with three foals by the Juddmonte-based stallion selling for a combined €1,540,000 and one of Europe's leading pinhookers Philipp Stauffenberg signing for the €550,000 top lot by the sire.  Tally-Ho Stud may be best known for being sellers but they pipped Stauffenberg for the biggest spenders title by signing for 19 foals...

A filly, born on Jan. 16 at Plantation Stud Out of the group-placed multiple winner Achnaha (Ire) (Haatef), from the family of stakes-winning 2-year-old and producer Dusky Queen (Ire), and G3 Sweet Solera S. winner Albabilia (Ire) "[She is an] attractive, correct bay filly with loads of substance. We are very happy with her," said Plantation Stud's James Berney. "We used Earthlight as he was a very high-class racehorse, being champion 2-year-old in France and a son of Shamardal out of a talented racemare. He looks to have all the...

Darley has confirmed the addition of four champions to its Australian roster for 2021. The treble Australian Group 1 winner Bivouac (Aus) will be joined by European shuttlers Pinatubo (Ire), Earthlight (Ire) and Ghaiyyath (Ire), as first reported in TDN AusNZ. The announcement marks a significant show of faith in the Australian market just 12 months after Microphone (Aus), Blue Point (Ire) and Too Darn Hot (GB) made their debut on Darley's Australian roster. "The Australian market is going very well and, at the same time, having access to these...

The calendar has turned at last, with likely many more than usual looking for a fresh start in a new year. Even outside the midst of a global pandemic, the excitement of a new sire crop typically provides plenty of reason for excitement and optimism, despite the fact the very few of the 30-something young pretenders preparing to stand their first seasons in the UK, Ireland and France will truly 'make it.' But isn't that the point? Those made of thick enough stuff to be involved in the breeding and...

On the back of the eagerly anticipated stallion fee announcements in Europe, Gary King spoke with a number of leading industry figures about value. Today we hear from Jacqueline Norris of Jockey Hall Stud. GK: Who have you identified as a first-year stallion at an appealing opening fee? JN: I think Earthlight (Ire) looks to be well priced at €20,000, as a dual Group 1-winning son of the great Shamardal. I am really looking forward to seeing him and am hoping to send him a nice mare. I think Shamardal...

Godolphin's dual Group 1-winning juvenile Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal-Winters Moon {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) has been retired from racing and will stand at Kildangan Stud in 2021. Bred by Godolphin out of its G1 Fillies' Mile third Winters Moon-a half-sister to two Group 1 winners--Earthlight went unbeaten in five starts last year at two for trainer Andre Fabre. He took the G3 Prix de Cabourg at third asking before reeling off victories in the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S., the latter over subsequent G1 Commonwealth Cup victor...