Laurent Benoit

A 1/50th share in the Aga Khan Studs stallion Zarak (Fr) took top billing in the Arqana December Online Sale when going the way of Alex Elliott for €800,000. Of the 13 stallion shares and breeding rights offered, nine sold for a total of €1,323,000. A four-time winner when trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré, notably landing the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, Zarak boasts an exceptional pedigree as a son of Dubawi (Ire) and the unbeaten G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar). Zarak stood his first...

What better accompaniment to a global fashion business, Parisian hotel and fabulous art collection than a Thoroughbred stud farm? Nothing, right? This was apparently the conclusion reached by Thierry Gillier, the founder of the uber-cool Zadig & Voltaire label, whose appropriation of the nom de plume of the celebrated French writer for his fashion brand has now been extended to his own nom de course at Haras Voltaire.  Just last week, Gun Of Brixton (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) became the latest graduate of the Normandy farm to advertise this burgeoning breeding...

A share in G1SW Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}-Zarkava {Ire}, by Zamindar) realised €740,000 from Laurent Benoit, acting on behalf of Haras Voltaire, during Wednesday's Arqana Online Pop-Up Sale. Additionally, a share in Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}-Spasha {GB}), by Shamardal) was also knocked down to Benoit, this time bidding for Haras des Sablonnets, for €180,000. The leading sire in France by black-type winners, the Aga Khan Studs stallion has produced this year's Classic-winning Metropolitan (Fr), who took the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, as well as Haya Zark (Fr) and...

A share in Haras de Colleville stallion Galiway (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was purchased by the Broadhurst Agency's Laurent Benoit for €160,000 to be the top-priced offering during Arqana's final online sale of the year Tuesday, Dec. 19. The rising 13-year-old is the sire of 14 black-type winners, eight at group level, including G1 Champion S. and G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere hero Sealiway (Fr) and Sunway (Fr), victorious in the G1 Criterium International. Galiway is also the sire of Vauban (Fr), a Group 3 winner on the flat and a...

DEAUVILLE, France--The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe trophy, a pared-down replica of Paris's mighty monument, was in residence at the Arqana restaurant, where diners were treated to a complimentary glass of champagne courtesy of the owners of Ace Impact (Fr), Serge Stempniak and Kamel Chehboub. Some of us had work to do, however, and a solid opening day of Arqana's October Yearling Sale had more than a little fizz about it here and there.  Frankel (GB) may rule at Tattersalls, but in Deauville we are in the court of France's...