National Hunt

The catalogue for the Arqana February Mixed Sale on February 13-14 was released by the sale company on Friday. Featuring 363 horses comprised of horses-in-training on the Flat and over jumps, broodmares, maidens, 2-year-olds and yearlings, with eight wildcards still to be announced, sessions will begin at 11 a.m. daily. The Arqana February Sale, which last year sold the G2 Prix du Petite Couvert winner and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye-placed Air De Valse (Fr) (Mesnil des Aigles {Fr}) as a broodmare prospect, this year offers a trio of fillies-in-training who...

La Petite Sissi (Ire) (Ivawood {Ire}) (lot 385), a half-sister to G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine La Petite Coco (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}), is one of the leading lots catalogued for the Goffs February Sale on Feb. 7-8. A total of 431 lots are spread across the two days featuring both Flat and National Hunt horses of all ages, with each session beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday's session begins with 2-year-olds, horses-in-training and stores followed by a weanling section with a wide variety of sires represented. Foals kick...

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to [email protected] I have been fortunate to experience many wonderful days racing, but NEVER I have EVER heard a crowd response like when the two Queens of National Hunt racing, HONEYSUCKLE and Rachael Blackmore, returned to the Cheltenham winner enclosure the after the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) in March of this year. The place was packed 20 deep, it went wild, it was...

A yearling by Blue Bresil (Fr) led the final session of the Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale NH Sale Thursday. Out of the Shantou mare Thanks For Tea (Ire) (lot 992), the colt was purchased for €58,000 by Kevin Ross Bloodtsock. Sold by Ballyhampshire Stud, the yearling was the 18th foal or yearling by Blue Bresil to sell for €50,000 or more over the five days' sale, and was the week's third session topper for the Rathbarry Stud stallion. "The gelding has been bought on spec," said Anna Ross. "We...

The catalogue for the Osarus 100% National Hunt Sale, offering 28 juveniles, 31 yearlings and 11 foals, mares and horses-in-training, is now available online. The single-session sale is scheduled to take place on Nov. 8 at Le Lion d'Angers. Bidding begins at 1 p.m. Past graduates include Grade 1 winners Laurina (Fr), Punch Nantais (Fr), Gelino Bello (Fr), Capodanno (Fr) and Mighty Potter (Fr), winner of the G1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase in February. The top lot of the new Osarus horses-in-training sale at Craon in September, Rose De La Jarrie...

The Arqana November Yearling Sale and Autumn Sale Catalogues are now available online. The November Yearling Sale will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18 while the Autumn Sale gets underway on Nov. 20 and runs through Nov. 23. Flat yearlings, lots 1 to 181, will sell on Saturday, Nov. 18. The Monday, Nov. 20 catalogue features horses-in-training selling as lots 201 to 483.  An even 10 lots will be offered through the Aga Khan's draft during the Flat portion, including the stakes-placed Behtar (Fr) (Kitten's Joy) (lot 428), while Andreas...

Dual winner My Lyka (GB) (Intello {Ger}) is one of four wildcards added to the Arqana Summer Sale on July 4-6 in Deauville. Consigned as lot 449, the 98-rated 4-year-old was most recently fourth in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly. The other wildcards are lot 495, Full Of Shade (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}), who was second over hurdles in her second start; the placed hurdler Sun Joy (Fr) (Hunter's Light {Ire}) (lot 496); and Le Grande Yves (Fr) (Triple Threat {GB}) (lot 497), a two-length winner over...

A National Hunt Panel Discussion was held by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Next Generation this week at Tattersalls Ireland following the inspection day of the May Store Sale. Richard Pugh was master of ceremonies, with an expert panel of Highflyer Bloodstock's Tessa Greatrex, Sluggara Farm consignor and veterinarian Walter Conners, Cobajay Stables' Aidan Fitzgerald and bloodstock agent Tom Malone on hand to share their views. Among the topics discussed were how they got into racing, selection at sales, what to forgive in a pedigree and confirmation, and recent prevalence...

The 37-lot ThoroughBid March Sale catalogue is now online. Set for Mar. 3 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on the ThoroughBid online platform, the sale features several entries from Ronan McNally including the 2020 Troytown winner The Jam Man (Ire) (Papal Bull {GB}) (lot 5) and Grade 2 scorer Dreal Deal (Ire) (Arvico {Fr}) (lot 17). Besides the horses-in-training, broodmares, and other young stock, there are also breeding rights available in Legends Of War (lot 28), Roseman (Ire) (lot 32) and established stallion Charming Thought (GB) (lot 36). James Richardson, CEO...

Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars (Ire)--Swizzle Stick (Ire), by Sadler's Wells) has welcomed his first foals as he starts his second season at Sunnyhill Stud in partnership with Jack Cantillon's Bloodstock Racing. The Group 1-winner did his best running in Australia but now stands in the northern hemisphere at the National Hunt stud. "I'm going to be looking everywhere I can to find more mares for Fifty Stars on the basis of his first foal out of Lady Breffni (Ire) (Yeats {Ire}). We bought Grade 2 winning Lady Breffni...

A colt by Walk In The Park (Ire) led the way with a €49,000 final bid at Tuesday's one-day February National Hunt Sale at Fairyhouse. Sold by Walshtown Stables on behalf of breeder Liam Flavin, lot 109, who is out of Be Mine Tonight (Ire), was purchased by pinhooker Dick Frisby. Consignor Donie Murphy said, "We always thought he was a nice sort, this is the right sale for him as he was a June foal. The mare is three from three and there are a few more from her...

G2 Prix du Petite Couvert heroine and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye-placed Air De Valse (Fr) (Mesnil des Aigles {Fr}) (lot 51) is one of 356 lots in Arqana's February Sale catalogue which was released on Friday. Slated for 11 a.m. local time on Feb. 14-15, the sale features horses-in-training on the Flat and over jumps, maidens, broodmares, stores, 2-year-olds, and yearlings. There are also five wild card slots available, three for horses-in-training and two for the breeding stock portion. Joining Air De Valse, is winning debut hurdler Marvin Flight (Fr)...