Wandering Eyes

Fatale Bere (Fr) (f, 3, Pedro the Great–Mofa Bere {Fr}, by Saumarez {GB}), winner of the GIII Providencia S. at Santa Anita in April, came rolling late to upset the GI Del Mar Oaks. The bay raced in midpack as the field was strung out through fractions of :23.26 and :47.01. She hit the gas with a good-looking, sweeping move on the far turn and kept the momentum rolling into the stretch to reel in favored Ollie’s Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) by a head. Californiagoldrush (Cape Blanco {Ire}) was third. She entered off a sixth-place finish in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational July 7. Sales history: $15,709 yrl ’16 OSASEP. Lifetime Record: 10-5-0-1. O-Benowitz Family Trust, Head of Plains Partners or Mathiesen; B-SNC Regnier & San Gabriel Inv Inc (Fr); T-Leonard Powell. View the full article

Trainer Martine Bellocq did something Aug. 18 that would have been unthinkable months ago, after severe burns from the San Luis Rey Training Center fire scarred her body and forced the amputation of her left leg. View the full article

Any doubts about Skeptic's ability to make the step up to graded company were put to rest Aug. 18 when the 3-year-old filly sailed to victory in the $100,000 Monmouth Oaks (G3) at Monmouth Park. View the full article

Late rally thrusts Rafaello to ninth victory View the full article

Saas Fee on radar after Autumn Assault blitzes rivals View the full article

Hanafi rides second winner, for Al-Arabiya again View the full article

Clements has a new find called Vanda View the full article

Paddington puts injury behind with brave win second-up View the full article

Horses' body weights August 19 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings August 19 View the full article

Trainer Mark Casse completed a personal Triple Crown Aug. 18 when Chiefswood Stable's Neepawa delivered a front-running victory in the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes on the Woodbine Turf. View the full article

Eskimo Kisses was far back early but full of run when it counted Aug. 18 in the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. View the full article

Eskimo Kisses (f, 3, To Honor and Serve–Silver Colors, by Mr. Greeley) took advantage of a hot early pace to upset Saturday’s GI Alabama S. at Saratoga. Trailing the field through scorching early fractions of :22.52 and :46.79, the GI Ashland S. runner-up began to wind up with a flashy sweeping move on the far turn. Jose Ortiz reguided his charge to the inside into the stretch and ran away and hid from them from there to win by about seven or eight lengths at odds of 9-1. She’s a Julie (Elusive Quality) gamely battled back for second. Favored Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) was third. The final time for 1 1/4 miles was 2:03.22. Eskimo Kisses, a well-beaten fourth in the GI CCA Oaks at the Spa July 22, becomes the second graded winner for her sire (by Bernardini). Lifetime Record: 10-3-4-0. O-Gainesway Stable, Lerner, Rosen, Nehoc Stables, et al. B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds (Ky); T-Ken McPeek. View the full article

Last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Rushing Fall (f, 3, More Than Ready–Autumnal, by Forestry) flexed her muscle in Saturday’s GII Lake Placid S. at the Spa. The 6-5 favorite sat a stalking trip in second through easy early fractions of :25.29 and :50.20 over the yielding going. She made her move on the far turn and dropped the hammer in the stretch to win for fun. It was three lengths back to Capla Temptress (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in second. Daddy Is a Legend (Scat Daddy) was third. The final time was 1:51.86. Rushing Fall was a game second–her first career defeat–in Churchill’s GIII Edgewood S. on the GI Kentucky Oaks undercard May 4. Sales history: $320,000 yrl ’16 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: 6-5-2-0. O-e Five Racing Thoroughbreds; B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding (Ky); T-Chad Brown. View the full article

DEAUVILLE, France—Galileo (Ire) recently surpassed his own great father Sadler’s Wells at the head of the all-time sires’ list of European Pattern winners and his international allure shows no sign of abating with his Arqana session-topping daughter set to be trained in America by Mark Casse. Eric Puerari and Michel Zerolo’s Haras des Capucines consigned the filly (lot 51) from the Dayjur mare Tender Morn on behalf of breeders Lynch-Bages and Rhinestone Bloodstock and she quickly leapt past the previous high set by the first yearling by American Pharoah to be sold in Europe, reaching €810,000 by the time the gavel fell in favour of Justin Casse. “She’s from a very good family with a lot of quality and a decent amount of substance for a Galileo,” said the agent. “Every time I went back to see her she was the same horse. Her temperament is excellent.” Aidan O’Brien arguably knows more about Galileo than anyone in the bloodstock industry and it is this quality—as vital as pedigree and conformation—to which he regularly points when discussing the stallion’s phenomenal record at stud. At his esteemed level, Galileo serves some of the best mares in Europe and beyond and a previous tryst with the listed-placed Tender Morn has already produced last year’s juvenile Group 3 winner Kenya (Ire). The 20-year-old Wertheimer-bred mare is also the dam of the G3 Prix d’Aumale winner Zantenda (Ire) (Zamindar) and of the stakes-placed Single (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) and Elusif (Elusive Quality). “She has been wonderful to deal with and so calm throughout the sale,” said Puerari. “She has displayed all of the class associated with her sire and we feel privileged to have such a classic type of filly to consign for our clients.” Galileo’s name was prominent on the leader board from the outset on Saturday evening with the first yearling in the ring, a daughter of Galileo (Ire) out of the treble Grade 2 winner Naissance Royale (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway) (lot 1) selling to Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick International for €600,000. The agent couldn’t name his client but confirmed that the filly will leave her Normandy home to travel to Japan. Eight fewer yearlings changed hands on Saturday evening compared to the same day 12 months ago and the 58 to sell at a reduced clearance rate of 72% returned a set of figures which were down in each sector. Turnover fell by 20% to €13,385,000, while the average was down by 10% to €230,766 and the median slipped to €170,000 from €175,000. An American Classic This sale gains a lot of its character as the first platform for good physicals by rookie sires, but lot 34 brought a genuine sense of history into the ring as a debut sale for American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile) in Europe. The first Triple Crown winner in a generation retired to Ashford at $200,000 but has nonetheless been processing his opening crop of yearlings, in his homeland, at an average treble even that fee at $601,846. American Pharoah has a number of turf strands in his pedigree and he will certainly be given plenty to work with, for the European environment, by the Barronstown Stud mare Shawara (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}), whose striking daughter—nicely developed for a May foal—was presented here by Haras d’Etreham. A Listed winner herself, she comes from an Aga Khan family extending half a dozen generations and counts dual Group 1 winner and Arc runner-up Shareta (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}) among her previous foals. While a relative newcomer to the elite bloodstock scene, Phoenix Thoroughbreds, pushed him hardest, M.V. Magnier was not to be denied at €750,000. Magnier, of course, represents the organisation that stands American Pharoah—and afterwards made an impressive declaration of the team’s faith that this could be a horse of genuine global stature. “My grandfather founded Ballydoyle on American dirt horses—that’s where Galileo comes from, that’s where Sadler’s Wells came from,” he said. “It all goes back to the American Classic horse. And we strongly believe in American Pharoah. He really could be the next big thing. Be it him, or Justify (Scat Daddy), we think that a horse of that type can once again have a transforming impact on European bloodlines. “So that’s what we want to do: to get the best American Pharoahs we can, put them in Ballydoyle, and try to make him a new Northern Dancer. Remember Scat Daddy was an all-American hero, too, and look what he has been able to do on turf in Europe. “Bob Baffert said that he thought American Pharoah would have gone well on turf and this is a great moving filly. But then all the American Pharoahs seem to be.” A second filly by the sire goes under the hammer in the second session as Lot 158. Magnier stepped in to back another young stallion on the firm’s roster when giving €560,000 for Lot 22, a colt by Camelot (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) presented by Anna Sundstrom of Coulonces. Camelot, of course, is a couple of steps ahead of American Pharoah, with his first crop now 3-year-olds and excelling, much as expected, with time and distance (notably in the form of Irish Derby winner Latrobe {Ire}). And this colt is out of the MSW Rock My Soul (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), whose son Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) graduated from this sale in 2016—a €215,000 pick for Stroud Coleman—to win the G3 Chester Vase in May for William Haggas. “He’s a brother to a good horse, a very good mover, and Camelot’s absolutely flying at the minute—be it colts or fillies,” Magnier reasoned. “He looks like he has some good ones coming through among the 2-year-olds as well. So let’s hope he’ll be another.” Monceaux Marches On With 15 lots sold throughout the opening session for €5,305,000, Ecurie des Monceaux was in its customary position at the head of the vendors’ list by the end of day one. Naissance Royale’s Galileo filly wasn’t the only member of the draft to reach €600,000 with the Frankel (GB) colt out of listed winner Sabratah (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) attracting a matching bid from Oliver St Lawrence standing with Bahraini owner and trainer Fawzi Nass. “He’s a lovely big scopey horse, a staying model who is still quite unfurnished at present. He’ll go to England to be trained by George Peckham,” said St Lawrence of lot 26, a half-brother to the dual winner Muttrah Fort (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Three lots later, Godolphin went to €475,000 Another Monceaux offering saw the Godolphin buying team secure its first European yearling of the season when going to €475,000 for a colt by Lope De Vega (Ire) (lot 4). The second foal of Newton’s Night (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a winning sister to the G3 Orchid S. victrix Dress Rehearsal (Ire), hails from a family which includes Shadwell’s classy sprinter Muthmir (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Michel Zerolo and Stephen Hillen were both in hot pursuit of a Dark Angel (Ire) colt in the Monceaux draft (lot 55) and it was the latter who prevailed, offering €450,000 for the half-brother to listed winner Deemster (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and to G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein runner-up Buthela (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). The son of French listed victrix Tribune (Grand Slam) will be trained in Chantilly. Hillen said, “He has a good physical and is very much in the mould of the sire. He behaved beautifully in the ring, and obviously the record of Ecurie des Monceaux is second to none. He will be trained by Henri-François Devin for a new client.” Zerolo did however have the final say when it came to the colt with one of the freshest updates in the book, the Charm Spirit (Ire) half-brother to last Saturday’s Beverly D S. winner Sistercharlie (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}). Peter Brant is no stranger to buying in Europe, and indeed he bought Sistercharlie after her victory in last year’s G3 Prix Penelope for Alex Pantall. Now trained in America by Chad Brown, the filly is a treble Grade 1 winner on turf and her half-brother by Siyouni (Fr), now named Sottass (Fr) was bought at this same sale last year for €340,000. Brant has now added a third member of the family to this string, going to €400,000 for lot 43 through Zerolo’s Oceanic Bloodstock. “The dam has obviously proved that she is a tremendous breeder. This colt will go into training with Jean-Claude Rouget like his year-older half-brother who is set to make his racecourse debut on Tuesday. We have high expectations for him,” said Zerolo. Rookie Wrap Monceaux was also source of a couple of headline acts for leading new sires in Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Muhaarar was priced with conspicuous fairness when retired to Shadwell, at £30,000, and his first foals sold very well last autumn. Having started out at twice that sum, the two most expensive European sires of their intake, Golden Horn and Gleneagles, will have to work harder to pay their way. But collectively they made a solid enough start here. Just to get seven yearlings into a boutique sale like this was another feather in Muhaarar’s cap, six of them concentrated in this opening session. With one scratched, he found new homes for four of the five into the ring at an average of €277,500—headed at €420,000 by lot 16, Monceaux’s half-brother to Irish Oaks winner Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) out of the Listed winner Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}). David Redvers acquired this colt on behalf of Qatar Racing. “He’s a very athletic horse with a stallion’s pedigree, and that’s what we’re all after,” he said. “We’re trying to buy a few colts, to fill a few gaps in the racing programme, and—as usual—he’s a credit to the stud he’s come from. The pedigree is a mix, so you have to hope it’s one that will mix well.” His overall impression of Shadwell’s champion sprinter has been most positive. “I think they’re very strong, sprinter-topped horses with great actions,” he said. “We’ve some nice [Muhaarar] foals at home, and of course there were a lot that sold very welI last year. But I thought this was the pick of those here, on pedigree anyway.” Monceaux also made sure Gleneagles landed running, gaining €400,000 from Gatewood Bell for lot 8. Admittedly this filly benefited from one of the best updates of the catalogue as a half-sister to Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger}), who recently confirmed himself one of the best 3-year-olds in France when winning the G1 Prix Jean Prat. Bell was acting on behalf of Everett Dobson, for whom he bought Mastery (Candy Ride {Arg}). “She’s a half-sister to a Group 1 winner by a young stallion I really like,” Bell said. “She will start in Europe before heading to America if she proves good enough.” Gleneagles also commanded €170,000 for a filly late in the session, and has four more chances today. All three of Golden Horn’s offerings in the session meanwhile left the ring at €200,000, two sold but one still short of his reserve; he has four more catalogued today. Gold Medal For Sun Stud Even American Pharoah could not dislodge Medaglia d’Oro (El Prado), a sire who has gone out there and got the results on the track, from top billing at Saratoga earlier this month. The Jonabell stallion has achieved results on all surfaces and there was corresponding international interest in his sole entry in this sale, lot 25, a colt out of dual Grade 3 winner (and Grade 1-placed) Rusty Slipper (Lemon Drop Kid) from a family full of black type—not least through the dam’s half-sister, who produced Wicked Strong (Hard Spun) to win the G1 Wood Memorial. Sure enough, the winning bid of €340,000 traced to a cosmopolitan outfit in Sun Bloodstock. “I’m not sure where he’ll go to be trained, we’ll see how we’ve done at the end of the sale and what things look like then,” said David O’Callaghan. “But this was just a nice horse with a good pedigree who looks a fairly useful fit: he could go anywhere, Australia included. But only if he can run fast!” View the full article

Trainer Michael McCarthy will be traveling to Saratoga Race Course next week for the first time since going out on his own in 2014 when he brings multiple grade 1 winner City of Light to town for the $600,000 Forego Stakes (G1) Aug. 25. View the full article

Don Alberto Stable's three-time grade 1 winner Unique Bella has been retired from racing after an ankle injury was discovered following her workout Aug. 18 at Del Mar. View the full article

Code of Honor (c, 2, Noble Mission {GB}–Reunited, by Dixie Union) showed good speed and kept finding more to graduate at first asking at the Spa Saturday. Away sharply from his inside draw, the Farish homebred vied for command through an opening quarter in :23.07. He began to shake clear at the top of the stretch and stayed on nicely to hold off heavily favored Wild Medaglia d’oro (Medaglia d’Oro). The final time for six furlongs was 1:11.42. Code of Honor, a son of GSW Reunited, is the 5th winner for his freshman sire (by Galileo {Ire}). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-W S Farish (Ky); T-Shug McGaughey. View the full article

According to a mid-afternoon tweet from the Don Alberto Stable account, ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Unique Bella (Tapit–Unrivalled Belle, by Unbridled’s Song) fractured a sesamoid during a Saturday morning workout at Del Mar and has been retired from racing. Bred in Pennsylvania by Betty Moran’s Brushwood Stable, Unique Bella was purchased by Don Alberto Stable for $400,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September Sale and was accorded ‘Rising Star’ status for a 10 1/4-length maiden score during Del Mar’s Bing Crosby meet in late 2016. The stout gray filly won the GII Santa Ynez S., the GII Las Virgenes S. and the GIII Santa Ysabel S. by some 18 1/2 lengths combined, but was forced to miss the GI Santa Anita Oaks and GI Kentucky Oaks with a shin injury. Patiently handled by Jerry Hollendorfer, Unique Bella made a victorious return to action in the GIII L.A. Woman S. last October, but was only seventh as the favorite in the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint after setting a fast pace. Voted an Eclipse Award after defeating fellow ‘Rising Star’ Paradise Woods (Union Rags) in the GI La Brea S., she earned a career-best 109 Beyer Speed Figure for her nine-length romp in the GII Santa Maria S. Feb. 10, but missed the break in the Apr. 13 GI Apple Blossom H. and could do no better than second. She rounded out her career with Grade I wins in the June 2 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita and in Del Mar’s Clement L. Hirsch S. July 29. She retires with a record of 12-9-2-0 and earnings of $1,272,400. The first foal to make the races out of 2010 GI Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic winner Unrivaled Belle, Unique Bella is a maternal granddaughter of MGSW Queenie Belle (Bertrando). Unrivaled Belle was purchased by Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm for $3.8 million at Keeneland November in 2016 and produced a full-sister to Unique Bella in 2017. She foaled a colt by Tapit this year. View the full article

Luis Rivera Jr. didn't merely add to his more than 1,500 victories as a jockey with a win in the first race at Monmouth Park Aug. 18. He also notched his first win as a trainer. View the full article

Endorsed (c, 2, Medaglia d’Oro–Dance Card, by Tapit) came charging late to get the money at first asking at the Spa. The Godolphin homebred chased on the inside through an opening quarter in :23.02 as favored firster and $475,000 OBSAPR 2-year-old Ahead of Plan (Big Drama) enjoyed an uncontested lead. Endorsed, off at odds of 8-1, was guided to the outside by Joe Bravo in the stretch and came with a steady rally to reel in the pacesetter by a neck. Endorsed is a son of GI Gazelle S. winner and GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint third Dance Card. The final time for six furlongs was 1:11.22. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Godolphin (Ky); T-Kiaran McLaughlin. View the full article

2nd-Saratoga, $85,000, Msw, 8-18, 2yo, 7f (off turf), 1:25.67, gd. STANDARD DEVIATION (c, 2, Curlin–False Impression, by A.P. Indy), an overwhelming 45-100 favorite as a main-track-only entrant in this rained-off, scratch-reduced affair, was scrubbed along early to sit a far-back third out wide. Still hard ridden to inch closer along the turn for home, the $450,000 KEESEP yearling began to bear down on front-running fellow firster Vineyard Sound (Stormy Atlantic) as they straightened. He took over from that foe near the eighth pole, and steadily built on his edge from there to the tune of 2 3/4 lengths. Vineyard Sound held second by another 6 1/4 lengths. The winner’s second dam is two-time graded stakes-winning juvenile Classic Elegance (Carson City). His dam has a yearling colt by Hard Spun and a foal colt by Quality Road. She was bred back to Kitten’s Joy. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $46,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-KatieRich Farms (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. View the full article

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will introduce a new award to honor the highest-placing TAA graduate and the TAA-accredited organization affiliated with that horse at the Retired Racehorse Project’s $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The award, which will be a $1,500 cash prize and other gifts, will be divided between the rider of the highest-placed TAA horse and the TAA-accredited organization that rehomed or is in the process of retraining that horse. The 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover takes place Oct. 4-7 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. “TAA-accredited organizations have been sending their graduates to and have been participating in the Thoroughbred Makeover with much success since its inception,” said TAA operations consultant Stacie Clark Rogers. “The TAA wants to showcase those graduates and to reward the accredited organizations that are successfully transitioning horses off the racetrack and into new careers.” View the full article

2nd-SAR, $85K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, post time: 1:33 p.m. ET The only first-time starter here is ASDAAF (Medaglia d’Oro), who will be unveiled by trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The Shadwell homebred is a half-brother to GISW and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Takaful (Bernardini) from a deep European family including third dam Shadayid (Shadeed), a champion and G1SW in both England and France. TJCIS PPs 3rd-SAR, $85K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 5 1/2fT, post time: 2:07 p.m. ET Several first-out starters here interspersed with more seasoned competitors. Phipps Stable homebred COVER MODEL (War Front) makes her debut for trainer Shug McGaughey. The sophomore is a half-sister to GISW Imagining (Giant’s Causeway). Their dam is MGSW Daydreaming (A.P. Indy), whose full siblings include GISW Girolamo and GSW Accelerator, as well as the dams of GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (Maria’s Mon) and GI Haskell Invitational winner Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat). The deep Phipps family also includes GISWs Rhythm (Mr. Prospector), Dance Number (Northern Dancer), and Private Account (Damascus). Another homebred in the field, Arnold Zetcher’s Stylishly (Speightstown) is out of MGSW Always a Princess (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), who is a half-sister to MGISW Gabby’s Golden Gal (Medaglia d’Oro). There’s also $700,000 OBSMAR juvenile Rarities (City Zip), a full sister to MGISW Palace, who debuts for Kaleem Shah and Graham Motion. TJCIS PPs 5th-SAR, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, post time: 3:15 p.m. ET A number of well-bred firsters will be unveiled here, none more imposing than Phillips Racing Partnership homebred TIP AT TAPIT (Tapit), a daughter of SW & MGSP Ellie’s Moment (Kris S.), making her a full sister to GISW Time and Motion and two other stakes horses. Second dam GSP Kelley’s Day (Graustark) produced MGISW Brian’s Time (Roberto) and is from the extended family of champions Sunshine Forever (Roberto) and Ryafan (Lear Fan), MGISWs Memories of Silver (Silver Hawk) and Winter Memories (El Prado {Ire}), and sires Dynaformer (Roberto), Offlee Wild (Wild Again), and Darby Creek Road (Roberto). Tip At Tapit is trained by James Toner. TJCIS PPs View the full article

Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) has been having an outstanding year, with his progeny led by 2018 G1 Prix Saint-Alary & G1 Prix de Diane heroine Laurens (Fr). Alayna Cullen spoke with Georges Rimaud, who manages the Aga Khan Stud’s Haras de Bonneval in France where Siyouni stands, about the established sire’s success. AC: Siyouni has become one of Europe’s greatest stallions. Tell us about his rise? GR: Siyouni is an interesting horse. He was a champion 2-year old, son of Pivotal. People found that he mated very well with their mares and as a result of that we always had full books, and I think that’s important for a stallion to start out. He was syndicated also which helped a lot. So I think the combination of his [racetrack] performances, early performances of his progeny, pedigree, and syndication really helped him out. AC: His progeny are having a great year on the track this year? GR: Laurens (Fr) this year who’s been very successful and is a very nice filly that people recognize all over Europe. She was very good in France, she was very good in England. So, I think this really helps promote the horse. He’s gone up in price now and we’re getting some very, very good mares. Really, some Classic-winning mares all sorts of very good stock from Europe. It’s an open road for him, really. AC: And what’s impressed you about Laurens the most? GR: Laurens, she’s an impressive filly not only by her size, she’s a very scopy, massive filly with a great action. She takes the lead, she keeps on at it. She is quite extraordinary in that sense. I understand they’re going to run her in the [G1] Yorkshire Oaks and then onto the [G1 Prix de l’] Arc [de Triomphe]. For a daughter of Siyouni it’s quite remarkable and we look forward to that. AC: You mentioned that he’s jumped up in price and I’m sure that means he’s had a very busy breeding season just gone, can you tell us about how the season went for him, did you get any particularly exciting mares? GR: Well, this past season in 2018 is very exciting, we brought his price up to €75,000. We didn’t have the space for all the mares that wanted to be there, so we had some very good mares coming from all sides, most notably The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}). We had mares from all over Europe; from Germany, Ireland, England, France. At that price, I think we’re going to see some amazing results. AC: We’ve spoken a little about Siyouni, but of course he’s not the only stallion that stands at Aga Khan Studs. How are the other boys this year? GR: I think we’re very proud of the Aga Khan Studs to have a really nice roster of stallions. We have Siyouni obviously, we have Sea the Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in Ireland who’s also a fantastic sire, really. You can’t fault him. He’s an incredible sire. And the new additions, we brought in Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to Ireland two years ago, dual-Derby winner. We brought in Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire} last year, a very nice horse. And we bought Dariyan (Fr) the year before, a son of Shamardal, very good-looking horse, producing lovely, lovely horses. We try to bring stallions that are good prospects and really at the end of the day they are turning out to be good stallions so it’s great. People should be aware of that. The others are coming up the ranks and we believe in them as strongly as we believed in Siyouni at the beginning. View the full article