TUESDAY
LABAIK (FR)
2011 grey gelding by Montmartre (Montjeu) ex Avanguardia (Choisir)
Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux and sold to Shadwell as a yearling at Arqana for €130,000. Bought by Aidan O’Ryan and Gordon Elliott for £25,000 at last year’s Goffs UK August Sale, Labaik is the best runner for his 12-year-old Group 1 winning sire who stands at Haras du Hoguenet. His grandam is Anthurium, a listed winning daughter of Hector Protector and half-sister to Arcadio (by Monsun), the Arctic Tack Stud-based sire of Flying Angel and The Game Changer.
ALTIOR (IRE)
2010 bay gelding by High Chaparral (Sadler’s Well) ex Monte Solaro (Key Of Luck)
Bred by Paddy Behan. Sold at the Goffs Land Rover Sale in 2013 for €60,000 from Michael Carty’s Kilmoney Cottage Stud to Highflyer Bloodstock. One of a pair of blacktype winners for his Grade 3 hurdle winning dam. The other was Princess Leya, a Grade 2 hurdle winner by Old Vic. Family of Moorish who was runner-up in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle. Dual Derby winner High Chaparral sired So You Think, Toronado and Free Eagle. He died in 2014.
UN TEMPS POUR TOUT (IRE)
2009 bay gelding by Robin Des Champs (Garde Royale) ex Rougedespoir (Bonnet Rouge)
Bred by Felix Talbot. Sold for €15,000 in a private sale at Arqana in June 2011 by Haras de Saint-Voir to PB Bloodstock and for £450,000 at the DBS Hennessy Sale at Newbury in November 2013 by Selwood Bloodstock to David Pipe. Best offspring of his dam and her grandam bred Voy Por Ustedes, winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Arkle Chase at Cheltenham. By the Rathbarry and Glenview Stud’s sire of Vautour, Quevega and Sir Des Champs.
BUVEUR D’AIR (FR)
2011 bay gelding by Crillon (Saumarez) ex History (Alesso)
Bred by Gérard Ferté. One of a pair of Grade 1 winners produced by his dam. Previously she bred Punchestowns (by Morespeed) who was a Grade 1 winning chaser for Nicky Henderson. Buveur D’Air is also one of two Grade 1 winners for his sire, joining Alex De Larnedya. The 21-y-o Crillon stands for €6,000 at Haras de la Baie.
He was a listed winner in France and ran second to Montjeu in the Group 2 Prix Foy. His sire won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
APPLE’S JADE (FR)
2012 mare by Saddler Maker (Sadler’s Wells) ex Apple’s For Ever (Nikos)
Bred by Ronny Coveliers. One of three winners by her sire from the five-time jumps winner Apple’s For Ever. Her dam was the ultra-smart hurdler Apple’s Girl (by Le Pontet) who won the Prix La Barka Hurdle, Prix Leon Olry-Roederer Hurdle and Prix Renaud du Vivier 4YO Hurdle, all at Auteuil. Saddler Maker never won and died in 2016. Also sire of Bristol De Mai and Alpha Des Obeaux, his dam is a classic-placed Alleged half-sister to Poliglote (by Sadler’s Wells).
TIGER ROLL (IRE)
2010 bay gelding by Authorized (Montjeu) ex Swiss Roll (Entrepreneur)
Bred by Gerry O’Brien, Tiger Roll sold for 70,000gns as a foal at Tattersalls to John Ferguson, as a three-year-old at Doncaster to Nigel Hawke for £10,000 and by Thorne Farm Racing to Mags O’Toole for £80,000 at Brightwells. Dam was stakes-placed and a full-sister to Berenson who ran only twice and finished second to Dubawi in the Group 1 National Stakes. Derby winner Authorized stands under the Darley banner at Haras du Logis and is also sire of Nichols Canyon.
TULLY EAST (IRE)
2010 bay gelding by Shantou (Alleged) ex Ghillie’s Bay (King’s Ride)
Bred by Richard and Kathleen Keane. Twice sold at Goffs, through Burgage Stud as a foal to Whitehorse Stud, and for €40,000 at the Land Rover Sale to GH Bloodstock. Best of the four winners for his unraced dam who is a half-sister to the dam of Noble Endeavor. Grandam is a Deep Run own-sister to Mole Board. St Leger winner Shantou stands at Burgage Stud and is a Group/Grade 1 sire on the flat and over jumps, with outstanding winners/runners ratio,
WEDNESDAY
WILLOUGHBY COURT (IRE)
2011 brown gelding by Court Cave (Sadler’s Wells) ex Willoughby Sue (Dabali)
Bred by Jack Kidd. Purchased by William Flood at Tattersalls Ireland in January 2012 for €3,800, he sold on in November to Timmy Hillman for €6,000. He next sold as a three-year-old at the Goffs Land Rover Sale and Highflyer Bloodstock paid €48,000 to buy him. Dam is half-sister to Nil Desperandum, winner of the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase. The impeccably-bred, Boardsmill Stud-based Court Cave was unraced and Willoughby Court is his best runner.
MIGHT BITE (IRE)
2009 bay gelding by Scorpion (Montjeu) ex Knotted Midge (Presenting)
Bred by John O’Brien. Might Bite is the second foal and second Grade 1 winner for his point-to-point winning dam. Both are trained by Nicky Henderson, the previous winner being Beat That (by Milan) who defeated Cole Harden and Don Poli to win Grade 1 races at Aintree and Punchestown. Knotted Midge is a full-sister to the useful Drombeag. The former Coolmore NH sire Scorpion moved this season to stand at Shade Oak Stud. Might Bite is his best performer.
SUPASUNDAE (GB)
2000 bay gelding by Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) ex Distinctive Look (Danehill)
Bred by Newsells Park Stud. Sold by Earl Mack from Lodge Farm Stud at DBS Newbury Festival Sale in 2013 for £5,000. Dam is a winning sibling to nine winners, notable Group 1 winner and sire Nathaniel (by Galileo: Eclipse Stakes and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes), Irish Oaks winner Great Heavens (by Galileo) and Group 1 Fillies’ Mile winner Playful Act (by Sadler’s Wells). A son of Coolmore’s world’s leading sire, the multiple champion Galileo.
SPECIAL TIARA (GB)
2007 bay gelding by Kayf Tara (Sadler’s Wells) ex Special Choice (Bob Back)
Bred by David Young. First foal, runner and winner for his unraced dam. She is a half-sister to Grade 3 winning chaser Royal Choice, a daughter of King’s Theatre. A few generations back in the family are the Galway Hurdle winner Lesabelle and the smart chaser Doonbeg. The veteran Kayf Tara stands at Overbury Stud where his 2017 stud fee has doubled from last year to £10,000. He is the leading National Hunt stallion in Britain and also had an outstanding 2016 Festival with his runners.
CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA)
2008 bay gelding by Dynaformer (Roberto) ex Angel In My Heart (Rainbow Quest)
Bred by the Niarchos Family’s Flaxman Holdings. Sold as a three-year-old from Pascal Bary at Arqana for €52,000 to Highflyer Bloodstock. He is a half-brother to the 2003 Epsom Derby winner Kris Kin and their dam Angel In My Heart was a Group 3 winner in France and Grade 1 runner-up twice in the USA. She was one of three stakes winners out of Sweetly, including Common Grounds. Dynaformer is the sire of Barbaro and Americain, and of the Grade 1 Grand National Hurdle winner Mcdynamo.
FLYING TIGER (IRE)
2013 black gelding by Soldier Of Fortune (Galileo) ex Ma Preference (American Post)
Bred by Patrick Chedville. Sold for €38,000 from Haras du Petit Tellier to Nick Williams at the Arqana October Yearling Sale. Second foal and winner for his Group 3 winning dam. She is half-sister to the Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Noble Request. Grandam is half-sister to French Oaks winner Restless Kara. Sire stands at The Beeches Stud and is out of a half-sister to Sholokov, the sire of Don Cossack. He is sire of the Grade 1 winning hurdler Mega Fortune.
FAYONAGH (IRE)
2011 bay mare by Kalanisi (Doyoun) ex Fair Ina (Taipan)
Bred by John Bowe. Sold for £64,000 at last year’s Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham December Sale from Richard Rath’s Ballybawn Stables to Maura Gittens. Out of a bumper winning half-sister to Solerina who posted 22 wins from 40 starts, 18 of them over hurdles. They included the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle three times. A second Grade 1 success on the day for a Boardsmill Stud stallion. The Aga Khan-bred Kalanisi is also the sire of Katchit and Brain Power.
THURSDAY
YORKHILL (IRE)
2010 chesnut gelding by Presenting (Mtoto) ex Lightning Breeze (Saddlers’ Hall)
Bred by Patrick Keating. Sold from Parkview Farm to Ian Ferguson as a foal at Tattersalls Ireland for €41,000. First winner for his unraced dam who is a half-sister to five graded NH winners, two at Grade 1 level. They are The Listener and Offshore Account. Their dam Park Breeze was a full-sister to the great Risk Of Thunder.
The Rathbarry and Glenview Stud’s four-time champion Presenting is one of the most successful NH sires ever, with two Gold Cup and four Grand National winners.
PRESENTING PERCY (GB)
2011 bay gelding by Sir Percy (Mark Of Esteem) ex Hunca Munca (Presenting)
Bred by Johnny Weatherby’s Preston Lodge Stud. Sold for €22,000 through Burgage Stud to Lime Farm as a foal at Tattersalls Ireland. Best runner to date from the dual point-to-point winning half-sister to Grade 1 hurdle and chaser runner-up Western Charmer (2nd Irish Grand National). Family of Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition. By the 2006 Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy who stands at Kirsten Rausing’s Lanwades Stud and sired two Group 1 winners in 2016.
UN DE SCEAUX (FR)
2008 bay gelding by Denham Red (Pampabird) ex Hotesse De Sceaux (April Night)
Bred by Haras de la Rousseliere and partners. The best offspring of his unplaced dam who was the only offspring of a mare by an Anglo-Arab stallion. His fourth dam Gorda (by Tanerko) was placed in a number of group races, including the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary. His sire stood at Haras de la Rousseliere also and he was a smart hurdler, winning three times over jumps. He died three years ago and is also sire of the smart jumpers Oculi, Prince Philippe and Ouzbeck.
NICHOLS CANYON
(GB)
2010 bay gelding by Authorized (Montjeu) ex Zam Zoom (Dalakhani)
Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock and sold for 48,000gns as a yearling at Tattersalls from Hillwood Stud to Blandford Bloodstock. Best of three winners for his unraced dam and she is out of a full-sister to Group 1 Prix Vermeille runner-up Cloud Castle and a half-sister to Group 1 winners Luso (successful National Hunt sire) and Warrsan, and classic-placed Needle Gun. Second winner of the week for the Derby winner and Darley-owned Authorized following Tiger Roll.
ROAD TO RESPECT (IRE)
2011 chesnut gelding by Gamut (Spectrum) ex Lora Lady (Lord Americo)
Bred by Ivy Rothwell. The best of the offspring from the unraced Lora Lady and she is a half-sister to the best winner sired by Gamut, the multiple Grade 1 winner Road To Riches. Their dam is an Over The River full-sister to the Leopardstown Chase winner Sullane River and a half-sister to the Grade 1 winning hurdler Davenport Milenium. The Group 1 winner and classic-placed Gamut stands for €3,000 at Eamon Hogan’s Rosshill Farm in Galway.
LET’S DANCE (FR)
2012 mare by Poliglote (Sadler’s Wells) ex Baraka Du Berlais (Bonnet Rouge)
Bred by Joseph Hayoz. Sold twice at Arqana, as a foal for €16,000 from Haras du Berlais to Winning Bloodstock Agency, and a two-year-old for €50,000 from Haras d’Esque to Haras du Saubouas. Out of a listed winning hurdler by the broodmare sire of Un Temps Pour Tout. Baraka Du Berlais is a half-sister to the dam of Grade 1 winning chaser Gitane Du Berlais. Poliglote sired an Arc winner, Grade 1 winner Don Poli and is closely related to Apple’s Jades’ sire.
DOMESDAY BOOK (USA)
2010 brown gelding by Street Cry (Machiavellian) ex Film Script (Unfuwain)
Bred by Queen Elizabeth. Half-brother to dual listed winner Free Agent (by Dr Fong) and to the dam of Peacock (by Paco Boy). Dam won two listed races and is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Barney McGrew (by Mark Of Esteem). Third dam Starlet was a Group 2 winner and runner-up in the Nassau Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes. Street Cry was a Darley stallion and his winners include Winx, Zenyatta, Street Sense and Pride Of Dubai.
FRIDAY
DEFI DU SEUIL(FR)
2013 bay gelding by Voix Du Nord (Valanour) ex Quarvine Du Seuil (Lavirco)
Bred by Catherine Doudot. Daughter of a two-time winner on the flat, her grandam Fleur Du Tennis won six times on the flat and is dam of four winners. A daughter of Video Rock, Fleur Du Tennis is a full-sister to the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase winner Jimmy Tennis and from the immediate family of Coo Star Sivola, a listed hurdle winner at Cheltenham in 2017. Dual Group 1 winner Voix Du Nord died in 2013 and is also sire of Vroum Vroum Mag.
ARCTIC FIRE(GER)
2009 bay gelding by Soldier Hollow (In The Wings) ex Adelma (Sternkoenig)
Bred by Uwe Gruning. Sold as a yearling at Baden-Baden to Crispin de Moubray for €3,000 and then as a three-year-old at Arqana by trainer Laurent Viel to PB Bloodstock Services for €110,000. Outstanding among the winners from Adelma who won at three in Germany. She is a half-sister to the dam of Grade 1 chase runner-up Allen Voran (by Sholokov). Grandam an own-sister to champion Alkalde. Soldier Hollow stands for €25,000 in 2017 at Gestut Auenquelle.
PENHILL(GB)
2011 bay gelding by Mount Nelson (Rock Of Gibraltar) ex Serrenia (High Chaparral)
Bred by Newsells Park Stud and Equity Bloodstock. A second winner this week bred at Newsells Park. Sold to James Bethell for 24,000gns in Tattersalls Book 2. Resold from the trainer’s yard in 2014 at Tattersalls for 240,000gns to Stephen Hillen Bloodstock. One of three winners out of a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Herboriste and Grade 1-placed Fast And Furious. A third Grade 1 winner for a Boardsmill Stud stallion, Mount Nelson joining Kalanisi and Court Cave.
SIZING JOHN(GB)
2010 bay gelding by Midnight Legend (Night Shift) ex La Perrotine (Northern Crystal)
Bred by Bryan and Sandra Mayoh, Eskdale Stud. Sold for €16,000 as a foal at Tattersalls Ireland from Ballincurrig House Stud to John Bleahen.
La Perrotine won a bumper and three hurdle races and Sizing John is her third foal. Midnight Legend died last July at Pitchell Farm Stud. He was a Grade 1 hurdle winner and Group 2 flat winner. Sizing John is his outstanding runner, and he is also sire of My Petra, Seeyouatmidnight, Wychwoods Brook and Midnight Chase.
PACHA DU POLDER (FR)
2007 bay gelding by Muhtathir (Elmaamul) ex Ambri Piotta (Caerwent)
Bred by Hubert Honore and Pierrick Rouxel. Sold as a yearling at Arqana October Sale for €16,000 from Haras d’Ommeel to Antoine Lamotte D’Argy. One of nine foals from his dam, eight of which have run and won.
He is the only blacktype winner, though his Poliglote half-sister Agata was third in the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary. Ambri Piotta was a listed winner of 11 races. Muhtathir stands at Haras du Mezeray for €6,000 and is sire of Doctor Dino and other stars.
CHAMPAGNE CLASSIC(IRE)
2011 bay gelding by Stowaway (Slip Anchor) ex Classical Rachel (Shahanndeh)
Bred by Ronnie O’Neill and sold from his Whytemount Stud at the Goffs Land Rover Sale for €20,000 to Kilronan Stud. Also sold for €100,000 at the Goffs Punchestown Sale to Gordon Elliott. One of a few winners produced from his dam, all by the same sire. Dam is unraced and the grandam is a half-sister to the smart juvenile hurdler Majestic Man. Stowaway died in 2015 and the sire of Outlander, Champagne Fever and Hidden Cyclone also stood at Whytemount.
ROCK THE WORLD (IRE)
2008 bay gelding by Orpen (Lure) ex Sue N Win (Beneficial)
Bred by Des Donegan. The best winner from his dam who won a bumper and over hurdles. Also the best winner in three generations of a female line that traces back to such well-known performers as Gold Cup winner Jodami, Galway Plate winner Rugged Lucy, Grade 1 winning chaser Gemini Lucy, and the graded chase winner and Irish Grand National-paced Home Farm. Sire stands for €5,000 this year at Haras du Thenney and was trained by Aidan O’Brien.