20/08/2025. SAH Racing: World’s Best Race has West vs East in Titanic Clash… // TDN Conversation: Johnny Hyland podcast // Arqana: August Sale Deauville

World’s Best Race has West vs East in Titanic Clash

The Juddmonte International has long been one of York’s crown jewels, a stage where the best of Europe—and often beyond—come to measure themselves at a mile and a quarter. This year’s field of six, while small, offers an intriguing blend of international flavor, unbeaten potential, and proven Group 1 performers.

Distant Storm headlines Acomb Stakes

Godolphin’s Distant Storm will carry the royal blue silks into Wednesday’s Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York, heading a field of eight in what promises to be a competitive renewal.

The son of Night Of Thunder, bought out of Book 1 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by breeze-up ace Cormac Farrell before joining Godolphin, made an impressive debut at Newmarket last month. Trainer Charlie Appleby has mapped out this race ever since.

Paul Foo-Kune Adds 11 New Horses to Mauritius String, Selukwe the Star Buy

Mauritius owner Paul Foo-Kune has made a major statement ahead of the new season, securing 11 horses to strengthen his stable, with Selukwe standing out as the headline acquisition.

Henham Stud, August 2yo Sales Draft

Henham Stud, long-time supporters of Bloodstock South Africa, will be well represented at this year’s August Two-Year-Old Sale.

The Rous Bros will offer six well-bred two-year-olds, sired by Act Of War, Danon Platina, Elusive Fort, Erik The Red, and Last Winter

Narrow Creek August 2yo Sales Draft

Narrow Creek Stud have enjoyed another wonderful season in 2024–2025.

Among the stars bred or raised by Narrow Creek to grace the South African turf this season were G2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe winner Chronicle King and G3 Post Merchants victor I Am Giant.

Mauritzfontein Stud August 2yo Sales Draft

Mauritzfontein offers another classy draft for this 2 year old Sale with stud manager Nigel Page offering his comments on each of the 2 year olds below.

Riethuiskraal Stud August 2yo Sales Draft 2025

Riethuiskraal – A Rich Past

The farm was previously owned by acclaimed novelist Wilbur Smith. In April 2000 Altus Joubert, an advocate from the Johannesburg Bar, purchased the land from Smith and developed it into a stud farm. At that time Joubert had already been breeding thoroughbreds for some 10 years, boarding mares at various farms. As a consequence the horses were bred in the name of “Adv A.P. Joubert”. All such horses referred to herein reflect the breeder as “Riethuiskraal Stud”.

Winterbach Stud August 2 Year Old Sales Draft

Winterbach Stud, the boutique operation known for consistently producing winners both at the track and in the sales ring, is back with another eye-catching draft for the upcoming August Two Year Old Sale.

Hopes And Dreams Stud August 2yo Sales Draft

The Hopes And Dreams draft features six promising two-year-olds, each with the pedigree to back up the hype. Among the headliners are two colts by Declarationofpeace, a young sire whose stock is gaining attention. Lot 11 is out of Alto Alex, a half-sister to Listed Golden Loom Handicap winner Bold Ransom, while Lot 261 is from the accomplished Travelling Light—a three-time winner by Gimmethegreenlight and close relative to champion sire Captain Al.

Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud – August 2yo Yearling Sales Draft 2025

Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud made headlines at the recent 2025 KZN Yearling Sale, delivering one of the standout consignments of the auction. The farm sold three of the top four-priced yearlings, including the sales topper—a Vercingetorix filly who fetched R1.3 million. That performance helped propel Hemel ‘N Aarde to the top of the vendor standings, with 12 yearlings sold for a total of R6.29 million.

Johnny Hyland Joins the

TDN Conversations Podcast

For the latest instalment of the TDN Conversations podcast we took a trip to Oghill House Stud in County Kildare. There, Johnny Hyland represents the fifth generation of his family to be running what has become a notably successful nursery for Thoroughbreds.

In recent years the likes of Group 1 winner Marcel, Royal Ascot winners Washington DC and Quick Suzy, and French group winners Romantic Style and Caius Chorister are among some of the top horses to have been bred or raised at Oghill House.

The stud will offer a Mehmas half-sister to Romantic Style at the forthcoming Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The first three foals of their dam Sweety Dream (Dream Ahead) are all stakes winners.

Hyland took over the running of the farm from his later father Hugh and uncle Pat, and he talks us through the ethos of this family-run business in the heart of Ireland’s racing and breeding community.

“A great work ethic,” is what Hyland says he has inherited from the those two much-missed role models. “And as regards horses, just take your time and trust yourself.”

We are grateful for the support of our podcast sponsor, Saracen Horse Feeds, and we hope you will enjoy listening.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

2025 August Sale: an historic edition

Following on from the first two evenings of the sale, a further 129 yearlings went under the hammer today, bringing the August Sale to a close. More than 81% of them were sold for an average of €295,829, generating a turnover of €31,092,000.

An historic top price at €3 million for a half-sister to MAGIC WAND and CHICQUITA

The ring was a buzz when it came to the turn of an eagerly awaited daughter of Night Of Thunder out of PRUDENZIA (lot 206) from Écurie des Monceaux to be sold. Following a protracted bidding war, the gavel finally fell at the record price of €3 million in favour of Alex Elliott, bidding on behalf of AMO Racing. The blue-blooded filly is a half-sister to Classic winners CHICQUITA and MAGIC WAND from the family of EMILY DICKINSON, PHILOMENE, PACIFIQUE and VESPERTILIO.

“She is truly priceless!”, said Alex Elliott. “To build a dynasty, you need to acquire horses like this. She is a splendid filly, and her dam has produced remarkably well. Her sister won the TDN Rising Star last week; it’s a very lively family. We are more than happy.”

Lot 206 f. Night Of Thunder x Prudenzia

August Sale overview: unprecedented figures achieved

A total of 272 yearlings went under the hammer over the three days of sales, registering an 80% clearance rate for a record average of €266,576 (+23%), a median of €170,000, and a turnover of €59,982,000 (+17%).

Following the sale, ARQANA President Olivier Delloye and CEO Freddy Powell commented, “We have just had a wonderful week in Deauville, culminating in an exceptional edition of the August Sale. It began with the ARQANA Series, which saw no fewer than 60 runners across the four races held on the day. These were won by Northern Champion, Rose Ghiayyath, Cape Operator and Yellow Jersey. We would like to congratulate their connections once again for their brilliant wins!

There were some exciting bidding battles right from the start of the sale, with two yearlings making over a million euros following the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Gr.1) yesterday evening, including a son of Wootton Bassett (lot 104) consigned by Haras des Capucines that sold for €2.3 million to Coolmore and Peter Brant.

The atmosphere and results built to a crescendo, reaching their peak today. For the first time in the history of the sale, eight yearlings made €1 million or more – four fillies and four colts – sold by five different stud farms and acquired by six buyers. Four of them exceeded the €2 million mark, including a historic top price for a yearling at Deauville: a daughter of Night Of Thunder out of Prudenzia offered from Écurie des Monceaux that sold for €3 million to Amo Racing. Also noteworthy is the great diversity of stallions represented among these millionaire purchases, with the notable presence of two French stallions, Zarak and Siyouni!

The turnover of close to €60 million and the average price of over €265,000 have also reached new heights. The percentage of horses sold, at nearly 80%, remains very respectable, while notably 14 different vendors saw one of their yearlings make €500,000 or more.

We would like to thank all our vendors and buyers for their trust, as well as our entire team for their dedication, without which the success of this sale would not have been possible. We now hope that this momentum will continue in the same vein for the v.2 Yearling Sale.”

Read the full press release

See the results of the sale

AGENDA

v.2 Yearling Sale

Wednesday 20 August, 11am

Deauville