WEDNESDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2020 CURTAIN UP FOR PERSIAN KING TO STAND AT HARAS D=ETREHAM IRELAND=S FLAGSHIP SALE MG1SW Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}BPretty Please {Ire}, by Dylan Thomas {Ire}) will stand at Haras d=Etreham in 2021, IN DONCASTER Etreham announced on Tuesday. The stud and SF Bloodstock in association with Darley and Dayton Investments will be involved with the three-time Group 1 winner=s stallion career. A fee for the Sept. 6 G1 Prix du Moulin hero, who will join Almanzor (Fr), Hello Youmzain (Fr), City Light (Fr) and Scissor Kick (Aus), will be announced later. His final race will be the G1 Qatar Prix de l=Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 4. Nicolas de Chambure of Haras d=Etreham said, AWe are very pleased to have made an agreement with Dayton Investments and Godolphin to partner in the stallion career of Persian King. This is a very positive sign for France and demonstrates their confidence in our breeding industry and racing system.@ Cont. p4 IN TDN AMERICA TODAY HORSERACING INTEGRITY & SAFETY ACT PASSES HOUSE Inspection continued apace at the Orby Sale on Tuesday | Emma Berry The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act on Tuesday. Click or tap here to go straight to TDN America. By Emma Berry DONCASTER, UKCIt's crunch time for the European yearling market, with both Ireland's and Britain's major auctions being staged in the next fortnight. The major obvious difference is the relocation of the Orby Sale, which takes place over the next two days, to Doncaster. An expected difference, however, is a reduction in trade from some of the boom years the bloodstock market has enjoyed since the recovery from the major recession of 2008. Considering the unprecedented backdrop to the sales calendar of 2020, the breeze-up sector and the early yearling sales have held up reasonably well, and it is of vital importance that the Orby Sale, the flagship auction of the Goffs calendar and one which has thrived of late, continues that trend. It is fair to say that the mood on the sales ground at Doncaster settles somewhere between weary resignation that this year has been so trying in myriad ways, and a cautious optimism thanks to an increase in footfall on Tuesday as more trainers arrived in Doncaster. Cont. p2 TDN EUROPE • PAGE 2 OF 13 • THETDN.COM WEDNESDAY • 30 SEPTEMBER 2020 Goffs Orby Preview Cont. from p1 horses quickly." Casse will not be alone in longing for a return to normal for What is unwavering is the praise from a range of participants next year's sales programme. He added, "This is an important for the Goffs team, which took decisive action to wrest the sale sale for Ireland and I look forward to getting back there. I love from its natural home of Kildare and has pulled out plenty of Ireland and I like the sales grounds and the hospitality but this is stops to ensure as pleasant experience as possible even under a more than acceptable alternative." the ever-increasing restrictions being imposed on the public Plenty of the Irish vendors on the sales ground this week are amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis. also operating at Doncaster for the first time and have had to International participation is crucial to the yearling market at employ some quick thinking to organise transport and this level and while it is accommodation for the horses impossible for the full range of and staff. The Irish National potential overseas buyers to be Stud, with its draft of 12 present this year, vendors will yearlings, including have felt heartened to see representatives of the stud's several familiar faces from first-season sires Decorated America in South Yorkshire over Knight (GB) and National the last few days, including Defense (Ire), is one such Justin Casse and Ben McElroy. consignor. "I actually left Keeneland early "We are used to going just 20 so I could quarantine in Ireland minutes down the road to get to before I came here," said Casse, Goffs so this has been a huge who is visiting Doncaster for the logistical effort to get the horses first time. "There are some here, but the alternative was no horses that I am involved with in sale at all," said Irish National training in Ireland, so I got to Stud CEO Cathal Beale. "Credit spend a week watching them Agent Richard Frisby observing social-distancing rules | Emma Berry to everyone for putting it on. and looking at a few foals and The traffic to the doors has been yearlings, and horses I own, then I came over here on Sunday." fantastic and there seems to be quite a buzz about the place He continued, "It's nice to get out, because by this time of the today so we are cautiously optimistic of a good sale. Goffs have year usually I'd have made six trips across the Atlantic. It's good gone to huge trouble and the sales complex is excellent." for the mind to be out doing something. I don't think anyone is A giant marquee to the side of the sales ring is just one new going to be shell-shocked by what the market does. We're all feature at the Goffs UK sales complex this week, and it is one bracing ourselves for impact, so to speak. I don't know how that will certainly come into its own as Tuesday's warm sunshine many Americans are coming over but I've done my best to let gives way to the forecasted rain. Certainly the good weather so those who might be interested know that I'm here. I've found far this week has helped to keep spirits high among vendors, the sales grounds very accommodating and very easy to and Peter Fagan of Deerpark Stud was another who fulsome in navigate. There's plenty of space and I've gotten through the his praise of the sales house. Cont. p3 TDN EUROPE • PAGE 3 OF 13 • THETDN.COM WEDNESDAY • 30 SEPTEMBER 2020 including Jessica Harrington, Joseph O'Brien, Michael Halford and Andy Oliver. No travel, even across the Irish Sea is without its complications at present. With governments across Europe now frequently tweaking rules and restrictions as the coronavirus infection rate rises to levels previously seen in the early days of lockdown, it surely can't be taken for granted that the 2020 sales season will continue without further disruption. For the time being, a couple of days in sunny Donny will be appreciated all the more by those who are just grateful that the wheels of the industry are able to keep turning, even if, as expected, it transpires to be at a reduced rate. Dermot & Jack Cantillon in Tinnakill masks at Goffs | Emma Berry Goffs Orby Preview Cont. He said, "It hasn't been an easy season for anyone but Goffs has done an excellent job to get this on. They've made a huge Persian King Cont. from p1 effort." He added, AThis is also wonderful for French breeders who will The Goffs complex in Kildare would usually be awash with Irish have access to such a high-class horse from his first covering trainers and, at a time of year which is equally busy on the season. He attempts an exceptional challenge in the Arc and will racing front, a number of them have made the trip to the UK, retire to the Haras d=Etreham following this race.@ Cont. p5 TDN EUROPE • PAGE 4 OF 13 • THETDN.COM WEDNESDAY • 30 SEPTEMBER 2020 Persian King | Scoop Dyga Persian King Cont. Trained by Andre Fabre throughout his career, the bay was named a >TDN Rising Star= at two and in his final race that year, saluted in the G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket for Ballymore Thoroughbred Ltd. Godolphin joined Ballymore in the ownership of Persian King and he picked up right where he left off, taking the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau and G1 French 2000 Guineas in quick succession, before running second in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club. This season he has added the G2 Prix du Muguet, G1 Prix d=Ispahan and Prix du Moulin to his ledger. His only performance out of the top two in his 12 starts was a fourth in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois in August. His earnings stand at $1,292,499. APersian King has shown great courage and consistency in all his races,@ said trainer Andre Fabre. AHe is a very calm horse, very relaxed but with a high cruising speed and explosive acceleration. He showed his quality at 2-years-old by beating two future Group1 winners at Newmarket and he progressed further at three and four. I am delighted that this magnificent horse will remain in France and join one of this country=s leading studs.@ The second foal from his winning dam, Persian King was bred by Dayton Investments Ltd. in Ireland. His dam is a half-sister to G1 Prix Ganay hero Planteur (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who ran second in both the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Grand Prix de Paris. Farther back are French Highweight, MGSW & G1SP Policy Maker (Ire) (Sadler=s Wells) and G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil hero Pushkin (Ire) (Caerleon), who ran second in the G1 Prix du Cadran. The outstanding European Horse of the Year Peintre Celebre (Nureyev) is under the Group 3-winning fourth dam Petroleuse (Ire) (Habitat). Petroleuse is kin to English Horse of the Year and French Classic victress Pawneese (Ire) (Carvin II {Fr}).