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The first major European yearling sale of the season is the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale, which commences August 17. Below we'll take a look at some of the European first year stallions who will have their first representatives, as well as taking a glance at the offspring of U.S. sires that are represented.

Taking it alphabetically, the first of the freshmen are Air Chief Marshal and Alfred Nobel, a duo by Danehill Dancer. Air Chief Marshal earned a group win in the Minstrel Stakes (Ire-III), while Alfred Nobel took the Phoenix Stakes (Ire-) and Railway Stakes (Ire-II), both at 2. Alfred Nobel is out of a mare by a son of Green Desert, so 3x4 to Danzig, and his only yearling here is out of a mare by Tiger Hill, a Danehill son, so the cross is Danzig/Danzig over Danzig.

Danehill Dancer grandson Starspangledbanner (by Choisir (TrueNicks)) is not going to be numerically well-represented due to well-publicized fertility problems, but the international sprint star does have one on offer here.

Another sharp Danzig line horse was Arcano, a son of Oasis Dream who landed both the July Stakes (Eng-II) and Prix Morny (Fr-I). He has 10 on offer at Deauville, including a half brother to this year's Gran Premio di Milano (Ity-I) victor Biz The Nurse. Another precocious Oasis Dream represented by his first yearlings is Showcasing (TrueNicks), winner of the Gimcrack Stakes (Eng-II) and also third in the Middle Park Stakes (Eng-I). Still with juvenile standouts from the Green Desert line, another with first yearlings in 2013 is Vale of York, a son of Invincible Spirit, upset winner of the 2009 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).

We're not expecting to see many European yearlings by champion older horse Blame (TrueNicks), but he has one here out of Prianca, a listed scorer from the family of Mrs. Moss. The pedigree also features linebreeding to Blame's granddam, Bound, and her three-quarter relative Sadler's Wells.

Standout speed sire Acclamation has a very fast son, Dark Angel, off to a bright start at stud. He has another speed merchant in Equiano, two-time winner of the King's Stand Stakes (Eng-I), and his first crop of yearlings includes a Deauville colt out of the Test Stakes (gr. I) heroine Fabulously Fast.

Lope de Vega emulated his sire, Shamardal, by winning the French Derby (Fr-I) and French Two Thousand Guineas (Fr-I), and his supporters will be hoping that he can also emulate Shamardal's start at stud, which saw him crowned leading European first crop sire. Lope de Vega has 11 entered here, including half sisters to Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) scorer Mast Track (TrueNicks,SRO), and brilliant sprinter/miler Moonlight Cloud. Lope de Vega's contemporary Makfi (TrueNicks) won the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I), then defeated his elders in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Fr-I). Coincidentally, he's by the red-hot Dubawi, who is a member of the same stallion crop as Shamardal. His representatives at Deauville include a half sister to the Premio Lydia Tesio (Ity-I) victress Floriot, and a three-quarter sister to Dubawi's group winner Split Trois.

Lope de Vega is not the only French Two Thousand Guineas winner with his first crop this year, as another who fits that description is Verglas's son Silver Frost, who has a quartet on offer at Deauville. Lord Shanakill, from the first crop of Speightstown (TrueNicks) was also a group I-winning miler in France, taking the Prix Jean Prat (Fr-I). He also captured the Mill Reef Stakes (Eng-II) at 2, and had several other group I placings to his credit.

Mawatheeq scored a group win in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes (Eng-III) and was second, beaten just a half length by Twice Over in the Champion Stakes (Eng-I). What's possibly more notable is that he has pedigree to spare as he's by Danzig out of the stakes-winning Mr. Prospector mare Sarayir, also dam of One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) heroine Ghanaati. The second dam is champion 2-year-old filly and great producer Height of Fashion, and this is also the family of Japanese stallion star Deep Impact.

Paco Boy, who has two here, will need little introduction to French buyers, his visits to France producing a win and a second (to Goldikova) in the Prix de la Foret (Fr-I), and a third (to Makfi and Goldikova) in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Fr-I). He also won seven group races in England, including the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) and Lockinge Stakes (Eng-I). He's also a son of the Green Desert sire Desert Style, a horse whose offspring did well in France.

Given the great starts made by fellow Galileo sons New Approach (TrueNicks) and Teofilo (TrueNicks), there will be plenty of interest in the first crop of Rip Van Winkle. A group winner at 2, Rip Van Winkle was champion European miler at 3, and stretched to take the 10 1/2-furlong Juddmonte International (Eng-I) at 4. He has 11 on offer here, among them a daughter of group winner Poltava that has the brothers Sadler's Wells/Fairy King 3x3.

Pivotal's son Siyouni was among the leaders of his crop at 2 when he won the Prix La Fleche and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Fr-I). He's out of a stakes-winning Danehill mare who is also a half sister to champion racehorse and successful young French sire Slickly. His offerings include a half brother to group winner Stefer.

We've already mentioned Blame, but there are some other U.S. sires who have yearlings at Deauville. Elusive Quality (TrueNicks), whose offspring have proved very suited to Europe (notably Raven's Pass, Elusive City, Elusive Kate, and Certify) and here he has a son of stakes-placed Flow Chart, herself a daughter of multiple group I-winning mare Kartajana.

We don't often see Indian Charlie offspring in Europe, but Deauville has a half brother to French Derby (Fr-I) second Super Celebre by that horse. Another that it is rather surprising to find here is a daughter of Milwaukee Brew (TrueNicks,SRO). However, the dam of this one is out of Stylelistick, a stakes-winning daughter of broodmare extraordinary Magnificent Style.

More Than Ready (TrueNicks) is a proven turf sire, and he has a daughter out of a mare by Sadler's Wells' son High Chaparral (IRE) (TrueNicks), giving a similar cross to More Than Ready's gr. I winners Phelan Ready and Regally Ready. Finally, Tapit (TrueNicks), one of the most sought-after sires in U.S., has a filly who is the first foal of Rosey de Megeve, who was stakes-placed in France and the U.S., and is a half sister to the dam of Lope de Vega.

TrueNicks reports for international sales, including the Arqana Deauville sale, can be found at TrueNicks.com/Auctions.

Filed under: Auctions and Sales, European Racing, Yearling Sales

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