First Yearlings By The Gurkha To Be Offered At Arqana
The Gurkha, an ultra-impressive winner of the 2016 French 2,000 Guineas, will see his first yearlings go through the ring at Arqana this weekend.
No stranger to racing fans, thanks in part to his thrilling defeat of Galileo Gold in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes, his pedigree also needs to introduction, with the son of Galileo coming from the family of Arc winner Solemia.
His race record, as well as his pedigree, strongly support success at stud, with previous winners of the French 2,000 Guineas including Lope De Vega, Shamardal, Kingmambo, Blushing Groom and Green Dancer. His victory in the Sussex Stakes also bodes well, having captured the Group 1 in a faster time than Solow, Kingman and both of Frankel’s wins.
Among The Gurkha’s eight yearlings catalogued at Arqana is Lot 112, a half-brother to Lancashire Oaks heroine The Black Princess, offered by Haras de a Louviere. Camas Park and Glenvale Studs bring a filly out of Listed winner and Cherry Hinton Stakes second Pearl Grey, while Gouffern Taylor Made Sales present a half-brother to two Stakes horses, out of a half-sister to Melbourne Cup hero Rekindling (High Chaparral).
It was revealed this week that two yearlings by The Gurkha will be offered at the Tattersalls Book 1 Sale, with Camas Park consigning a grandson of Irish St Leger winner Kastoria, while Skyline Thoroughbreds will offer a colt out of a half-sister to French champion three-year-old filly Bright Sky.
The Gurkha’s first book of mares included a number of high-class producers, including the dams of Epsom and Irish Oaks third Harlequeen, Grade 1 American Oaks heroine Cambina, Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial winner Empowering, Belmont Derby second Cammda and Racing Post Trophy second Aloft. His first yearlings also appeal on pedigree, with The Gurkha having covered full and half sisters to top-class racehorse and sire Danehill, dual Group 1 winner Alderflug, Arc heroine Solemia, the dam of Sioux Nation, top race mare Blue Bunting and multiple Group scorer Coronet.