Gilltown Stud sire enjoys an excellent weekend. Sea The Stars produced yet another Classic candidate on Sunday as Mekhtaal lifted the Gr. 2 Prix Hocquart in fine style. Mekhtaal adds his name to Godolphin’s Gr. 2 Prix Greffulhe winner Cloth Of Stars and H.H. the Aga Khan’s Gr. 3 Ballysax Stakes scorer Harzand, both sons of Sea The Stars with Derby ambitions this season.

The highly progressive Mekhtaal delivered a dominating performance in the 2,000 metre Prix du Jockey Club trial, run this year at Deauville, accelerating away from his rivals in the straight to pass the post six lengths clear of the field.

A 300,000 Euro purchase as a yearling at Arqana in August 2014, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Mekhtaal has now won two of his three outings for Al Shaqab Racing. The Haras du Mezeray and Skymarc Farm-bred son of Sea The Stars is now a leading contender for the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey-Club on 5th June at Chantilly.

Mekhtaal provided the highlight of an excellent weekend for Sea The Stars, who also saw his son Astronereus stay on well to secure the Gr. 3 Al Rayyan Stakes (registered as the Aston Park Stakes) at Newbury on Sunday. Racing for the first time since last August, he was winning his second Stakes contest and now has plenty of options, including stepping up in trip to tackle the Gr. 1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

Sea The Stars was in demand at Arqana’s Breeze-Up Sale on Saturday, with his sole representative changing hands for 600,000 Euros, the top price of the sale for a colt. Out of a half-sister to American Gr. 1 victrix Creaking Board, the colt presented by Mayfield Stables was snapped up by David Redvers on behalf of Qatar Racing.

Aga Khan Studs sires were particularly successful at this sale, with three of the top four lots being progeny of Gilltown or Bonneval stallions. In addition to Sea The Stars, Redoute’s Choice was represented by his first Northern Hemisphere juveniles, and he filled the second spot of the sale with a 775,000 Euro daughter of Group Placed and Listed winner Sunday Nectar. Consigned by Oaks Farm stables, the filly was knocked down to Stephen Hillen.

Siyouni, who celebrated his tenth Stakes winner on Monday at Deauville thanks to Gr.3 Prix de Saint-Georges winner Finsbury Square, was represented by ten juveniles, of which nine changed hands for an average of 108,778 Euros. The top priced of these was a half-sister to Group 1 winner Odeliz, purchased for 400,000 Euros by Charles Gordon-Watson.

Updated on 17/05/2016.