Goffs UK Breeze-Up record-breaker Al Raya earns Group 3 honours in France

Breeze-up record-breakers from the leading auction houses completed an unusual one-two as Al Raya led home Divine Spirit in the Prix d’Arenberg at Chantilly on Saturday.

The former had demolished the previous best mark for the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale record back in April when reaching £450,000, while the latter had become the highest-priced filly ever sold at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale when knocked down for 850,000gns.

Both had been signed for by Anthony Stroud, with Al Raya bought on behalf of Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Divine Spirit, a Kingman filly, heading to Godolphin.

Al Raya had represented an enormous pinhooking profit for Longways Stables’ Mick Murphy and Sarah O'Connell, who had bought the daughter of Siyouni for £95,000 at last year's Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale.

She was quick to start rewarding connections as Simon Crisford produced her to finish fifth as a second-start maiden in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.

Al Raya broke her duck at prohibitive odds at Lingfield in early August and added black type when chasing home Orlaith in the Listed St Hugh’s Stakes at Newbury.

Al Raya was always prominent under Pierre Charles-Boudot on Saturday, shrugging off the more delayed challenge of the Charlie Appleby-trained Divine Spirit to record a three-quarter length victory with Richard Fahey’s Flaming Princess completing a one-two-three for British-based trainers.

The winner, who holds an entry in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes, is the second foal of Fig Roll, part of a speedy family largely trained by Richard Hannon.

Flushed with their success with Al Raya, Longways Stables bought the Muhaarar filly out of Fig Roll for £170,000 at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale on Wednesday.

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