THE second major sale of the year reserved for yearlings at Arqana, the October Yearling Sale, began on Tuesday at Deauville with Part 1 of the five-day catalogue.
With strong demand at every level, all the markers from the first day registered unprecedented numbers. More than 86% of the lots that went under the hammer sold, for an average of €105,000 which was up 14% points from last year’s edition, and that was registered a six-figure sum for the first time.
Emphasising how dynamic the first day’s trade was, 10 colts and fillies made over €300,000, compared to three in 2023. More than a third of the lots sold made €100,000 or more. The overall turnover for Part 1 returned a figure of €17,727,000, a rise of 11%.
Kingman
Buyers crowded the sale ring for the appearance of a son of Kingman out of the listed winner and Group 1-placed Via Pisa, a lucky Lot 13.
After spirited bidding, the gavel finally fell at €500,000. Consigned by Haras de Saint-Pair, the half-brother to the blacktype-placed winner Green Fly was knocked down to Jason Kelly and Irish trainer Paddy Twomey.
The well-bred colt is a grandson of Group 3 winner Via Medici, the dam of the dual Group 1 Hong Kong Mile winner Admire Mars, also a Group 1 winner in his native Japan. The colt hails from the family of pattern winners Via Firenze, Via Milano and Via Ravenna.
“He’s a lovely colt. He was the one I wanted at the sale and we’re delighted to get him,” said Paddy Twomey. He added: “He’s an athletic horse with a great pedigree. I was lucky to train Pearls Galore; she was a real champion in Ireland, and was also bred by Mr. Putsch. I’ve bought this colt for an existing owner and I hope we’ll see him on the racecourse next year.”
Night Of Thunder
Two out of the five yearlings that sold for €400,000 during the opening session were bought by French owners and trainers, many of whom were very active on the day. Deauville-based trainer Yann Barberot had the final say for the joint top-priced lot of the day, a son of Night Of Thunder who also realised €500,000.
Consigned by Haras du Mont dit Mont, the colt is out of the group-placed Siyouni mare Paramount and comes from the family of Group 1 winners Paita and Potemkin, as well as group scorers Pirika, Puntilla and Pas De Deux.
Much earlier in the day, the auctioneer’s gavel fell at €420,000 in favour of Ross Doyle for a colt from the first crop of the Darley sire Space Blues. Another consigned by Haras de Saint Pair, the colt is the first foal out of the German Group 3 runner-up Wisham, a full-sister by Soldier Hollow to the pattern winner Well Spoke. This is the family of Group 1 winners Well Made, Windstoss and Weltsrat, the latter pair being winners of the Deutsches Derby.
“He’s a lovely colt, said Ross Doyle. “We looked at him many times and took a real shine to him. He’s by a promising young stallion and comes from a great stud. I’ve bought him for Stall Perlen - we had to battle to get him but that’s what happens with the good profiles.”
Fabrice Chappet
The first hour of the sale was especially strong, and a son of Victor Ludorum, whose first crop this is, out of the French listed winner Alakhana was knocked down for €420,000. Bidding beside Fabrice Chappet, Jean-Christophe Moran signed the docket for the half-brother to Jayarebe, also an October Yearling Sale graduate and the winner of the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot, and more recently of the Group 2 Qatar Prix Dolla. From the by Haras d’Ombreville draft, the colt is from a very successful German female line.
Jean-Christophe Moran said: “I owned trotters and am now I’m investing in thoroughbreds. We notably bought Morena Queen [a winner last month] with Mr Chappet in May at the Breeze-Up. I really liked this colt as he’s very balanced and well-made and comes from a good stud. His half-brother is a very good horse and has won some nice races. We hope that he will be just as good.”
Wootton Bassett
Offered from the La Motteraye Consignment, a son of Wootton Bassett, who is enjoying a sensational year with his juveniles, made €400,000 when knocked down to Michael Kinane. The well-related colt is out of a sister to the listed-winning and Group 1 placed So Wonderful, and traces to the Arc winner Urban Sea.
She is the dam of Sea The Stars, with whom Kinane was especially successful, and his half-brother Galileo, also partnered by the former champion jockey.
“He’s a lovely colt that is strong,” said Kinane. “I’ve been looking for a colt by Wootton Bassett for a few weeks without success, so I’m very pleased to have got him. I look forward to seeing him on the racecourse!”
Stroud Coleman Bloodstock’s Anthong Stroud was very busy and the most notable of their many purchases was a daughter of Sea The Stars from Ecurie des Monceaux. From a stellar German female line, she cost €380,000. Their shopping list also included a son of Space Blues, half-brother to the Group 3 winner Elounda Queen, from Louviere, and he sold for €320,000.
Another notable addition to the Paddy Twomey stable will be a daughter of Wootton Bassett out of the Group 3 Prix de Sandringham winner Mission Impassible, herself a daughter of Galileo. Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock signed the purchase slip at €360,000.
Two yearlings by Dark Angel were among the week’s best. Federico Barberini spent €320,000 on a colt out of a placed daughter of Siyouni, while One Agency paid €300,000 for a daughter of the Naas listed winner Easter Lily.