AN incredible, and an historic, Arqana August Yearling Sale, formatted differently this year, recorded unprecedented results on all measurable levels.

Over the three days of selling, a total of 285 yearlings passed through the ring, with a healthy 84% of them changing hands for an average price of €210,025, a figure that was up 12% on the record set in 2019. The turnover jumped by 18%, compared to three years ago, and reached €51,071,000.

Eric Hoyeau, the president of Arqana, and the company’s executive director Freddy Powell, issued a joint statement on Monday evening in the aftermath of the sale. They said: “With such great results, we are more than satisfied that the yearling sales season is off to a great start. We are extremely grateful to our vendors for entrusting us with yearlings of this quality, and for adapting to the new three-day format.

“The entire catalogue was of an exceptional quality, and all the yearlings entered are qualified for the Arqana Series which will be held for the first time next year. The return to normal following the last two years has allowed us to organise events that enable us to welcome our clients. They came from Japan, the United States, Europe, the Gulf, Australia and more, and we thank them for having attended. It was a real pleasure to see everyone in Deauville.”

Four yearlings sold for seven-figure sums, with at least one appearing in each of the three sessions. While the new format produced some outstanding results, there were some things that remained the same. Ecurie des Monceaux ended up as the leading vendors for the eleventh consecutive year, and sold three of the top four lots. The farm, managed by Henri Bozo, consigned 32 yearlings who sold for €12,680,000, almost a quarter of the total take.

Some way in arrears, Haras d’Etreham had 20 colts and fillies who sold for €3,752,500, and they were closely followed by Haras des Capucines with 22 lots realising €3,575,000.

Leading buyers

The range of leading buyers was great, headed by Godolphin’s purchase of six yearlings for €5,550,000. Michel Zerolo (Oceanic Bloodstock) signed for 10 yearlings for a total of €3,095,000, with Yoshito Yahagi buying two lots for €2,660,000, including the overall sale-topper. Ireland, Britain, Japan, the UAE, France and the USA are the homes to many of the leading purchasers.

Another feature of the trade was the spread of top prices among a range of stallions, though Siyouni stole a march on others with two of the seven-figure sales.

He supplied the top two lots on Sunday, his son of Starlet’s Sister being knocked down for €2.1 million to the Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi, while his daughter out of Aviatress sold to Alex Solis and Jason Litt for €1,400,000.

Siyouni stars on the double

AN evening session of selling on Sunday followed an afternoon of racing, highlighted by the Group 1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le Buffard Jacques Le Marois, but while the numbers of yearlings on offer was smaller, it did contain the overall sale-topper.

Most of the pre-sale focus centred on the full-brother to the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass, offered for sale from Ecurie des Monceaux. The son of Siyouni is out of Starlet’s Sister, and that daughter of Galileo has also produced the seven-time Grade 1 winner Sistercharlie and the multiple group/graded stakes winner and Grade 1-placed My Sister Nat, in addition to the Coolmore sire Sottsass.

The hammer finally fell at €2.1 million in favour of the Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi, and the colt will now head there to continue his career. Yahagi said: “I love this colt. He has an exceptional pedigree being a brother to Sottsass and My Sister Nat, and the latter was second behind one of my horses in the Breeders’ Cup last year. He’ll come back to Japan and I hope he will win the Japanese Derby!”

Later in the evening, Yahagi also struck for a son of Kingman for €560,000. Consigned by Domaine de l’Étang, the half-brother to German Group 2 winner Waldbiene and the French listed winner Urwald is from the excellent family of Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist, Group 1 German Derby winner Waldpark and the Group 1 St Leger winner Masked Marvel.

Very emotional following the sale, the colt’s consignor Élise Drouet commented: “I don’t have any words for the moment, mainly tears of joy. His prep went really well. He has always been beautiful since he was born at home. We’ll follow his career closely.”

Partnership

Siyouni provided a quarter of the top 20 lots at the sale on price, and another to make a seven-figure sum was also offered from Ecurie des Monceaux.

She was the first foal of the stakes-winning Shamardal mare Aviatress, and the hammer fell when bidding reached €1.4 million in favour of US agent Alex Solis. The filly was bred in partnership by the Roth family and they bought out their partners.

Solis said: “We have known her since she was a foal, and the Roth family owns a part of her dam with Henri Bozo. We’ve seen her grow up and she is an exceptional filly. It’s fantastic to get her and we didn’t want to let her go.”

Nancy Roth added: “We don’t know yet whether she’ll go to the United States. We’ll leave it to Jason [Litt] and Alex [Solis] who will know what is best. We have great memories with some of our horses in France, notably the excellent Golden Valentine that won the Prix Minerve here in Deauville.”

Louvière’s twin delight

WOOTTON Bassett’s relocation to Coolmore has been followed by plenty of success, both on the track and in the sale ring. On Sunday one of his daughters sold to Richard Knight for €750,000.

Consigned by Haras de la Louvière, the second foal of the stakes-placed Invincible Spirit mare Ambivalence is from the outstanding female line that includes the Arc winner Urban Sea, her four Group/Grade 1 winning offspring, and the classic winners King’s Best and Anabaa Blue.

“She’s a stunning filly, that is for me the most beautiful in the sale,” said Knight. “I like Wootton Bassett, her dam earned blacktype, and this is only her second foal. We really like her and she ticks all the boxes, so of course we are delighted! I’ve bought her for one of my clients and she is likely to stay in France.”

Sold a few minutes earlier, and also offered from Haras de la Louvière, a daughter of Siyouni out of the multiple Grade 3 winner Aigue Marine, a daughter of Galileo, sold for €600,000 to trainer Nicolas Clément. The half-sister to listed winner Fenelon is out of a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Mekhtaal. Clément signed in the name of RT Racing Stables.

“I’ve bought her for Dr Ramon Tallaj,” said the Chantilly trainer.

“We met last year in Saratoga. He has horses with my brother Christophe, and we bought Galifa here last December, who now runs in the colours of RT Racing, just like this filly will do.”

Godolphin’s Anthony Stroud continued where they left off at the opening session and, on Sunday, added a Dubawi filly to their shopping list. The agent successfully struck for a daughter of the Darley stallion, and this second foal is out of the listed winner Birch Grove, herself a daughter of Galileo and the leading sprint filly Danehurst. The latter, by Danehill, won the then Group 2 Flying Five Stakes and was runner-up in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes.

Shamardal colt is a rare diamond

THE first yearling sale of the European calendar got off to a flying start on Saturday. The new format saw three days of selling, the latter pair being evening sessions, of equal quality.

Eagerly anticipated, a rare offering of a Shamardal yearling saw a son of that Darley great out of a group-winning Frankel mare set the first hour of trading alight. Offered by Gestüt Ammerland, the colt is the second offspring of the Group 3 winner Lady Frankel who was placed in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera.

Bidding on behalf of Godolphin, bloodstock agent Anthony Stroud had a long battle to secure the colt whose dam is a half-sister to dual classic winner and leading sire, Lope De Vega. After having the final say at €1.6 million, Stroud said: “He’s a lovely colt who walks well. He is by a fantastic stallion that we have had a lot of success with. He comes from a great family and a stud that doesn’t need to prove itself. We’re very happy.”

Offered from Haras du Mont dit Mont, the first foal by Sea The Stars out of the Listed Prix Finlande winner Shamtee, a Shamardal mare, was knocked down for €675,000. Sébastien Desmontils from Chauvigny Global Equine had the final say for the colt from the immediate family of Group 1 winner Territories.

Magnificent

“He’s a magnificent colt that walks very well,” said the agent. “His physique is a mix between what you would expect from a son of Sea The Stars, and Shamardal as a damsire. I’ve bought him for my client Mr. Hisaaki Saito, and we are delighted! We haven’t yet decided who will train him, but it will no doubt be in Chantilly, where all Mr. Saito’s horses are trained.”

Oceanic Bloodstock’s Michel Zerolo was the leading buyer on the first day, notably spending €580,000 on behalf of Coolmore and White Birch’s Peter Brant for a son of Siyouni. Consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux, the colt is another first foal, a son of the listed winner Sapa Inca, a Galileo own-sister to Group 1 Critérium International winner Johannes Vermeer.

During the 2019 August Yearling Sale, Al Shira’aa Farms bought the Group 2 winner Rumi, a daughter of Frankel out of the Cape Cross mare Secrete. This time they purchased her half-sister by Galileo. Kieran Lalor signed the docket at €570,000 for the filly who was part of the enormous draft from Ecurie des Monceaux.

Rumi’s sister

“She’s a very elegant filly,” said Lalor. “She comes from a great stud and is by Galileo, that I think is the best stallion we have ever known. It’s a lovely family, and we bought her half-sister Rumi at the 2019 sale. The latter has everything to be a Group 1 winner and she is entered in the Prix Jean Romanet. We’re very pleased to have bought her.”

Earlier in the day, Lalor secured a half-sister to European champion juvenile and this year’s Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Native Trail for €550,000. She was consigned by the breeder’s Haras d’Haspel. Lalor commented: “She’s by Siyouni, a stallion that needs no introduction, and comes from a very live family that is filled with blacktype. We’re very happy and have high hopes for her.”

Among the first lots to go through the ring was a half-sister to Group 3 Prix de Psyché winner Penja. It was M.V. Magnier who had the final say at €550,000 for the daughter of Wootton Bassett from Haras de Castillon.

Dubawi to the forefront as thrilling sale ends

THE sale ring was buzzing on Monday when it came to the turn of a son of Dubawi out of the Group 3 Prix Minerve winner Golden Valentine to be sold.

Anthony Stroud, acting for Godolphin, had the final say at €2 million for the grandson of group winner Gold Round, herself a half-sister to the exceptional Goldikova, a 14-time Group/Grade 1 winner, and to the Group 1 Prix Vermeille heroine Galikova. Not surprisingly, he was consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux.

“He’s an exceptional colt and a son of Dubawi,” said Stroud. “The whole team loved him; he was the horse of the sale for us, and we’re delighted.” This was the most expensive of a pair of colts by Darley’s flagship stallion that was signed for by Stroud on the final day.

Earlier in the session, the agent also made the winning bid at €600,000 for another son of Dubawi, and again from Ecurie des Monceaux. This was a colt who is out of Dubai Rose, a listed winner in Germany whose six winners are headed by The Juliet Rose, twice successful at Group 2 level.

“He’s a lovely colt by Dubawi, by a stallion that doesn’t need any introduction and with whom we have had a lot of success,” said the bloodstock agent. His half-sister The Juliet Rose was a very good filly, and he comes from a prestigious stud that breeds very good horses. He ticks all the boxes; all the team are very happy.”

Stroud wasn’t finished on the day, and he also struck for a €575,000 son of Lope De Vega from Haras du Cadran. The second foal of an unraced Galileo mare, this blue-blooded colt is a grandson of Group 1 winner Grey Lilas. The February-foaled bay is out of a full-sister to classic and multiple Group 1 winner Golden Lilac, and to Group 2 winner Grey Lyon.

Haggas to train for Nass

AN exceptional week for Andreas Putsch’s Haras de Saint Pair continued on Monday when buyers crowded the ring to see a son of Kingman go under the hammer.

Bidding reached €800,000 before the hammer fell for the half-brother to Grade 3 winner Guildsman, and it fell in favour of bloodstock agent Oliver St Lawrence, bidding on behalf of Fawzi Nass from Bahrain. St Lawrence said: “Andreas Putsch is a breeder that I have a lot of time for.

“We loved this colt when we saw him. He’ll go to William Haggas, who was here this weekend, and he really liked him too.”

The colt is out of a half-sister to the dam of the triple Group 1 Almanzor, while another star of recent origin in the family is the French classic winner, Darjina.

Two lots previously, Haras d’Etreham offered a daughter of Frankel, the first foal of the listed-winning Dubawi mare Crystal River, and agent Charlie Gordon-Watson had the final say at €650,000 for the well-bred filly. Crystal River is one of three stakes winners from her dam who also bred the Group 1 juvenile winner Royal Marine, and the Group 2 Godolphin Mile winner, Secret Ambition.

Superb pedigree

The filly’s third dam, Mysterial, bred the Group 1 winners Librettist and Dubai Destination, and she was, in turn, a half-sister to Group 1 July Cup and Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp winner Agnes World. After signing the docket, Gordon-Watson said: “She’s a magnificent filly with a superb pedigree page.

“She’s a daughter of Frankel, a remarkable stallion that had a Group 1 and Group 3 winner just yesterday at Deauville, and her dam is by Dubawi, one of the best crosses that one could find. She’ll go to England and we’ll decide on a trainer later.”

Among the last lots to go through the ring, a son of Galileo out of Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed High Celebrity was bought for €650,000 by Oceanic Bloodstock’s Michel Zerolo who was standing beside M.V. Magnier. Offered by Haras des Capucines for Haras des Fresneaux, the colt’s third dam won four Grade 1 races in the USA, and she was out of Flanders, and three of her four wins were at the highest level.

Lalor strikes

Very active during the three days when purchasing on behalf of Al Shira’aa Racing, Kieran Lalor struck again on Monday for a full-sister to Glycon, three times successful at group level. Another to sell from Haras de Saint Pair, the daughter of the late Le Havre is out of the listed winner and French Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-1000 Guineas runner-up Glorious Sight. She made €600,000.

The well-bred filly is from the immediate family of Group 1 siblings The United States, Hydrangea and Hermosa. After signing the docket, Kieran Lalor, manager of Al Shira’aa Racing, commented: “I think that she was one of the nicest fillies in the sale. She’s out of a very good mare and by Le Havre, an incredible stallion. Her brother is a Group 2 winner and she comes from a stud that needs no introduction.

“Under her second dam she comes from one of the best families I know, which has a lot of Group 1 winners. It’s been a while that we have wanted to buy into this family; we’re very happy!”