THE first of day of the Arqana Autumn Sale consisted of flat and National Hunt horses in training, and registered a set of results just behind the excellent 2022 returns. Trade was buoyed by international demand from England, France, Ireland, Eastern Europe, the USA and Qatar.

As is often the case with these types of sales, it was a wild card entry that headed trade. Make Me King was highly anticipated, having been in the money on six of his eight starts, and the dual winner trained by André Fabre was runner-up in the Group 3 Prix Thomas Bryon at Chantilly last year at two. With a rating of 99, he sold to Blandford Bloodstock’s Stuart Boman. The gavel fell at €380,000 for the son of Dark Angel, offered by The Channel Consignment, and the gelding is out of the stakes winner Miss Infinity, and from the family of Group 1 winners The Wow Signal and Ta Rib.

Later in the day Boman struck at €340,000 for the stakes-placed Beshtani. Runner-up in the Listed Prix Millkom in September, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained gelding, owned by His Highness The Aga Khan, won again at Chantilly after the catalogue was published. The three-time winning three-year-old son of Siyouni has a rating of 102 and is out of a full-sister to the Group 1 winner Behkabad.

Commenting on his two purchases, Boman said: “Make Me King is a very good-looking horse that has shown a lot of quality on the racecourse and has not stopped progressing. Beshtani has a similar profile – he hasn’t run a lot and is a winner too. I’ve signed for both for my colleague Richard Brown who couldn’t come to Deauville. They’ll both go to Qatar and run in the colours of Wathnan Racing.”

The Aga Khan Studs also sold the three-time winner Sheradann to Stephen Hillen for €250,000. The son of Roaring Lion is one of five winners out of the Group 3 winner Shemima, herself a Dalakhani daughter of the Group 1 Prix de Diane-French Oaks winner Shemaka. This is the immediate family of Group 1 winners Shakeel and Bay Bridge.

Also offered as a wild card, the unbeaten Kainsbourg was sold for €355,000. Winner of the Prix de l’Avenir, a Grade 3 race for AQPS horses three weeks after a winning debut in October, the Francois Nicolle-trained three-year-old gelding was knocked down to Horse Racing Advisory’s Hubert Barbe, standing with Charlie Swan. The son of Doctor Dino is out of three-time winner and graded-placed hurdler Ex Fan Des Sixties.

“He’s a lovely horse that really looks like a jumper,” said Swan. “He’s run really well at three and we’ll now give him a break before putting him back into training. We’ve haven’t decided on his future trainer - that’ll come later. He’s a son of Doctor Dino out of a Poliglote mare - it’s difficult to do better than that. We’re delighted.”

Willie Mullins

Very active throughout the day, bloodstock agent Pierre Boulard, Harold Kirk and Willie Mullins made their most expensive purchase when they went to €300,000 for the Christophe Ferland-trained, Wertheimer et Frère homebred Zillow. A recent winner over 12 furlongs at Saint-Cloud, the three-year-old son of Zoffany is one of three winners from his Pivotal dam.

“He’ll be trained by Willie,” said Boulard. “He’s a horse that hasn’t run a lot and particularly likes soft ground. He’ll probably go jumping before running on the flat. We love this horse - he’s very well bred and has a great physique. He was recommended to us by his trainer Christophe Ferland, with whom we have a lot of luck in the past. We’re very happy with our purchase.”

A winner on his second start at Chantilly, having been placed there on his debut, the Nicolas Clément-trained Shamrock Glitter was bought for €250,000 by John Hammond. The two-year-old is a Shalaa half-brother to Lord Glitters, winner of the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes and Group 1 Jebel Hatta Stakes. The colt is also a half-brother to the winning dam of this year’s dual Grade 1 winning juvenile hurdler Lossiemouth, successful in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

“I’ve bought him for an American client who has horses in France. He’s an intelligent horse with a good temperament. He’s not particularly precocious, but already has two good runs under his belt, so I think there’s plenty more to come,” Hammond said.

Towards the end of the session, NBB Racing’s Nicolas Bertran de Balanda in association with Elliott Bloodstock Services had to go to €250,000 to secure the Donatien Sourdeau de Beauregard-trained Autoportrait. Placed over hurdles at Auteuil last month from two starts, the son of Authorized is out of the flat stakes winner Style Icon, a Doctor Dino full-sister to Grade 2-winning hurdler and Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle runner-up Fil Dor. Autoportrait’s third dam bred A Plus Tard.

After signing the docket, de Balanda said: “He’s a lovely horse with scope. He ran well at Auteuil and comes from a great family. I’m very happy.” No future plans were revealed.

European record for a National Hunt yearling

A strong and vibrant trade for National Hunt-bred yearlings on the third day of the Arqana Autumn Sale saw nearly 77% of the lots offered changing hands for an average of €34,856, up 34% from 2022. Underlining the strength of the market, eight lots made over €100,000.

Consigned by Haras de l’Hotellerie, a son of Doctor Dino set a new record for the highest priced National Hunt-bred yearling ever sold at auction in Europe. A half-brother to Thyme White, a Grade 3-winning chaser and successful also in the Listed Scottish Triumph Hurdle, and an own-brother to the very promising Meatloaf, runner-up in a listed bumper at Cheltenham, the colt was knocked down for €265,000 to Frédéric Sauque.

“We had to fight to get him, but it was worth it,” said Sauque. “I’ve bought him for the connections of Jigme and he’ll be trained by Marcel Rolland. It’s difficult to know how a yearling will turn out, but we have had a lot of success with horses from Haras de l’Hotellerie. We’re very happy.”

Near the end of the day, Thomas Maudet went to €150,000 for a son of No Risk At All out of the five-time winner Lofte Place, a daughter of Poliglote who was listed-placed. Consigned by Haras des Sablonnets, the colt is a half-brother to a pair of multiple listed-winning jumpers in France by Network in Thrilling and Placenet. Lofte Place is a full-sister to the British Grade 1 chase winner Hinterland, and from the immediate family of Phar Blue, successful in a Grade 1 juvenile hurdle in England.

“He’s a lovely son of No Risk At All,” said Maudet. “We’re very happy with our purchase. He’s a colt that we’ve followed for a long time. He’ll be trained in France.”

Dai Walters

Regulars at the Arqana Autumn Sale, the Highflyer team was very active. Bidding mostly on behalf of owner Dai Walters, they most notably had the final say at €150,000 for a son of Galiway from The Channel Consignment, one of the last yearlings through the ring. Out of the dual flat listed winner Mambomiss, a daughter of Mastercraftsman, the colt is from a predominately flat family.

“We really wanted to get this son of Galiway; he was the only one in the catalogue,” said Anthony Bromley. “He’s a very good stallion and his offspring can run on the flat and over jumps, such as Vauban and Gala Marceau. He’s a lovely colt that walks well and vetted well. We’ve bought three yearlings today and a two-year-old yesterday for Mr. Walters.”

Also at the end of the day, the gavel fell at €140,000 for another son of No Risk At All, this time from Haras de l’Hotellerie. It was Florent Fonteyne from Trotting Bloodstock, standing beside Karwin Stud’s Gregory Vayre, who had the final say for the half-brother to Auteuil listed winner Mombasa.

Six-figure sums

Three other yearlings brought six-figure sums, a son and daughter of Doctor Dino and a son of Saint Des Saints. JH Bloodstock and BLM Bloodstock combined to pay €120,000 to secure the Doctor Dino first foal out of a Martaline mare. The colt’s grandam, dual Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-paced Libaute, is the dam of Ma Beaute, a Grade 3 winner who was also successful twice in listed races over hurdles this year.

Ecurie De Launay spent €102,000 for a Doctor Dino half-sister Group 2 winner Doha Dream and Grade 2 chase winner Matfog. Their dam is a half-sister to Martaline, Reefscape and Coastal Path.

Saubouas Bloodstock’s bid of €110,000 was enough to acquire a son of Saint Des Saints out of a daughter of King’s Theatre. He is the second foal of his dam who did not win, was placed a few times, but was fourth on three occasions in blacktype races over jumps.

Doctor Dino on top twice

RESERVED for young National Hunt stock, the second day of the Arqana Autumn Sale saw a small number of stores and a selection of yearlings go under the hammer.

Consigned by Haras de la Haie Neuve, the two-year-old gelding Lascar Du Mathan generated most interest. Guy Petit had the final say at €100,000 for the son of Doctor Dino from the family of Grade 1 Punchestown winner Draconien and graded winners Benefique, Bebe Star and Bebe D’Or.

“For me he was the best in the sale; he has everything going for him,” said the agent. “He’s a lovely horse by Doctor Dino and we’re very happy. I’ve bought him for my client David Maxwell and I think he’ll be trained in France.”

However, top price of the day was for a yearling daughter of Doctor Dino from Haras de Maulepaire who was sold for €120,000 to Jerome Glandais, who was bidding beside Sofiane Benaroussi. The well-bred half-sister to this season’s Auteuil listed winner Funny Berry is from the family of Le Berry, and this multiple graded winner of 11 races was successful in the Grade 1 Prix Maurice Gillois.

“She’s been bought for Sofiane Benaroussi,” said Glandais. “We are looking for well-bred fillies by good stallions and she has both. Our aim is to buy fillies to race and then breed from.”

Selective market to end the week

THE final day of the Arqana Autumn Sale, mainly devoted to National Hunt stock, consisted of mares, fillies and foals. Buyers were extremely selective, particularly for foals, and the clearance rate was a disappointing 65%, a drop of eight points.

Offered in foal to Doctor Dino by Haras de la Côte Fleurie, the Grade 3 Prix Sagan Hurdle winner La Boetie proved to be the most popular lot of the day. Frédéric Sauque had the final say at €255,000 for the daughter of Saint Des Saints. The agent was acting for the connections of Jigme who is about to embark on a stallion career at Haras du Hoguenet following his recent win in the Grade 1 Prix Cambacérès at Auteuil. “She’s a lovely mare and we are delighted,” said Sauque. “She’s for Haras de l’Hotellerie.”

Earlier in the day, Alma Marceau, the dam of dual Grade 1 winner and Triumph Hurdle runner-up Gala Marceau was hammered down for €220,000. Jerome Glandais, bidding on behalf of Sofiane Benaroussi, signed the docket for the daughter of Kendargent who is out of the very smart racemare Avenue Marceau. Alma Marceau was sold from Haras des Etincelles, and in foal to Saint Des Saints. “Like with the fillies, Sofiane Benaroussi also wants to invest in good mares, and Alma Marceau ticks all the boxes,” Glandais. “She’s the dam of a Grade 1 winner who is with Willie Mullins. We’re very happy.”

Top foal

Consigned by Haras des Granges, a son of Doctor Dino was knocked down for €91,000 to Sébastien Desmontils of Chauvigny Global Equine and AGB Agency’s Antoine Gronfier and was the best-priced foal at the sale. Out of the listed winner Asterisk, the foal hails from the family of Grade 2 Grand Steeple Chase d’Enghien winner Astonville. “He’s a lovely colt,” Desmontils said. “I’ve bought him for a syndicate run by Richard Evain who has invested a lot this year. The colt will stay in France.”

Following the sale, Arqana’s president Eric Hoyeau and executive director Freddy Powell issued a joint statement, and said: ‘‘It is difficult to draw conclusions from this sale, as each day had very distinct sections. The demand for horses in training was very strong, and the results for young National Hunt prospects were very satisfactory, with a new European record set for a son of Doctor Dino. On the breeding side, the market was more selective.’’

ARQANA NOVEMBER YEARLING SALE

Almanzor colt best in low-key sale

THE final opportunity of the year to purchase flat yearlings at Arqana, the November Yearling Sale last Saturday, offered 168 colts and fillies, a larger number than in 2022.

While the day of selling was generally low-key, there was a healthy clearance rate, and 84% of lots changed hands for an average of €6,823, generating a turnover of €962,000. The median was the same as last year, the turnover was up 32%, and the average advanced by 7%.

The top price of the day came for a son of Almanzor, consigned by Haras des Capucines. It was Mandore International Agency’s Nicolas de Watrigant who went to €85,000 to secure the colt out of a half-sister to the champion Zarkava, and from the immediate family of Zarak. “He’s a lovely colt,” said the agent. “He walks well and has a very good temperament.”

A little earlier in the afternoon, a daughter of Galiway out of the blacktype-placed Nayef mare Hidden Cove was knocked down for €40,000 in favour of bloodstock agent Witold Miedzianowski. Consigned by Haras de l’Hotellerie, the filly is a half-sister to three winners and out of a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Court Canibal. This is the family of Group 1 Prix Vermeille winner Bateel.

Hyde Park Stud was on the buyer’s list when John Bourke paid €25,000 for a Sottsass filly out of a winning Peintre Celebre mare.