A trio of seven-figure sales on Sunday evening saw the Arqana August Sale end on a high, though pleasing statistics failed to reach last year’s record-breaking trade.

Prudenzia continued her phenomenal broodmare career, with Ecurie des Monceaux and the late Lady O’Reilly’s blue hen provided the sales-topping St Mark’s Basilica filly at €1.7million.

MV Magnier signed for the filly, who hails from her sire’s first crop and contributed towards his progeny’s impressive average price pf €446,250 over the three days.

Incredibly, this was Prudenzia’s seventh produce to reach the million mark in the sales ring, the most expensive of which was Chicquita, who sold for €6million as an Irish Oaks winner. Her highest-rated performer is Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes heroine Magic Wand.

St Lawrence digs deep for Ballylinch filly

Before Prudenzia’s daughter graced the ring, a pair of fillies held the final session’s top spot at €1million. Ballylinch Stud provided the first of them, a Lope De Vega filly out of the Group 3-winning Le Havre mare Normandel, herself a full-sister to the dam of Pyledriver.

Oliver St Lawrence purchased the February-born bay, who is a full-sister to three-time winner Charancey.

A proven formula

Al Shiraa’aa Farms have enjoyed previous success at the August Sale, with €320,000 buy Vespertilio winning the Group 2 Debutante Stakes and since placing at the highest level on two occasions.

On Sunday, the organisation stretched to €1million for another Night Of Thunder filly, from the same consignor Ecurie des Monceaux, and from the same family of Prudenzia.

Their latest purchase, which was bred by Monceaux with the late Lady O’Reilly, is the second foal out of Group 3 winner Paix. Her first produce, a colt by Dubawi, has been named Parachutiste and is in training with Jean-Claude Rouget.

Final figures

The 2023 sale was always going to be a tough act to follow, with records having been smashed across the board. While figures fell this week, they remain strong when compared to earlier renewals.

The average of €217,058 (€233,470 in 2023) was higher than the 2022 figure of €209,972, while the median of €140,00 (€170,000 in 2023) 0 matched that from two years ago.

The clearance rate of 77% is a notable decline on the preceding 83% and 82%, though perhaps last year’s edition gave consignor’s unrealistic expectations.