The international appeal of the Arqana August Sale was evident at the opening session on Friday, when growing force Resolute Racing parted with €1.4million for a Wootton Bassett colt consigned by Haras d’Etreham on behalf of breeders Barronstown Stud.

Created by US businessman John Stewart, the organisation burst on to the scene with a $25million spend last sales season, with the assistance of Gavin O’Connor. Notable private purchases and the acquisition of Shadwell’s Shadayid Stud in Kentucky followed.

Dream With Me Stable Inc secured another of the evening’s highlights, as the US owner stretched to €700,000 for a Siyouni filly from Ecurie des Monceaux. Other American buyers active on the day included Bobby Flay, Case Clay, Clay Scherer, Mike Repole, Alex Solis II and Justin Litt.

Night Of Thunder in demand

Richard Brown remained tight-lipped as to the identity of his client after the Blandford Bloodstock agent bought a son of Kildangan Stud sire Night Of Thunder for €850,000. Ecurie des Monceaux consigned the half-brother to Group 3 scorer Beauvatier, who placed in both the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat and Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest since the catalogue was printed.

Earlier in the session, Baroda Stud enjoyed a terrific result when their Night Of Thunder filly sold to Richard Knight and Salhia Stud for €780,000. The British-foaled bay was bred by Highview Bloodstock out of the Listed-winning Zoffany mare Encapsulation.

Wootton Bassett filly bound for Ireland

A Frankel filly led early trade, after Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi relegated Kieran Lalor of Al Shira’aa Farms to underbidder status with a final bid of €800,000. Consigned by Haras des Capucines as Lot 28, the half-sister to two Stakes winners hails from the family of Masked Marvel and Waldgeist.

Al Shira’aa Farms gained some compensation when securing a Wootton Bassett filly out of Prix de Diane heroine Channel for €600,000. Offered by La Motteraye Consignment as Lot 91, she is the third foal out of the Kilcarn Stud-bred Classic winner, who hails from the family of Alexandrova, Chicquita and Magic Wand.

After signing the docket, Lalor said, “Wootton Bassett is a sire we love, we breed to him ourselves, so it makes sense for us to be going after these fillies. She’ll go home to the farm in Ireland (Meadow Court Stud) and get turned out there for a couple of months before we decide what we’re going to do with her.

“We’re very excited to have her. She’s a beautiful filly and deserved that price- the market is demanding that sort of price for these fillies, so it’s gonna be tough, but we’ll keep giving it a go.”

Potential update

Coventry Stakes victor Rashabar has been one of the August Sale’s flagbearers this season and Sam Sangster’s €120,000 buy aims to follow up in the Group 1 Prix Morny on Sunday.

The chance of a quick update may have been integral to Oliver St Lawrence’s winning bid of €600,000 for the colt’s half-sister by Acclamation, who was offered by breeder Haras de Beaufay.

95 of the 133 yearlings offered found favour with buyers, producing a clearance rate of 71%, compared to 84% during last year’s opening session. The average stood at €227,705 (down 1% on the corresponding session in 2023), while the median came in at €140,000 (down 24% on 2023).