THE opening day of the three-day Arqana Autumn Sale, dedicated to horses in training, set the tone for the week and made a major contribution to the overall sale takings which set a new record, coming in a sale or two short of €11 million, but surpassing it when the handful of private sales are added in. The average was also a new high for the sale.
With a large international presence, the top lots sold well, but there was never any doubt about the one which would head trade. The high-class Grade 1 winner Master Dino was sold to dissolve a partnership and the star of the La Motteraye Consignment was the subject of a bidding war in which Hervé Bunel (BHB Agency) came out on top at €420,000.
The son of Doctor Dino has been side-lined since making a winning chasing debut at Plumpton back in January, his sixth consecutive victory. Bunel would not disclose the name of the new owner.
McManus purchases
Horse Racing Advisory led the buyers’ table on the opening day, the two purchases by Charlie Swan and Hubert Barbe headed by Gentleman De Mee, a wild card entry who cost the duo €280,000.
The son of Saint Des Saints is a half-brother to the Grade 3 winner As De Mee who was also placed in a couple of Grade 1 chases in England. Set to race for J.P. McManus, Gentleman De Mee has filled the runner-up spot on both his starts over hurdles to date for Guillaume Macaire. “He is a lovely big horse who looks a real chaser in the making, a staying chaser,” said Swan.
Also on their shopping list was Daniela Mele’s Capodanno, another wild card entry who was runner-up on his only start to date at the beginning of the month. The three-year-old son of Manduro cost Barbe €185,000, while Swan said: “He is another lovely big horse who jumps very well. He is a horse for next year; we will take him home and the boss [J.P. McManus] will decide”.
Maxwell strikes
Amateur rider David Maxwell made his presence felt when, with agent Guy Petit, he bought wild card Stratagem from Daniela Mele. The three-year-old son of Sunday Break was knocked down for €260,000 having won on his only outing over hurdles at Auteuil last month.
“We were very lucky with Cat Tiger last year. We think we have bought a very good horse”, said Petit, before adding “For me, he’s the perfect horse. We saw his race and he couldn’t have done it better. We’re delighted.”
A recent update helped bidding for the three-year-old Saint Des Saints gelding Gaillard Du Mesnil who sold for €250,000, being knocked down to Pierre Boulard and Harold Kirk on behalf of Willie Mullins. “We really like this horse”, said Boulard. “Saint Des Saints is a very good sire and this horse was very consistent in bumpers. He should go well over jumps.”
International buyers were
out in force
HEADING to Australia is the Niarchos Family’s Mount Popa. The four-year-old son of Maxios has been in the first three on all 10 of his starts for Pascal Bary over staying trips, Bloodstock agent Stephen Hillen was taking instructions on the telephone and the €200,000 gelding will now be trained by Team Hawkes down under.
Also heading in the same direction is the now former Christophe Ferland-trained Scarlet Tufty, another consistent sort. The three-year-old son of Siyouni was knocked down for €120,000 to Hubie de Burgh and Emmanuel de Seroux.
“He’s been bought for an existing client to go to Australia”, said de Seroux. “He’s by a world-class stallion. He’s got tactical racing speed, and he is a great mover. He’ll be aimed at the 10-furlong group races down there, which have amazing prize-money.”
Paying his first visit to the Autumn Sale, Alex Elliott struck for Gloire D’Athon, a three-year-old AQPS gelding who was a wild card entry from Alain Couétil.
A recent winner on his debut, the son of Doctor Dino cost the agent €200,000 and afterwards he said: “I noticed him a few weeks ago, and we’re delighted to get him. He’ll probably go to Ireland where we’ll decide his future. I really like his sire Doctor Dino, and I’ve been lucky with his progeny.”
A final bid of €190,000 secured the four-year-old Folburg De Palma (lot 223) for Karel Jalovy. The son of Sageburg won twice and finished second in the Group 3 Prix de l’Avenir. Michal Lisek, racing manager for the Czech owner, confirmed that the gelding’s future now lies over jumps and he will travel abroad to race in France and Italy.
Luke Comer
Wild card entry Fourbi sold for €130,000 and the four-year-old AQPS gelding was a recent winner over two and a half miles. Acting on behalf of Luke Comer, Jim Gorman had the final say, later commenting, “He’ll go to Ireland where he’ll run over jumps. He showed lots of quality on his last start and Irish racing should suit him”.
Booming trade for NH youngstock
RESERVED for National Hunt youngsters, the second day of the Autumn Sale ended with a hugely satisfying set of results.
Haras du Saubouas’s Paul Basquin bought five lots during the session for a total of €465,000, and they included four of the top five yearlings. They were headed by a son of Kapgarde for €150,000.
A half-brother to this season’s unbeaten Grade 3 winner Messagere, the colt hails from the family of No Risk At All, Nickname, Nom D’Une Pipe and N’Oublie Jamais.
Basquin said: “We’re delighted to have him. He’s got a stallion’s pedigree. He’ll come back to Saubouas and we’ll take it from there”
Earlier Basquin went to €105,000 for a son of Ballingary, a half-brother to recent Grade 1 Prix Cambaceres runner-up Kool Has, from the family of Kokita. The owner also signed for another son of Kapgarde at €92,000, as well as going to €90,000 for a son of Martaline from the family of Utopie Des Bordes.
Highflyer spending
A Doctor Dino gelding out of a sister to Turgot from The Channel Consignment went the way of Highflyer Bloodstock for €130,000, bought on behalf of Dai Walters. Sarah Llewellyn of Walters Plant Hire said: “He looks like a good horse and we hope he’ll follow in the footsteps of Whisper and Al Dancer, both bought here!” Highflyer bought 20 lots for a total of €864,000 during the session, and overall spent more than €1.2 million for clients during the week.
The two-year-old store section saw sale regular Deauville visitor Toby Jones pay €85,000 for a son of Saddler Maker from the same family as Dica De Thaix.
Following the sale, Arqana president Eric Hoyeau said: “This was a great edition of the Autumn Sale; we’re delighted. The three days showed the depth of the market, with international investment and interest at all levels.
“The strong market for horses-in-training then generated support for the young National Hunt prospects, which also saw new buyers. I would also like to underline the work done by Guillaume Cousin in Eastern Europe and our foreign representatives, inspired by great stories like Pride Of Nelson.”
Pride Of Nelson, a three-year-old daughter of Mount Nelson, sold at this sale as a yearling in 2017 for €5,000, has gone on to become a leader of her generation in Poland, and she sold on Monday back at the same venue for €125,000.