PART 2 of the Arqana Select Sale concluded last Friday, and the day’s clearance rate of 79% must be considered satisfactory in the present climate. The third day’s yearlings averaged €52,433. The overall clearance rate for the three days saw three in every four yearlings sell.
Trainer Yann Barberot saw off the challenge of Michel Zerolo at €290,000 for a daughter of Siyouni offered by Ecurie des Monceaux. She topped the day’s trade and is closely related to star mares Halfway To Heaven, last weekend’s Group 1 winner Magical, and Rhododendron. “I’ve bought her for Normandie Spirit. She’s a lovely filly that’s a real Siyouni,” said Barberot. “She walks well and is from a very current family. We didn’t think she would be so expensive, but she was our favourite.”
Trotting stud Haras de Bouttemont owners Gitte and Philippe Allaire stood with Barberot when he signed for a daughter of Churchill for €100,000. The filly is a close relative of Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream and was also consigned by Monceaux.
Offered from The Channel Consignment, a son of Wootton Bassett was in strong demand when he was knocked down to Nicolas de Watrigant on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing for €180,000. “We had to fight for him,” said the agent. “I have been lucky in the past with horses by this stallion, notably Wooded who won the Prix Texanita this season for Francis-Henri Graffard. We don’t know who will train him yet, and his owner will decide later.”
Following their recent purchase of Wootton Bassett, Coolmore secured one of his sons from Haras d’Etreham for €140,000 when he was knocked down to Laurent Benoit. The agent said, “This one was our favourite. He’ll go to Andre Fabre who will be delighted to have the Zafonic line once again - it’ll jog some fond memories!”
Michael Donohoe
A Haras de Castillon-consigned son of Kodiac fell to Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland for €140,000. A half-brother to Group 3 winner Alounak, he hails from the family of Group 1 winner Emulous. “He looks precocious,” said Donohue, adding, “He’s by a good sire from a great family - he’s got everything to like about him! I’ve bought him for one of my clients who has horses in Europe, principally in Ireland and in France. He’ll be broken in Ireland, and then we’ll see where he goes into training.”
Very active throughout the three days, Jean-Claude Rouget bought eight yearlings on Friday for €675,000. They included a €100,000 half-brother to blacktype performers Hurricane and Francesco Bere and the colt is from the first crop of Whitecliffsofdover whose covering fee was just €3,000. Shortly afterwards he bought consecutive lots. The first, a daughter of Le Havre from the family of Stradivarius, was knocked down to the Pau trainer for €105,000, while a daughter of the Aga Khan Studs’ first crop stallion Zarak was sold for €100,000. She hails from the family of Ectot and Most Improved.
Acting on behalf of Jean-Claude Seroul, Nicolas de Watrigant (Mandore International Agency) and Alain Decrion had the final say on a daughter of Kodiac for €135,000. “She cost a lot more than we wanted to pay, but she is a very nice filly and we always have money for horses like her,” said Decrion.
Demand for Almanzor
Almanzor’s first crop was much in demand, with the young sire’s most expensive yearling of the day making €110,000. He is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Gold Win and it was Laurent Benoit who had the final say for the colt. He said, “He’s a spectacular colt, and his half-brother is a good horse. We’re very happy to have bought a yearling from Almanzor’s first crop; they are very good-looking. He’ll go to Ireland and will return to the sales ring for the breeze ups.” A daughter of the stallion, a granddaughter of Irish 1000 Guineas winner Yesterday, sold for €105,000 to Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock.