AN Irish-bred colt by Justify topped the opening session of the Arqana August Yearling Sale on Saturday evening when selling to Godolphin for €1.25 million. Coolmore were the underbidders for the colt, who was bred by Eddie Irwin of Marlhill House Stud in Cashel, Co Tipperary.
The colt's dam, Joie De Soir (by Fastnet Rock) was bred and raced by Coolmore to win two French listed races in 2021 and 2022 before being sold in December 2024 for 750,000gns to Irwin. She has yet to have a runner.
"He’s a very good-looking colt, that walks very well,” said Anthony Stroud, Godolphin's representative. “He’s from a family that has produced some very good horses and he is by Justify, a stallion that has had exceptional results. I knew that he would be very popular, and he is worth it for his pedigree and his physique. We’re very happy.”
A total of 71 yearlings went under the hammer during the first session, with nearly 79% of lots offered changing hands for an average of €249,393, generating a turnover of almost €14 million, up 20% in comparison to the same day last year.
Other highlights of Saturday's session included Peter and Ross Doyle paying €800,000 for a Wootton Bassett colt on behalf of Norway's Bente and Magne Jordanger, and Paddy Twomey paying the same figure on behalf of Charlie Bond for a filly by Frankel out of Group 1 winner Lightening Pearl.
Consigned by Baroda Stud, the Wootton Bassett colt secured by the Doyles is out of group race winner and classic-placed Just Pretending, a mare who has already produced blacktype performers Visage and Persia.
"He's an exceptional colt," said Ross Doyle. "Our team saw all the horses in the sale over the last two or three days and he was clearly one of the best. He's by a remarkable stallion from a great family. He has everything going for him. I've bought him for Magne Jordanger (Stall Perlen), who is Scandinavian, but now has horses in France. He's got horses with Pia Brandt, and I'd imagine he'll go to her."
The Frankel filly bought by Paddy Twomey was consigned by perennial leading vendor Écurie des Monceaux and they also sold a daughter of Siyouni for €550,000 to Ghislain Bozo of Meridian International. The filly is out of the Group 1-placed Lady Frankel, and hails from the family of Lope De Vega and Barnavara.
The sale, which is Europe's first major yearling sale of the year, began with a bang when the very first lot into the Arqana sales ring sold for €420,000. From Ballylinch Stud, the filly was bought by agent Hugo Merry.
Brian Acheson, better known for his involvement with jump racing through his Robcour operation, signed for a €480,000 filly by Sea The Stars. She is for the Acheson family's Kilnagornan Stud, which is on the Curragh.
The sale continues on Sunday evening after racing at Deauville.