THE four-day Arqana Autumn Sale kicked off in fine style on Monday with a day of flat and National Hunt horses in training.

A very healthy clearance rate of 94% was an improvement on last year’s 83%, and demand was fuelled by a truly international buying bench. The average price was up 8% to €39,636, while turnover jumped by 35% to €6,421,000 for the day.

Runner-up in the Listed Prix Vulcain at Deauville on his latest start, the Aga Khan Studs homebred Carini was widely anticipated to be the likely star of the sale, and he didn’t disappoint. The gavel finally fell at €600,000 in favour of Equos Racing’s Nicolas Lefevre, who was on the telephone with Astute Bloodstock’s Louis Le Metayer.

Winner of three races, the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained gelding has a rating of 102 and is a son of Siyouni out a triple group winner in Candarliya. “I’ve bought him for my old boss Louis Le Metayer, for one of his Australian clients”, said Lefevre. “There is a lot of competition for horses like him. We’ve followed him for a long time.”

Responsible for 12 lots that sold for a total of €1,480,000, the Aga Khan Studs’ took top spot on the consignors table after the first day.

Djo Français

Successful in the Group 3 Prix Bertrand du Breuil following his win in the Listed Prix Jacques Laffitte in the spring, Djo Français was knocked down for €320,000. A consistent performer with a rating of 104, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt also won the Listed Prix Saint-Patrick last season.

The BBA Ireland team had the final say for the four-year-old son of Intello who will now go to Saudi Arabia, his objective being to run at the prestigious Saudi Cup meeting.

Another lot offered from the Aga Khan Studs, Shaiyhar was one of a number of Australian purchases. Sold for €300,000 to Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, the son of Camelot was trained by Francis-Henri Graffard to win at ParisLongchamp on his second outing before winning again at Clairefontaine after the catalogue was published.

Mullins strikes

A winner of his latest start over a mile and a quarter at ParisLongchamp last month for Carlos Laffon-Parias in the colours of Wertheimer & Frère, Gaucher was sold for €260,000 to the trio of agents Pierre Boulard and Harold Kirk, and trainer Willie Mullins.

The three-year-old Gaucher is a son of Frankel out of the Group 1 Prix Vermeille winner Left Hand. “He’s a lovely stamp of a horse and has a lot of class”, said Kirk. “He could run on the flat from time to time, but we hope that he will be good over hurdles - maybe he will be the next Hurricane Fly!”

Also racing in the colours of His Highness The Aga Khan and trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, Zanndabad made €240,000 when selling to Irish trainer Tony Martin. Placed in a listed race last season, he won his most recent start over 10 and a half furlongs and was third in another listed race since the catalogue was printed. The three-year-old son of Iffraaj is from the family of the exceptional champion Zarkava.

After signing the docket, Martin said: “I’m very happy. He’s a good-looking horse and we’ll see how he comes together in the next few weeks before deciding on his future.”

Weston and Niagaro

Offered from Haras d’Ombreville, Weston and Niagaro each sold for €240,000, catapulting the consignors to second place on the vendor’s listing. Both lots were wild card entries, just like the sale topper.

Weston was first to sell and he was knocked down to Tom Malone. Commenting on the colt who most recently finished fourth in the Group 3 The Länd Trophy at Baden-Baden following a pair of wins, the Irishman said: “Everything happened in the last 40 minutes when Gordon Elliott called me because he had a client interested in the horse.

“I told him that he was very good looking and that probably he will make a lot of money. Soldier Hollow is a very good sire and, as well as his performances, this horse is strong and well balanced. He ticks a lot of boxes.”

A few lots later, Marco Bozzi signed for the Sarah Steinberg-trained Niagaro. A listed winner with a rating of 106, the son of the deceased Adlerflug is a half-brother to classic winner Novemba. He will be trained in France for Mr and Mrs Roveda of Assiro Stud.

Goliath Du Berlais son dominates on Tuesday

RESERVED for young National Hunt prospects, the second day of the Autumn Sale held a session of two-year-old stores.

Very active on the day, French agent Guy Petit struck for two lots within minutes of each other. The first, a son of Karaktar, was knocked down for €85,000. “He has everything to be a racehorse”, said the agent. “I’ve bought him for my client Clive Boultbee Brooks. He will be trained in France and time will tell us whether he will win the Champion Hurdle!”

Following on from that purchase, Petit signed the docket at €80,000 for a daughter of Saint Des Saints, also for Clive Boultbee Brooks. He commented: “Hers dam has been a good producer and she is a filly that could make a good racemare as well as broodmare. We’re very happy with these two purchases, and these were the ones we wanted to get today!”

Offered from Haras des Sablonnets, a yearling son of Goliath Du Berlais made the top price of the day, €130,000. The Chantilly-based trainer Davide Satalia had the final say for the son of No News, from the family of No Risk At All and triple Grade 1 winner Nickname. “He’s a lovely horse, with good size,” said Satalia. “He’s from a great family and has everything going for him.”

Record set by Doctor Dino yearling

THREE more yearlings on Wednesday sold for a six-figure sum, a result never seen before at this sale, though the market was highly selective.

Bred at Écurie Cerdeval and offered from Haras des Pierres Follets, a son of Doctor Dino out of Caprika Bella made a record top price for a National Hunt-bred yearling. From the family of Kapgarde, the colt was knocked down for €200,000 to Saubouas Bloodstock’s Paul Basquin on behalf of Génétique Obstacle.

“We buy horses with the aim of either re-selling them or to make stallions,” said Basquin. “He will most likely be gelded. He’s perfect physically, with a walk that is out of the ordinary.

“His dam is by Poliglote and has already produced winners. He has everything that you want to see at a sale.”

Antonin Pelsy of Spincourt Bloodstock made his presence felt once again when striking at €150,000 for a half-sister to last weekend’s Grade 1 Prix Cambacérès winner St Donats. Offered from Haras de Maulepaire, the daughter of Doctor Dino has the Grade 2 winner Marello as her grandam.

Haras du Mesnil’s leading stallion Doctor Dino was very much in demand, siring four out of the five highest priced yearlings, including a half-sister to Auteuil winner Out Of Risk.

Sold for €128,000 to Nicolas Bertran de Balanda, the filly, offered from Haras de Montaigu, hails from the family of Grade 1 winner Echoes In Rain. She will be trained by David Cottin.

Another day, another record

FOR the third consecutive year, the final day of the Autumn Sale was reserved for National Hunt broodmares, fillies and foals.

After an edition boosted by the dispersal of the late Magalen Bryant’s breeding activities in 2021, the 2022 edition returned to results similar to those of 2020.

Eagerly awaited in the ring, the four-year-old Grade 3 Prix Sagan winner La Boetie made the top price of the day. A winner over fences and hurdles, she most recently was runner-up in the Grade 3 Prix Hopper, and it was Guy Petit that had the final say for the daughter of Saint Des Saints.

Afterwards, he said: “I’ve bought her for an Irish client. She ticks all the boxes and she’s a lovely mare; she has everything that you could look for in a broodmare.”

Following his half-brother Theleme’s victory in the Grade 1 Grand Prix d’Automne Hurdle at Auteuil last weekend, a son of Doctor Dino from Haras de Cordelles was the subject to a long bidding war before Thierry Cyprès finally gained the upper hand, securing the foal for €160,000, the highest price for a National Hunt foal ever sold at Deauville.

“Mr Benaroussi loved this foal,” said Cyprès. “He is outstanding and ticks all the boxes. His half-brother is excellent, and we have high hopes for him.” Theleme is now a three-time Grade 1 winner.

A little earlier in the day, acting on behalf of the same owner, Cyprès went to €105,000 for Glady, carrying her first foal by Karaktar. She is a half-sister to triple Grade 1 Prix la Haye Jousselin winner Bipolaire.