AFTER a few years out of its traditional home, the Arqana Breeze Up Sale made a return to Deauville this year and produced a set of solid results that failed to match the trade generated 12 months earlier.

The median of €100,000 was just a shade below last year’s figure for the same number of lots on offer. This year saw five less sold, but the average and aggregate slipped back by 6% and 10.5% respectively. A total of 84% of the 123 two-year-olds that passed through the ring changed hands for an average of €131,777 and a turnover of €13,573,000.

The top two lots, both purchased by Oliver St Lawrence, appeared after last week’s report went to press (https://www.theirishfield.ie/arqana-breeze-up-sale-irish-vendors-dominate-in-france-697725). Heading the trade was a son of Zoffany, offered as a wild card by Mocklershill, and he was knocked down for €550,000. This was the third time he appeared in a sale ring, and the third country too.

Sold as a foal by the Motherway’s Yellowford Farm for 80,000gns to Camas Park Stud, he failed to sell at $65,000 in Keeneland last September. Withdrawn from the Tattersalls Craven Sale, the word was out about the colt before he made his appearance in the ring. The subject of a long bidding war, the half-brother to Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Lemista is from the family of Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors.

“Roger Varian saw him this afternoon and really liked him,” said St Lawrence. “He will be trained by him. He’s a strong horse that breezed really well yesterday. It’s very promising for the future. I’ve bought him for a friend of Fawzi Nass.”

Less than an hour earlier St Lawrence bid for the same connections, this time swooping for the first foal by Siyouni out of Faay for €520,000. The colt was sold by Mick and Sarah Murphy’s Longways Stables and was purchased by them for 200,000gns last year. Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock, he was sold as a yearling through Ed Player’s Whatton Manor Stud.

Longways sold a son of Siyouni, the Royal Ascot Group 3 Jersey Stakes winner Le Brivido, at the same sale in 2016, and this year’s offering is impeccably bred. By the sire of St Mark’s Basilica and Sottsass, he is the first foal out of a placed full-sister to dual Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner Mecca’s Anger and Group 3 winner Markaz.

Forever Rose set to bloom stateside after Hillen purchase

AMONG the other lots late in the sale to have been subject to plenty of interest was a filly from the first crop of Cracksman out of a stakes-placed full-sister to Group 2 winner Forthe Millionkiss, and they are both siblings to the Group 1 Preis de Diana-German Oaks winner Feodora. Offered from Church Farm & Horse Park Stud, the filly sold to Stephen Hillen, standing beside Dean Reeves, for €420,000.

After signing the docket, the agent said: “I’ve bought her for Dean Reeves and she’ll go to the United States to join Christophe Clement. I saw her at the stud a month ago, and I really liked her. I think she could be very good over 2,000 metres.”

Dean Reeves, at Deauville for the first time, added: “We came here to find a lovely filly and take her to the States, and she ticks all the boxes. We’ll take our time with her and wait for the autumn. Christophe Clement is a very good trainer with whom we’ve had lots of success. We can’t wait for the adventure to start!” This was a notable pinhook success for the vendors as the filly was sourced at last year’s BBAG September Sale for just €49,000.

Fillies galore

The top buyer a year earlier, Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock was the second leading purchaser at the sale after signing for seven lots totalling €1,020,000, including a daughter of Twirling Candy. Out of the US stakes winner Church Camp, the final bid was made at €380,000 for the filly who was offered by Malcolm Bastard. The filly was bought by Wycombe House at Fasig-Tipton last October for $120,000.

She was followed into the ring by a daughter of Exceed And Excel. The O’Callaghan’s Tally Ho Stud offered this daughter of a winning Shamardal mare whose own grandam was the Group 2 Cherry Hinton Stakes winner and Group 1-placed Asfurah. Nicolas de Watrigant from Mandore Agency had the final say at €360,000. He commented: “I love this filly! She has an outstanding physique and showed a lot of quality on the track yesterday. She’s by a very good stallion in Exceed And Excel and has been bought for Coolmore.” The filly was purchased by Barry Lynch as a yearling at Goffs for €80,000.

Star gazing

Very active throughout the session, Anthony Stroud’s three purchases included a son of Sea The Moon for €350,000. Offered by Tom Whitehead’s Powerstown Stud, the colt is a full-brother to the listed winner and group-placed Enjoy The Moon, and they are out of the stakes-winning Medicean mare Enjoy The Life.

Another successful pinhook from the BBAG Sale, where he cost Whitehead €92,000, the colt was greatly admired by Stroud who said: “I really liked this colt. He did a good breeze and comes from a good family. I’ve bought him for one of my clients. We haven’t yet decided on his future plans; maybe he’ll go to England.”

Earlier in the day, Stroud had struck for a son of Sea The Stars, the sire of Sea The Moon, for €300,000.

Following the conclusion of trade, Arqana president Eric Hoyeau and executive director Freddy Powell, issued a joint statement. They said: “We’re delighted to be back at Deauville. The sale took place in very good conditions, notably thanks to the work and professionalism of our vendors who bring their horses in the best shape.

“We must also salute the quality of the track at Deauville, and the sun was with us! The market was solid, without extravagance, with a very international dimension. Our buyers came from the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Scandinavia, and some of whom made the trip to Deauville for the first time.”