AUSTRALIAN handlers Tony and Calvin McEvoy and Henry Dwyer will be receiving the two top-priced horses in training sold at this week’s Arqana February Sale in Deauville.

The two-day mixed sale saw a clearance rate of 70% of the 343 horses offered. All the key metrics were well ahead of the previous year’s figures.

The top price paid over the two days was €180,000 for wild card entry Dante Nonantais, a three-year-old grey gelding who made a winning debut on the all-weather at Deauville last month for trainer Florian Bellemere.

By Hunter’s Light, the gelding is from the family of Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap winner Urgent Request.

He was bought by Thibault de Seyssel on behalf of international owners OTI Racing and will join the McEvoy stable, which won the 2025 Melbourne Cup with Half Yours.

The buyer said: “He is a superb horse who made a very promising debut and has real potential. His profile should suit Australian racing perfectly.”

Just minutes later, Amy Murphy paid €120,000 for Recollect, a three-year-old gelding trained by Gavin Hernon who won over a mile on Chantilly’s all-weather track two weeks ago. The horse is from the family of Harzand, Emily Upjohn and Hurricane Lane.

“I’ve bought him for Henry Dwyer, with whom we have worked for a long time,” said Murphy. “He caught his attention and was strongly recommended by Gavin Hernon. We are confident he has the potential to succeed in Australia.”

Also fetching €120,000 was Highbourne Karisma, a five-year-old mare by Doctor Dino, who made a winning debut at Durtal this month for trainer Louisa Carberry. The mare will continue her career with British trainer Tom Symonds, who had a Grade 2 hurdle race winner at Haydock last weekend.

The pick of the yearlings on offer was an Earthlight half-sister to Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winners Sajir. Offered by Haras des Capucines, she was bought by agent Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International for €125,000.

Two mares made €80,000 each in Tuesday’s session - one was jumps-bred and the other flat.

Elektrix, a listed winner over hurdles at Auteuil, was knocked down for €80,000 to agent Hubert Barbe, bidding on behalf of Haras de Couëly. The very well-bred daughter of Gemix hails from the family of Brighterdaysahead.

A little later in the day, the gavel fell once more at €80,000, this time for the blacktype mare Secret Sky from Coulonces. Bidding on behalf of Laundry Cottage Stud, Sébastien Desmontils signed the docket for the daughter of Camelot out of the blacktype winner Oh Star.

The well-bred granddaughter of Group 1 winner Sleepytime hails from the family of Group 1 winners Lazzat, Taipan and Ali-Royal.