THE Arqana August Yearling Sale began on Saturday evening with a session which saw 71 yearlings sell for €11.75 million. The clearance was 72%, down from 77% for the same session last year.

A total of 10 colts and fillies changed hands for €300,000 or more when bought by eight different buyers. The session average price wast €230,392 (up 6.5%), while the median was €200,000 (up 43%), suggesting that the top of the market remains strong while overall demand has dropped.

Écurie des Monceaux, a stud farm based in Normandy, sold the top three lots on the evening. Monceaux is perennially the top vendor at this sale and was in the news recently when it was revealed that leading Irish racehorse owner Brian Acheson had acquired a stake in the farm.

On Saturday night a filly from the first crop of Baaeed was sold by Monceaux to Kieran Lalor of Al Shira'aa for €800,000. She is out of listed winner Dubai Rose, already the dam of group race winners The Juliet Rose and Arabian Crown.

"We really fell in love with this filly,” said Lalor. “She’s a lovely individual, very athletic with a superb pedigree and from one of the best French studs. We’ve had a lot of success with Écurie des Monceaux over the years, and fingers crossed we’ll be back in a little while to speak about the Guineas and the classics for this filly. With Baaeed as her sire and a maternal line of this calibre, anything is possible.”

A few minutes later, Monceaux again received €800,000, this time for a son of Lope De Vega who was bought by Godolphin. The colt is out of the blacktype mare Eliade, from the family of Group 1 winners Friendly Soul, With You, We Are, Kelina and Call The Wind.

Godolphin representative Anthony Stroud said: "He will be trained by Charlie Appleby. He’s a lovely colt that walks very well. He comes from Écurie des Monceaux, that has bred so many good horses. We are truly delighted.“

Monceaux was once again responsible for a daughter of Sea The Stars who was knocked down for €675,000 to trainer Paddy Twomey. The well-bred filly is the first foal out of Listed winner Everest Rose, a sister to the aforementioned group race winners Arabian Crown and The Juliet Rose.

Twomey said: “I’ve bought her for a new partnership that are looking for well-bred fillies." It is understood the partnership includes Robert Moran, owner of high-class fillies Rosscarbery, Elana Osario and Catalina Delcarpio.

Twomey also paid €300,000 for a Mehmas half-sister to recent impressive Galway winner Constitution River.

Much earlier in the day M.V. Magnier went to €520,000 for a half-brother to Coventry Stakes winner Rashabar. He was bought for a partnership between Coolmore and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm.

Consigned by Haras de Beaufay, the son of St Mark’s Basilica hails from the family of Amarette, the winner of the Group 1 Preis der Diana and group race victors River Of Stars, Amazona, Ancient Spirit and Aemilianus.

A filly by St Mark's Basilica topped this sale last year when bought by Coolmore for €1.7 million. Now named Diamond Necklace, she recently made an impressive winning debut at the Curragh.

The sale continues on Sunday evening.

A New Bay colt sold for €200,000 is likely to be trained by Jack Davison before ultimately heading to Australia, according to bloodstock agent Jim Clarke. The colt is a half-brother to Arapaho, now a Group 1 winner in Australia, and Clarke bought the New Bay yearling on behalf of Arapaho's connections.

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