Second highest figures ever for Part I of Arqana August Yearling Sale
After the hammer came down on the second day of the August Yearling Sale, the aggregate for Part I of the catalogue stood as the second best ever, only headed by last year’s record-breaking figures. 81% of the 172 yearlings led through the ring over the two days were sold, up from 76% in 2015, and they returned €29,861,000, a 7% slip from a year ago but still higher than any previous Part I gross. The cumulative average is €213,293, down 13% from the record-breaking 2015 edition.
The Coolmore/Mayfair Speculators partnership was responsible for the two highest prices of the day, with Peter Doyle and M.V. Magnier doing the bidding. Both shared the distinction of being daughters of perennial champion sire Galileo, out of black type winning mares and from the draft of Ecurie des Monceaux. First through the ring was lot 97 (pictured) out of the Listed winner Prudenzia, hence a three-parts sister to the Classic heroine CHICQUITA, for which the Coolmore principals, standing alongside Peter Doyle, Derek Brugman and Michael Jooste of Mayfair Speculators, had to go to €1.4 million to outbid Barry Weisbord and James Delahooke. Two lots later (lot 99), a daughter of the Gr.3 Prix de Royaumont winner QUETSCHE attracted a closing bid of €650,000 from the same connections. “There is always a good reason to buy these good fillies”, quipped Doyle. “They are both outstanding fillies, individual wise, two very nice Galileos with special pedigrees. They don't come by so often.”
A daughter of Frankel out of the Dashing Blade mare Sasuela (lot 113) proved the €600,000 pick of Japanese owner Kenji Ryotokuji, who was investing on the Deauville market for the first time via manager Takashi Iiyama. The winning Sasuela has already delivered three black type horses in Gr.1 scorer Seismos and Gr.1 performers Soberania and Samba Brazil. “She is the only daughter of Frankel in the catalogue”, commented Iiyama. “We were very interested in her before we came here and when we saw her we were very impressed. She is quite small but I saw Frankel in Great Britain and she is similar in the body. She will go to Japan to be trainer in Rito by Mr. Yoshimura.”
The appetite for Frankel’s progeny was consistent throughout the evening with a son of the great champion and first foal out of the Group 2 winning juvenile RESTIADARGENT (lot 104), who went on to run 3rd to Black Caviar in the Gr.1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes, being knocked down to Pascal Bary seating alongside HSpirit's racing manager Jean-Jacques Taïeb for €520,000. The family traces back to the Prix de Diane victress Resless Kara. “We were underbidder to Shadwell yesterday on the Frankel filly [lot 92] so we are delighted to be able to buy this one”, said Taïeb. “This colt has the conformation and the pedigree, and looks quite precocious as well. He will be trained by Pascal Bary.”
The price was matched later in the evening by a dark brown son of Le Havre who came into the ring with some solid credentials as the own brother to this year's unbeaten dual Classic heroine LA CRESSONNIERE (lot 154). Interest arose from all around the ring but it was Richard Brown who prevailed at €520,000 before indicating that John Gosden would take delivery of the colt.
The sale continues today from 5:00pm.