Making up of Part 1 of the catalogue, the first day of the Arqana October Yearling Sale finished with an average of €87,701, up 20%. Of the 146 lots offered, 73% were sold, generating a turnover of €8,742,000.
Son of Sea The Stars makes top price on the first day
A well-bred son of Sea The Stars (lot 98) from Ecurie des Monceaux made the top price on the first day after a strong bidding battle between agents Michel Zerolo (Oceanic Bloodstock) and David Redvers. It was the latter that had the final say at €400,000 for the colt, that is out of a half-sister to Arc winner DANEDREAM.
Redvers commented, “We bought his half-sister by Australia in August last year, and she has since won her debut at Haydock really well. He doesn’t have the same physique, but he walks very well. He’s a Monceaux homebred by a very good stallion out of a very well-bred mare.”
Shalaa filly for American syndicate
The second of eight yearlings to sell for €200,000 or more during the session, a daughter of Shalaa (lot 104) out of a half-sister to Prix Jean Prat (Gr.1) winner HAVANA GOLD was subject to a lot of interest around the ring. Offered from Haras de Castillon, she was finally knocked down to Kerri Radcliffe for €370,000.
She said, “I’ve bought her for an American syndicate. I previously bought her brother at the August Sale and he was stakes placed at Saratoga this year. She’s lovely. She’ll most likely stay in France, but we don’t know who she’ll be trained by.”
Son of No Nay Never for M.V. Magnier
A popular colt by Coolmore resident No Nay Never (lot 62) from the family of Prix du Jockey Club (Gr.1) BLUE CANARI will be going the way of the Irish entity after Arthur Hoyeau signed the docket for €300,000. Consigned by Haras d’Elbe, the agent said, “He’s a quality colt that walks very well and is by a stallion that really improves his stock,” said Hoyeau. “He’s been bought for M.V. Magnier and will go into training with Aidan O’Brien, who really likes the horse. The whole team really likes No Nay Never - he produces proper racehorses.”
Son of Frankel for Japanese owner
A half-brother to triple Group winner THE JULIET ROSE (lot 77) was sold for €210,000 after a protracted battle for the colt, in which Sebastien Desmontils (Chauvigny Global Equine) came out on top. The son of Frankel was offered from Ecurie des Monceaux.
After signing the docket, Desmontils said, “I’ve bought him for a new Japanese client and he really likes Frankel. We already bought a daughter of Siyouni in August. He’s a well-bred and very goodlooking colt that still needs time to mature. He’ll go into training in France, but we don’t know who for yet.”
Son of Siyouni for Peter Brant
Following SOTTSASS’s third place in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr.1) earlier this month, his owner Peter Brant’s entourage signed for another son of Siyouni when buying lot 151 for €220,000.
Offered from La Motteraye Consignment, the colt is a three-parts brother to the ill-fated VOLTA. “For a start, I really like his sire, Siyouni,” said JeanClaude Rouget. “Physically, he corresponds to exactly what we are looking for. He’ll go into training in Deauville,” added Michel Zerolo. “We’ve had a lot of luck with Siyouni this season, and we have bought him for the same owner as Sottsass, Peter Brant.”
Three colts by Night Of Thunder, No Nay Never and Siyouni for Stroud Coleman Bloodstock
Very active during the first day, Anthony Stroud struck first for a son of Night Of Thunder (lot 87) for €210,000. Offered from Haras de Saint Isidro, the colt is the second foal out of Prix de Royallieu (Gr.2) and Prix Fille de l’Air (Gr.3) winner FRINE.
A little later in the day, the agent signed for a €190,000 No Nay Never colt (lot 107) from La Motteraye Consignment. After signing the docket, he said, “I’ve bought him for an existing client. He’s a nice colt by a very good stallion bred by MelchiorFrançois Mathet, who is a very good breeder. We really liked him.”
A few lots later, he had the final say for the same price on a brother to Group 3 Prix de Saint-Georges winner and Group 1 placed CITY LIGHT (lot 113). This son of the Aga Khan Studs’ leading light Siyouni, is also a grandson of Group 1 winner LEARIVA from
Jedburgh Stud.
“He’s by Siyouni and bred by Alec (Waugh). He’ll go into training with Simon Crisford in England.”
Three-parts brother to Shalaa and Siyouni daughter for Haras de Victot
Sheikh Adbullah Al Thani (Haras de Victot) made his foray onto the buyers’ sheet through his manager Alban de Mieulle right at the end of the day when buying a three-parts brother to Shalaa (lot 136). Offered from Ecurie des Monceaux, the colt was knocked down for €180,000.
“He’s a good-looking colt that all the team liked,” explained de Mieulle. “He’s none other than a threeparts brother to Shalaa, and now we only have to hope that he can do as well. For the moment, Sheikh Abdullah has not made a decision on his trainer - he will first be broken before any further choices will be made.”
A few lots later, he had the final say once again, this time for a daughter of Siyouni (lot 158) for €210,000. Consigned by Haras de Mezeray, the filly hails from the family of OCCUPANDISTE, as well as MONDIALISTE, IMPRESSIONNANTE and INTELLO.
“She’s a lovely filly that was well presented and has good breeding potential as well. We don’t have a trainer for her at the moment. She corresponds perfectly for what we were looking for,” he added.
Photo courtesy of Zuzanna Lupa photography