|
|
Record average set at Arqana's December Sale The fireworks evident at Goffs' and Tattersalls' recent breeding stock sales did not relent once Arqana's December Sale began at Deauville on Saturday, and by the end of trade, a new record average had been set. There were 37 six-figure transactions all told -- nine more than a year ago -- and the action started as early as the second lot through the ring when His Highness The Aga Khan's Lot No. 3, the listed-placed three-year-old CELENZA (Dansili), went the way of France Turf for €120,000. As with custom, it was not the only high-profile selection offered from the Aga Khan draft, and it was that source that provided the almost-white ARTISTIQUE (Linamix), the day's highlight once darkness had descended, at €520,000. Offered in foal to Cape Cross as Lot 213, she ultimately fell to Robert Nataf of Horse France, standing alongside Paul Shanahan and MV Magnier, who outlasted Blandford Bloodstock's Tom Goff to prevail. The 15-year-old mare is out of the Group 1 Oaks d'Italia runner-up Armarama (Persian Bold) and is the dam of five winners, the most notable of which is the 2008 Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris hero Montmartre (Montjeu). "She was, in my opinion, the standout in the catalog," Nataf said. "It was a rare opportunity to purchase a mare capable of breeding a Group 1 winner, so I was keen to get her." Second-highest price of the day was the €450,000 paid early on by Nicolas de Watrigant, of Mandore International Agency, for Haras du Quesnay's Lot 24, the four-year-old JUMOOH (Monsun). Offered in foal to Invincible Spirit, the Shadwell-bred is a half-sister to last year's Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes winner Maqaasid (Green Desert), who hit the board in this term's Group 1 One Thousand Guineas. Blue hen mare Height of Fashion (Bustino) is her third dam, and she is out of a half-sister to the 2009 Group 1 One Thousand Guineas and Group 1 Coronation Stakes victress Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway), and the Group 1 placegetters Mawatheeq (Danzig) and Rumoush (Rahy). "Jumooh was just about the best-looking mare in the book and possesses an exceptional pedigree," de Watrigant said. "She's by a top-class sire, is carrying her first foal by an exciting stallion, and is from a developing pedigree." It was later revealed the purchase was made on behalf of Ling and Christophe Tsui, as was de Watrgant's winning bid of €400,000 for the Haras des Sablonnets-offered HIDDEN SILVER (Anabaa). Led in as Lot 176, the 11-year-old is the dam of the 2009 Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains victor Silver Frost (Verglas) and was offered with a Dubawi covering. Her yearling colt by Galileo realized a sale-high price when selling for €310,000 at this venue's October Yearling Sale. "She's an attractive mare by a good damsire (Anabaa) and, as the dam of a classic winner, she was an enticing proposition," de Watrigant said. The agent completed a trio of purchases for the Tsuis when landing Haras des Capucines Lot 194, the winning three-year-old SCARLET AND GOLD (Peintre Celebre), for €240,000. She is a half-sister to the 2009 Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club hero Le Havre (Noverre) and, like Jumooh and Hidden Silver, is ultimately bound for a covering by Sea the Stars. Hidden Silver's €400,000 tag matched the price achieved four lots earlier when Haras d'Etreham's Lot 172, MAY KIERSEY (Sadler's Wells), went the way of Shadai Farm, who denied Paul Makin after a tense struggle. The seven-year-old is a full sister to the dual Group 3 winner Gagnoa and a three-quarters sister to this year's Group 1 Epsom Derby hero Pour Moi (Montjeu). She sold with the added enticement of a covering to Fastnet Rock, who was responsible for four classic winners in Australia and New Zealand this year. Tetsuya Yoshida, accompanied by Patrick Barbe, struck again on behalf of Shadai Farm when going to €360,000 for the four-year-old classic winner EVADING TEMPETE (Dubai Destination). Consigned by Haras des Capucines as Lot 185, the globetrotting distaffer registered her career high in last term's Group 3 Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas) and will increase her air-mile tally with a one-way ticket to Japan. "May Kiersey and Evading Tempete are good-looking mares with nice pedigrees," Yoshida said. "They will ship to Japan, but a decision regarding which stallion they visit has yet to be made." Paul Fudge's Waratah Thoroughbreds made a mighty impression when shelling out €1.7 million for a Galileo filly at the August Yearling Sale here, and the spree continued at Tattersalls' Park Paddocks earlier this week. There was no let up on Saturday either, when Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's Lot 161, INSOUMISE (Galileo), was knocked down for €350,000. The bay sophomore is a half-sister to the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud victress Plumania (Anabaa) and the Group 2 Prix de Royallieu winner Balladeuse (Singspiel). "She's from a good family and is a half-sister to good horses," Fudge said. "She's a lovely looking sort who will suit our breeding program." Close-of-trade returns revealed a 5 percent increase on turnover, despite a downturn in clearance rate, and thus the average surged almost 19 percent to €74,044, a new sale record. The median leapt forward by a third to €40,000. Selling continues Sunday, and the catalog and full returns may be viewed at arqana.com.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
