Deauville ends on a high note

Arqana's Deauville October Yearling Sale concluded on a high note Wednesday,

with the final session proving much the strongest of the three days, resulting

in huge increases across the board.

Pia Brandt was responsible for the sale topper when paying a record 200,000

for Hip 338, a colt by Poliglote (GB) out of the listed scorer Nouvelle Reine (Konigsstuhl)

offered by Haras de la Reboursiere et de Montaigu. Poliglote is responsible for

this year's Grand Prix de Deauville (Fr-G2) winner, Irish Wells (Fr), and this

colt is from the immediate family of 2004 Premio Dormello (Fr-G3) winner

Nouvelle Noblesse (Singspiel [Ire]), as well as being a half to listed scorers

Nouvelle Fortune (Alzao) and Nobilissima (Bluebird).

The Scandinavian-born trainer, who is based in Chantilly, purchased the colt

on behalf of owner Hans Troedsson, who is also the driving force behind the

British-based trainer Roy Kvisla.

The session opened with a bang when Haras de Fresnay le Buffard's colt by

Hernando (Fr) equaled the previous day's top price of 135,000. Bloodstock agent

Paul Nataf took away Hip 321, a son of listed winner Moon is Up (Woodman),

herself a daughter of the great Miesque and therefore a half-sibling to

Kingmambo and East of the Moon.

Nicolas Clement has had a profitable year thanks to the exploits of his Prix

Jean Prat (Fr-G1) winner, Stormy River (Verglas [Ire]), and he went to 100,000

to purchase a colt bred on the same lines. Hip 382 is by that stable star's sire

Verglas (Ire) out of the second dam of Stormy River consigned by Haras de la

Haie Neuve.

In total, the rousing final session meant that the overall gross of 8,635,500

surpassed the equivalent 12 months ago by more than 2.5 million, with the

average of 21,481 up by more than 27 percent and median of 16,000 up 23 percent

on last year.

"The Deauville October yearling sale has now advanced in each of the last

five years, which is a reflection of the growing quality of commercial breeding

in France," said Olivier Delloye, managing director of Arqana. "Several

top-class international performers have come out of this sale, including horses

like Gorella, Stormy River and Linda's Lad this year and have been sold at every

range of price. In recent years, the sale has also regularly produced top

juveniles."

Full results are available on www.deauville-sales.com.