Jambu in demand at Deauville

Arqana's December Sale continued Sunday with a filly from Haras de

Fresnay-le-Buffard named JAMBU (Ocean of Wisdom) topping proceedings, and the

sale so far, at 750,000. Midway through the second session at Deauville, Hip No.

338 sparked considerable interest as a half-sister to four stakes winners, most

notably the 1994 Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) heroine Aube Indienne (Fr) (Bluebird) and

2001 Prix Vanteaux (Fr-G3) winner Mare Nostrum (GB) (Caerleon).

She is also a half to the dams of the smart Sensible and 2006 Gladness S.

(Ire-G3) scorer Common World and has both Flying Spur and Encosta de Lago in her

extended family.

Jambu was purchased by Bertrand le Metayer Bloodstock for the Australian

breeder Roger Langley, who later revealed that she would be headed to his

Poternick Farm.

"This purchase will upgrade my broodmare band and it is a very commercial

page," he said. "The strength on the dam's side is unbelievable, and the fact

that Flying Spur and Encosta de Lago are on the same page is a factor."

Later on, it was a mare from His Highness the Aga Khan's prized draft which

proved the main draw, but the mare wound up being bought back. Hip 444 is the

six-year-old DALATAYA (Sadler's Wells), a half-sister to Daylami (Ire) (Doyoun)

and Dalakhani (Darshaan) in foal to Cape Cross (Ire). Charlie Gordon-Watson saw

off Horse France's Robert Nataf as the bidding rose to the million mark, but

refused to go beyond 1.1 million, so she will rejoin the Aga Khan's formidable

ranks.

"She is a very special mare for us and we were expecting a bit more than

that," Stud Manager Georges Rimaud commented. "She is truly outstanding."

Just five lots earlier, another from that consignment found a new home after

Nataf secured the 13-year-old mare CLODORA (Linamix) for Coolmore. The dam of

the 2003 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1) winner

and sire Clodovil and this year's listed-placed filly Clodovina is carrying a

foal by Azamour (Ire) and was knocked down to the Horse France supremo for

380,000.

"She is from a very good family and the dam has already produced Clodovil,

who is off to a good start as a stallion -- she is also in foal to Azamour, who

is an interesting sire himself," he said, before revealing that she will be one

of the first bred to Dylan Thomas (Ire) in 2008.

Azamour is also the covering stallion for Hip 382, another proven broodmare

from the Aga Khan's legions. VADSA HONOR (Highest Honor [Fr]) is now almost 15,

but she still holds considerable sway as the dam of the promoted 2001 Poule

d'Essai des Poulains and Prix Jacques le Marois (Fr-G1) winner Vahorimix, as

well as the listed winner and group-placed Kiddy Sing ex Vadalix. Bruno Ridoux

of Pegasus Farms outlasted his competition at 300,000 to secure the mare, whose

immediate family includes Val Royal (Fr) and Valixir (Ire).

Paul Nataf paid 260,000 for Haras de Bernesq's Hip 341, the four-year-old

filly MAID MARION (Jade Robbery) in foal to Oratorio (Ire). Both her dam Saxon

Maid (Sadler's Wells) and granddam Britannia's Rule (Blakeney) are stakes

winners, while she is a half to the dam of the 2005 Criterium de Saint-Cloud

(Fr-G1)runner-up Fauvelia.

Of the foals, the French Bloodstock Agency came out on top when securing Hip

325, a daughter of Darley's new-blood Shamardal also from the Bernesq draft. The

half-sister to the 2005 Prix d'Aumale (Fr-G3) scorer Sirene Doloise (Marchand de

Sable) was knocked down to Jean-Pierre Deroubaix's organization for 130,000.

Despite another impact on the clearance rate, which dipped below 70 percent

for the second session, the average of 37,751 showed a healthy increase of 41

percent on its 2006 equivalent, while the median of 20,000 was up by a third.

Overall, the average is up by 11 per cent on last year.

President Eric Hoyeau was taking positive signals from the trends.

"The first part of this year's Deauville Breeding Stock sale has confirmed

the significant advances made in 2006 as the aggregate is very close to last

year's record," he said. "The market has been selective, as it was in England

and Ireland, with more horses sold in the upper levels -- over the two days

there were 17 horses sold for 200,000 or more compared with 10 in 2006 -- but

with a lower percentage of those offered selling. It is satisfying to see the

range of buyers present and active with purchasers from all over Europe,

Australia, New Zealand and Brazil."

Selling continues Monday. Full results can be found on www.arqana.com.