Nataf secures Deauville session-topper

As on the first day of Arqana's October Year Sale at Deauville, it was the

Niarchos Family's Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard who were responsible for session's

most prized yearling after their son of Danehill Dancer sold to Paul Nataf for a

sale-topping €315,000. Consigned as Hip No.

138, the half-brother to the stakes-winning Semarang (Hernando [Fr]) is out of a

close relative of the 1994 Cheveley Park S. (Eng-G1) winner Gay Gallanta

(Woodman), herself the dam of the top-class Godolphin runner Byron (Green

Desert).

"When I did my visits to the studs before this sale, he was by far the best,

and again looked very well today, so I was very keen to buy him," Nataf

explained. "He comes from a top farm, is well-bred and I have bought him for a

new client from Libya. He bought shares in horses at the August Sale here, but

the two I bought for him (Monday) and this one are just for him. They will stay

in France and be trained by Jean-Marie Beguigne.

"After all the problems in the world economy, it looks as if we are lucky

that the market is holding up well at Deauville. It could have been worse."

Shadwell resident Muhtathir (GB) is in demand at present, and the sire of

Mauralakana (Fr), Satwa Queen (Fr) and Doctor Dino (Fr) was responsible for the

session's second highest-priced yearling. Michael Zerolo's Oceanic Bloodstock

secured the highest-priced of those during the after-racing session when paying

€140,000 for Haras du Mezeray's Hip 254, a

half-brother to three stakes-placed runners out of a half to the Group 2-winning

stayer Stretarez (Saumarez [GB]) and Group 3 winner Street Shaana (Darshaan).

In what has quickly become customary fashion at these events, the day's

average and median figures took a downturn, with the average of

€25,545 falling by 24 percent and the median

of €16,000 down by 27 percent.

Selling concludes with a final session Wednesday morning. Full results can be

viewed at arqana.com.