By Bren O'Brien/TDN Europe
Images courtesy Zuzanna Lupa
Australian bloodstock agent John Foote was among those active on Day 1 of the Arqana October Yearling Sale at Deauville, while Arrowfield Stud's shuttler Shalaa (Ire) topped the list of freshman sires, including a top price for one of his fillies of €370,000 (AU$600,000).
Foote purchased four lots on the day, spending €375,000 (AU$610,000) on yearlings by Wootton Bassett (GB) and Le Havre (Ire) while Shalaa had five yearlings sell for an aggregate of €715,000 (AU$1.15 million) and an average of €143,000 (AU$230,000).
The progeny of Coolmore's rising star No Nay Never (USA), currently in his fourth season in Australia, was also popular with two colts and a filly sold for an average of €203,333 (AU$330,000).
The overall average on the day was a healthy €81,701 (AU$132,000), a jump of 21.7 per cent on Day 1 last year, while the median was €60,000 (AU$97,000), up from €52,000 (AU$85,000). The aggregate was €8,742,000 (AU$1.42 million), down on last year due to fewer lots offered, while the clearance rate of 73.28 per cent was slightly down on last year.
John Foote (right) purchased two colts by Le Havre (Ire)
Foote bought two colts by Le Havre, the first being Haras du Mezeray’s half-brother to Group 1 winner and young Haras de Bouquetot stallion Mekhtaal (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (Lot 44), while the second was no less well-related, being from Ecurie des Monceaux’s high-achieving family of Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Foote will be hoping for a Group 1 update for Lot 152 from a bit closer to home on Saturday as Magic Wand is one of the starters in the G1 Cox Plate.
Also on Foote's list were a colt and a filly by Wootton Bassett. Lot 74, the filly out of Diavola (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) was bought for €130,000 (AU$210,000) from Haras d’Etreham and hails from a family which includes Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and his assortment of talented siblings. The colt, Lot 149, was consigned by Haras des Granges and is a half-brother to G2 Prix du Muguet winner Don Bosco (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}).
Lot 74 - Wootton Bassett (GB) x Diavola (GB) (filly) purchased by John Foote
The top priced Shalaa yearling went to Kerri Radcliffe, who secured the half-sister to Group 2-placed Neverland Rock (GB) (No Nay Never {USA}) bidding €370,000 (AU$600,000) for Lot 104, which was consigned by Haras de Castillon.
“I’ve bought her for an American syndicate,” Radcliffe confirmed. “I previously bought her brother at the August Sale and he was stakes-placed at Saratoga this year. She’s a queen, she was the best filly here and she’ll probably stay in France, but we don’t know who will train her.”
The filly was the most expensive of the session and is the third foal of her dam Jessica Rocks (GB) (Fastnet Rock), who is a half-sister to young Tweenhills stallion Havana Gold (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and out of the dual Group 3 winner Jessica’s Dream (Ire) (Desert Style {Ire}).
Shalaa (Ire) x Jessica Rocks (GB) (filly)
Coolmore made its presence felt in a buying role when Arthur Hoyeau went to €300,000 (AU$490,000) for Lot 62, a son of No Nay Never (USA) on behalf of MV Magnier. The colt's dam is Chasing Ice (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), who is out of a winning half-sister to Prix du Jockey Club winner Blue Canari (Fr) (Acatenango {Ger}).
“He’s a quality colt who walks very well and is by a stallion that really improves his stock,” Hoyeau said. “He’s been bought for MV Magnier and will go into training with Aidan O’Brien, who really likes the [stallion]. The whole team really likes No Nay Never—he produces proper racehorses.”
No Nay Never also had a colt, Lot 107, sell for €190,000 (AU$310,000) to Anthony Stroud on behalf of an undisclosed client, and a filly, Lot 11, sell for €120,000 (AU$195,000) to Mandore International.
Other higher-priced lots with an Australasian flavour to sell on the day included Lot 32, a colt by Elvstroem, who sold for €100,000 (AU$160,000), Lot 148, a Fastnet Rock colt who sold for €110,000 (AU$180,000) and Lot 116, a Territories (Ire) colt that went for €100,000 (AU$160,000), There were also yearlings sell by Exceed And Excel, Toronado (Ire), Sidestep, Iffraaj (GB) and Reliable Man (GB).
The second session of the Arqana October Sale begins at 3pm local time on Wednesday.
