At A Glance
Bloodstock agent Niall O'Connor purchased fillies by Le Havre (Ire) and Camelot (GB) in partnership with McEvoy Mitchell.
John Foote purchased a filly by Le Havre (GB) and a colt by Mastercraftsman (Ire), the latter in partnership with Roll The Dice.
Danny O'Brien secured a colt by Tamayuz (GB) in partnership with his European agent Jeremy Brummitt.
The top-priced colt, by Camelot (GB), the half to ATC St Leger winner Big Blue (GB), sold to Nicolas de Watrigant on behalf of M.V. Magnier.
Coolmore's Wootton Bassett (GB) had three of the top five lots.
Turnover from 180 horses sold reached €16,017,000 (AU$25.1 million).
The average of €88,983 (AU$139,000) was up 53 per cent on last year and also up over 10 per cent on 2019.
The median of €65,000 (AU$102,000) was up from €60,000 (AU$94,000) in 2019 and €43,000 (AU$67,000) 12 months ago.
The clearance rate was a very healthy 82.5 per cent.
O'Connor secures duo for McEvoy Mitchell
Niall O'Connor, who graduated from the Godolphin Flying Start course last year, got his career as a bloodstock agent off on a promising footing with the purchase of two yearlings for the Australian training partnership of Tony and Calvin McEvoy.
Niall O'Connor | Image courtesy of Emma Berry TDN Europe
His second signing of the day at €185,000 (AU$290,000) was for Lot 91, a daughter of Camelot (GB), who has enjoyed notable success in Australia through Group 1 winners Russian Camelot (Ire) and the ill-fated Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet (Ire).
Consigned by Anna Sundstrom's Coulonces operation, she is the first foal of 3-year-old winner Pink Paint (Fr) (Redoute's Choice) from the Wildenstein family of Arc winner Peintre Celebre (USA).
The agent had also struck early for Lot 12, going to €105,000 (AU$164,000) for a daughter of Le Havre (Ire) and another first foal, this time out of the winning Rajsaman (Fr) mare Gouville (Fr). The further family includes a name familiar to Australian racing fans in Contributer (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), a dual Group 1 winner in the country for John O'Shea and Godolphin.
Gallery: A few of the yearlings purchased by Niall O'Connor on behalf of McEvoy Mitchell Racing at the Arqana Sale
“This was a team effort between Tony and Calvin McEvoy and their regular agent Damon Gabbedy, who unfortunately couldn't be here because of the travel restrictions,” said O'Connor, who has previously worked at both Keeneland and Magic Millions.
“This was a team effort between Tony and Calvin McEvoy and their regular agent Damon Gabbedy, who unfortunately couldn't be here because of the travel restrictions." - Niall O'Connor
He has also completed stints with agents Dermot Farrington and Jeremy Brummitt, with the latter charged with buying yearlings for Quantum Leap Racing, which is run by O'Connor's father, Eamonn.
He added, “While on the Flying Start I had a work placement with McEvoy Mitchell Racing at Flemington and they expressed an interest then in getting involved in Europe. Hopefully these two fillies can prove their worth on the track.
“The market has been so strong for colts this year. We looked last week at Tattersalls and came on here in the hope of finding a bit of value. The Camelot filly was one of the nicest of the Sale and we're lucky to have her.”
Foote in for two
Australian agent John Foote, who has sourced successfully out of this Sale before with horses such as the Gerry Ryan-owned Group 3 winner Normandy Bridge (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), worked with Arthur Hoyeau to secure two yearlings on Day 1.
The first, Lot 142, was a filly by the same sire, Le Havre (Ire), out of Group 2-wnning Danehill Dancer (Ire) mare Tamazirte (Ire), which cost €100,000 (AU$157,000) from the consignment of Ecurie d'Auge.
Gallery: A few of John Foote's purchases at the Arqana Sale
She is a half-sister to stakes winners Into The Mystic (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Chachnak (Fr) (Kingman {GB}).
Foote's other purchase came in partnership with Hoyeau and Australian syndicators Roll The Dice Racing. They spent €65,000 (AU$102,000) on Lot 183, a colt by Mastercraftsman (Ire). Already named A Blue Star (Ger), he is a brother to Chad Brown's multiple Grade 1 winner A Raving Beauty (Ger).
O'Brien, Brummitt back involved
Agent Jeremy Brummitt and trainer Danny O'Brien were busy buying at Tattersalls last week and took their custom to the continent, buying Lot 97, a colt by Tamayuz (GB) offered by Coulonces for €87,000 (AU$136,000).
Lot 97 - Tamayuz (GB) x Quenching (Ire) (colt) purchased by Jeremy Brummitt and Danny O'Brien | Image courtesy of Arqana
The colt is a half-brother to Listed winner Quiet Times (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) and a grandson to multiple stakes winner and Group 1 placegetter Sundrop (Jpn) (Sunday Silence {USA}). It is the extended family of G1 New Zealand Oaks winner More Than Sacred (More Than Ready {USA}).
Magnier strikes late for Camelot colt
Nicolas de Watrigant of Mandore International Agency struck late in the session to secure the top priced lot of the day, Lot 209, on behalf of M.V. Magnier for €440,000 (AU$689,000)
Consigned by the leading vendor Ecurie des Monceaux, the Camelot colt is a half-brother to the Listed Prix Michel Houyvet winner Big Blue (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who has raced with success in Australia for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace both on the flat and over jumps.
Lot 209 - Camelot (GB) x Board Meeting (Ire) (colt) purchased by M.V. Magnier | Image courtesy of Arqana
Big Blue won the ATC St Leger in 2018 and the feature Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool in 2019, before heading to England to compete in the Cheltenham festival. Hs most recent win came in a steeplechase at Pakenham in July.
Their dam, Board Meeting (Ire) (Anabaa {Ire}), is a Group winning half-sister to Group 1 winner Bright Sky (Ire) (Wolfhound {USA}).
Wootton Bassett in demand
For much of the day colts by Siyouni (Fr) and Wootton Bassett (GB) had shared top billing, with each being sold for €420,000 (AU$657,000), to Coolmore and Anthony Stroud, respectively.
Wootton Bassett may no longer stand in France but his burgeoning reputation ensured that he played a significant role during the first session at Arqana. Anthony Stroud and Matt Coleman signed for four of his yearlings, including the day's co-second-top lot (Lot 49).
Lot 49 - Wootton Bassett (GB) x Lucerne (GB) (colt) purchased by Anthony Stroud and Matt Coleman | Image courtesy of Arqana
Though that colt out of the Frankel (GB) half-sister to Charm Spirit (Ire), bought for €420,000 (AU$657,000) from Ecurie des Monceaux, was for an undisclosed client, two of the quartet were bought for Alison Swinburn, who has enjoyed noted success with the stallion through Audarya (Fr).
After signing for Lot 14, a daughter of the Group 3-placed Harem Lady (Fr) (Teofilo {Ire}) at €210,000 (AU$329,000) from Haras d'Etreham, Stroud said, “She's been bought for the same connections as Audarya and will go into training with James Fanshawe. She's a lovely, athletic filly.”
“She's (Lot 14) been bought for the same connections as Audarya and will go into training with James Fanshawe. She's a lovely, athletic filly.” - Anthony Stroud
That purchase was backed up a little later by the acquisition of Lot 45 from La Motteraye Consignment. Knocked down at €270,000 (AU$423,000), the colt is the first foal of the dual winner Lolldaiga (Ire), who is also by Teofilo (Ire) and is a granddaughter of the G3 Prix de Flore winner Louve (USA) (Irish River {Fr}).
Gallery: A few of the yearlings purchased by Anthony Stroud and Matt Coleman at the Arqana Sale
Stroud Coleman also signed for Lot 153, Haras de la Louivere's May-born colt out of the unraced Tubereuse (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), a sister to the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Lesstalk In Paris (Fr), for €310,000 (AU$485,000).
With 14 yearlings sold during the first session, Wootton Bassett, who is standing his first season in Australian in 2021, has an average for the Sale of €200,857 (AU$314,000).
Peter Brant of White Birch Farm went to €350,000 (AU$548,000) for a filly by young Coolmore stallion Churchill (Ire). Michel Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock did the bidding on his behalf for Lot 119, the half-sister to G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Shakeel (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), who was bred and sold by Haras de Montaigu.
Lot 119 - Churchill (Ire) x Shamiyra (Fr) (filly) purchased by Peter Brant | Image courtesy of Arqana
“She'll be trained here in Deauville by Jean-Claude Rouget,” said the agent.
Al Shaqab and Etreham partner up
Al Shaqab Racing were also among the buyers of Wootton Bassett's stock, with the team going to €220,000 (AU$344,000) to secure Lot 80 through Nicolas de Watrigant. Another from the Monceaux draft, the filly is a daughter of the South African Grade 3 winner and Grade 1 runner-up Olma (SAF) (Dynasty {SAF}), herself a granddaughter of the G1 Fillies' Mile victrix Teggiano (Ire) (Mujtahid {USA}).
Lot 80 - Wotton Bassett (GB) x Olma (SAF) (filly) purchased by Al Shaqab Racing | Image courtesy of Arqana
Al Shaqab's purchases on Monday also included a Sea The Stars (Ire) colt bred on the same Kingmambo (USA) cross as Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II winner Baaeed (GB), as well as the Al Shaqab stallion Zelzal (Ire), another Group 1-winning miler by the Aga Khan Studs stallion.
After going to €320,000 (AU$501,000) for the brother to Listed winner Sivoliere (Fr) (Lot 117) from the Etreham draft, Al Shaqab's Paul Hensey said, “He was our pick of the catalogue today. Obviously Sea The Stars is going from strength to strength and he's bred on the same cross as Zelzal, which was of interest to us. He will be trained by Stephane Wattel.”
Lot 117 - Sea The Stars (Ire) x Sefroua (USA) (colt) purchased by Al Shaqab Racing | Image courtesy of Arqana
"He (Lot 117) was our pick of the catalogue today. Obviously Sea The Stars is going from strength to strength and he's bred on the same cross as Zelzal, which was of interest to us." - Paul Hensey
Al Shaqab also formed a partnership with Etreham to buy the Haras de Fresneaux-bred colt by current Cambridge Stud resident Almanzor (Fr), whose dam Rapid Transaction (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}) is a granddaughter of the GI Kentucky Oaks winner and stellar producer Blush With Pride (USA) (Blushing Groom {USA}). Offered as Lot 98 through Haras des Capucines, the half-brother to black-type earners Fastidious (Fr) and Central Park West (Fr) was bought for €180,000 (AU$282,000).
Lot 98 - Almanzor (Fr) x Rapid Transaction (USA) (colt) purchased by Al Shaqab Racing | Image courtesy of Arqana
In other notable results for stallions currently standing in Australia, Zoustar had a filly, Lot 206, sell to Al Shaqab Racing for €145,000 (AU$227,000), while Darley's Territories (Ire) had a filly, Lot 102, sell for €110,000 (AU$172,000) and Arrowfield Stud's Shalaa (Ire) a colt, Lot 155, sell for €100,000 (AU$157,000).
Selling recommences at Arqana at 2pm local time on Tuesday.
