Cover image courtesy of Arqana
Just short of a year ago the lightly raced (one start) but well-related mare Sarvana (Fr) (Dubai Destination {USA}) was making her way around the Arqana sales ring. She had a son showing a fair bit of talent and her owner Michel Monfort was happy when David Redvers, on behalf of Sheikh Fahad al Thani, won the bidding.
The price was €280,000 (AU$435,100), a nice profit for Monfort who noted at the time that Sarvana 'wasn't very expensive' when he purchased her off the track from the Aga Khan.
Plus, he'd already enjoyed success with the mare, racing her first foal, the filly Got Wind (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), to a win and a couple of Listed placings, then selling her second foal for €60,000 (AU$93,200) at the 2010 Arqana August Yearling Sale.
Sarvana (Fr) | Image courtesy of Arqana
It was that second foal who increased the value of his dam; at the time of Sarvana's day in the ring he was a Group 1-placed, Group 2 winner. But the best was still to come.
That talented bay on that famous first Tuesday in November raced away to a dominant G1 Melbourne Cup victory.
The horse is of course Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) and his success assures that the already popular Arqana December Breeding Sale will be keenly attended by Australian agents, trainers, breeders and owners.
Gold Trip (Fr), winner of the G1 Melbourne Cup | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“Gold Trip is an Arqana trifecta,” the company's Australian representative Damon Gabbedy said. “He was sold at Arqana as was his dam - twice.”
Tapping into blueblood families
Kicking off on Saturday, December 3 and running through to the following Tuesday, the sale sees 1036 well-related broodmares making their way through the ring with a number of those, like Sarvana, hailing from well-established Aga Khan families.
The likes of Sirana (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a mare whose dam and grandam are stakes winners and who hails from the family of the European Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Sinndar (Ire). Sirana will be offered as Lot 70.
Lot 70 - Sirana (Fr) | Image courtesy of Arqana
Or the three mares from the famous Z family who can count the unbeaten star mare Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar {USA}) amongst their relations - Zeleniya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) (Lot 111), Zaridiya (Ire) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) (Lot 440) and Zerkaza (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}) (Lot 217) whose son Zeyrek (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) won at Listed level at Randwick in March.
The European Horse of the Year Daylami (Ire) is another famed Aga Khan product whose family continues to thrive; represented in this sale by Daliza (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) (Lot 185) and Daniyka (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) (Lot 196), who has been served by Iffraaj (GB).
Another highlight of the sale is the Haras du Quesnay dispersal with 40 horses from their famous families on offer including Toride (Fr) (Fuisse {Fr}) (Lot 197), half-sister to Cartier Horse of the Year Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) and already dam of the stakes winner Lady Day (Fr) (Motivator {GB}).
Lot 197 - Toride (Fr) | Image courtesy of Arqana
Also bound to draw plenty of attention is a weanling half-sister to Treve from the final crop of Le Havre (Ire) whilst the family of another great mare in Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa {USA}) is also represented with Born Cross (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (Lot 796) being sold with an April service to Territories (Ire).
Members of the prolific Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) family are also members of the Haras du Quesnay draft including Theoricienne (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}) (Lot 951) and her weanling daughter (Lot 405) by Intello (Ger) - a half-sister to two stakes winners.
The recently retired Blackbeard (Ire), a son of No Nay Never (USA), has a number of relations up for grabs including Vista (Fr) (Mr Sidney {USA}) (Lot 961) served by Intello (Ger) and her weanling daughter by Attendu (Fr) (Lot 962) and Vinye (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) (Lot 963) served by Recoletos (Fr).
Touched by Gold
Goldikova's breeders, the Wertheimers, also have impressive offerings with Gabbedy noting 'they are always great to buy from.'
Highlights of their draft include Queenmania (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) (Lot 50) - whose dual Group 1-winning dam Safari Queen (Arg) (Lode {USA}) has produced two stakes winners including the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Queen's Jewel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) - Dosila (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) (Lot 78), half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Silasol (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and Dark Luck (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) (Lot 248) whose dam is Goldikova's Group 3-winning Redoute's Choice half-sister Gold Luck (Fr).
Damon Gabbedy, Australian representative for Arqana | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Her sire makes her particularly interesting for Australians, who will also be taking plenty of notice of Hometruths (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) (Lot 143) with both served to Southern Hemisphere time by the red-hot in-form Siyouni (Fr).
There is also Group 1 form at the sale including the Prix Vermeille winner Sweet Lady (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (Lot 188).
The abundance of choice has Gabbedy encouraging Australian buyers to take a close look at the daughters of such great stallions as Frankel (GB), Galileo (Ire), Dubawi (Ire), Siyouni, Invincible Spirit (Ire), Lope De Vega (Ire) and Kingman (GB).
“Obtaining mares of this quality is a great way to improve the Australian broodmare population,” he said.
