‘They’re better prospects, better athletes…’ Wilson bullish as Aussies busy at Arqana

Cover image courtesy of Zuzanna Lupa

Day 1 of the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale saw a number of lucrative prospects go through the ring, with buyers from across the globe fronting up to try and secure the next star performer, as either a runner or producer. Australian buyers were happy to open their wallets, with strong representation across the day.

With millions of euros being transacted, plenty of world-class stock found new homes, with local buyers ensuring they got a slice of some of the better offerings.

Oaks hopes for Extrordinaire

One of the most intriguing racing prospects picked up by Australian interests was Extraordinaire (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), who was knocked down to First Light Racing for €200,000 (AU$326,400).

An impressive 2-year-old winner over 1600 metres at Sandown in the United Kingdom, the Brian-Joseph Meehan-trained filly was last seen running fourth in the G3 Prix Des Reservoirs, held at Deauville in France. With just the five race starts to date, she looks to have a bright future ahead of her as a racing and breeding prospect.

Director of First Light Racing, Tim Wilson, has lofty goals for the syndicator's latest acquisition.

“We came out here 12 months ago and had great success with a mare called Osmose, who ran second in a Group 2 Matriach (S.) on the last day of the (Melbourne Cup) Carnival,” Wilson told The Thoroughbred Report from France.

“She (Extraordinaire) actually profiles up really similarly to Osmose, so we saw both of them with a wealth of upside and this filly is 12 months younger, so it probably makes it more compelling in that regard.

“She just looks an 1800-metre, 2000-metre 3-year-old prospect in the making, and what we’ve got in Australia is three Group 1 Oaks for fillies in about an eight week period from late April to early June. That’d be the dream with her, to progress to one of those races, I feel the Queensland carnival, with the 1800-metre (Listed) Bracelet, into (G2) The Roses into the (G1 Queensland) Oaks is just perfect with her.

“She’ll be through quarantine nice and quick and ready for the autumn, we feel we have an amazing program for her and owners once she gets to Australia, and that’s only the first six months of her being there. I think she’ll keep getting better.”

Wilson believes he found himself somewhat of a bargain with the price paid, saying, “We thought she might make a couple of bids more, the prizemoney in Australia is just phenomenal, and these European stayers, they’re better prospects, better athletes, we see them dominate the older races so to be able to secure one that’s young enough to capitalise on 3-year-old racing is really awesome.

“We thought we’d have to pay good money for her with the wealth of opportunity in Australia, and she’s already got Group 1 and Group 3 formlines, so I thought she was cheap.”

Her sire, Intello (Ger), a son of the legendary Galileo (Ire), has enjoyed success from a limited sample size in Australia, with eight winners from 10 runners, including the G3 Manion Cup winner Young Rascal (Fr), who was a travelling companion for the fearsome gelding Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) in 2020.

Out of unraced Intense Focus (USA) mare Eiriamach Na Casca (Ire), who is a half-sister to G1 Irish Derby winner Trading Leather (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Extraordinaire boasts a strong staying pedigree, one that makes targets like an Oaks campaign seem a practical proposition for her when she arrives in Australia.

Munz adds trio of quality

Another of Intello’s progeny looks set to call Australia home, with Jonathan Munz securing Sparklia (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and her impending foal to the German stallion one of three secured for the leviathan owner by bloodstock agent Dean Hawthorne.

The glistening grey, who won two races in France up to 1500 metres, fetched €155,000 (AU$253,000) as Lot 148. She is out of the G3 Chantilly Prix de Bois winner Gwenseb (Fr) (Green Tune {USA}), who also produced Foreign Tune (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), dam of G1 Monmouth United Nations S. winner Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}), amongst eight winning foals.

Munz and Hawthorne weren’t yet done, securing French Bob (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for €675,000 (AU$1,101,500) and Mise En Scene (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) for €800,000 (AU$1,305,500).

Gallery: Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) and Badgers Bloodstock were active buyers at the 2023 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale, images courtesy of Zuzanna Lupa

French Bob boasts an enviable page, by the super stallion Galileo out of the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) winner Beauty Parlour (GB) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Freshly retired, having last raced in August, she is a half-sister to G1 Keeneland First Lady S. winner Blowout (GB) (Dansili {GB}), and is from the same family as star performers Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and Mosheen (Fastnet Rock). The latter herself recently produced the ultra-talented 2-year-old Danon Ayres Rock (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), who sold for ¥495,000,000 (AU$5,190,600) at the 2022 JRHA Select Sale.

The second most expensive purchase by Australian interests, and seventh overall, Mise En Scene claimed the G3 Goodwood Prestige S. as a competitor, one of 74 stakes winners for Siyouni (Fr). Out of unraced Galileo daughter Gadfly (GB), who is a half-sister to the G1 One Thousand Guineas winner Speciosa (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Mise En Scene also hails from the family of the French Champion 2-Year-Old Filly of 2021, Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

Blueblood mare knocked down after bidding frenzy

By far the most expensive purchase of the day was Place Du Carrousel (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who attracted a price-tag of €4,025,000 (AU$6,568,100) when going through the ring as Lot 184.

The Irish-bred mare, who was trained by André Fabre to win the G1 Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp over 2000 metres, last raced in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October, where she finished midfield. Prior to that, she had collected successive wins at Group-level, greeting the judge first in the G2 Prix Foy and the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron.

She is out of Duke Of Marmalade (USA) mare Traffic Jam (Ire), who was the victress of the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris when in racing. The family had plenty of versatility, boasting talented 2-year-old Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who took out the G1 National S. at the Curragh by 5l in September, along with the likes of the 2016 Europe Horse of the Year Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G1 Breeders’ Cup Fillies and Mares Turf winner Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

With so many enviable qualities, bidding activity was frenetic, with interest from Northern Farm in Japan and the powerful Coolmore operation, with Australian interests Portofino Bloodstock coming out on top.

Elsewhere, the Lucky Vega Syndicate scooped up two well-bred mares, taking Taleya (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) for €62,000 (AU$102,000) and Drawn To Run (Ire) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) for €290,000 (AU$473,200).

The former is out of the G3 Prix Fillie de l’Air winner Taniya (Fr) (High Chaparral {Ire}), while the latter is currently in foal to Siyouni, and has already produced a Group 1 winner in the form of Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}).

Also gaining significant interest was Pennine Hills (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who is currently in foal to Justify (USA), her purchase price being €760,000 (AU$1,240,200) to Pessac Equine, while Salicorne (USA) (Aragorn {Ire}) was knocked down for €250,000 (AU$408,000) to Fairbank. She is currently in foal to Donjuan Triumphant (Ire), and is related to the G1 Yushun Himba winner Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who recently placed third behind Equinox (Jpn) in the G1 Japan Cup.

Strong suite of Australian purchases

Throughout Day 1, Australian interests were busy securing lots, some requiring a willingness to spend big to acquire their desired prospects.

Mesika (USA) (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), who is currently in foal to Sea The Moon (Ger) was knocked down to Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) and Aristia Park for €140,000 (AU$228,500), the mare having produced the aforementioned Osmose (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}).

Lot 109, Winning Side (Fr), a daughter of Fastnet Rock, fetched €80,000 (AU$130,500) for Belmont Bloodstock/Sambor/Wells/McCarthy, herself a half-sister to Dame Du Roi (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), won won the G3 Prix Miesque when racing.

Three lots earlier, Shirin (USA) (War Front {USA}) attracted €60,000 (AU$98,000) from Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA), while Sun Flare (GB), a winning daughter of Exceed And Excel commanded a purchase price of €135,000 (AU$220,000) to William Johnson Bloodstock.

Salasuud (Ire) (Territories {Ire}), who was victorious at Listed level when racing, attracted a sale price of €65,000 (AU$106,000) from Catheryne Bruggeman and Paul Moroney, who also scooped up Ad Astra (Ger), a daughter of the late Protectionist (Ger) for €80,000 (AU$130,500).

Siyouni (Fr) has three more Australian-involved daughters, with Louis Le Metayer’s Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) going to €380,000 (AU$620,000) to lay claim to the winning bid on Sivka Burka (Fr), while McKeever Bloodstock purchased Edala (Fr) for €55,000 (AU$90,000) one lot later. Later in the day, Levante Breeze (Fr) was knocked down to Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) at a cost of €160,000 (AU$261,000).

The well-bred Art Mithique (Ire) (Australia {Ire}), who is out of the G1 Prix de Dianbe winner Aquarelliste (Fr) (Danehill {USA}) was snapped up by Badgers Bloodstock at a cost of €300,000 (AU$489,500).

Raced by Godolphin to a victory as a 2-year-old, La Sapienza (Shamardal {Ire}) attracted €60,000 (AU$98,000) from Peter Maher, rounding out a busy day for Australian operatives at the sale.

Demand for Darley shuttler

He may have yet to have a runner grace a racecourse, but Pinatubo (Ire) is certainly commanding attention from breeders, with three foals and one mare in foal to him drawing interest on the first day of the sale.

Chief among the quartet was a foal out of Australia (Ire) mare Golden Darling (Ire), who fetched €300,000 (AU$489,500). She will be joined as the dam of a Pinatubo foal by her half-sister Golden Gazelle (Ire) by Galileo, who sold in foal for €120,000 (AU$196,000). Their dam, Grey Lilas (Ire) (Danehill {USA}), was the winner of the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, and produced three-time Group 1 winner Golden Lilac (Ire) (Galileo) and Group 3 victor Grey Lion (Ire) (Galileo), both of whom are full siblings to Golden Gazelle.

Pinatubo commands a 2023 fee of $55,000 (inc GST) at Darley Australia, with his first two Southern Hemisphere seasons achieving full bookings.

Median sale price increases amidst overall downturn

With a global correction in sales markets, Day 1 also faced some decreases across key metrics in comparison to 2022, but an increase in the median sale price from €115,000 (AU$187,700) to €120,000 (AU$196,000) bucked the trend.

Overall turnover dropped 20 per cent to €36,467,000 (AU$59,507,500), while clearance numbers decreased from 78 per cent to 71 per cent. The average sale price also trended down, settling at €227,919 (AU$371,900), a drop of seven per cent when compared to the corresponding day in 2022.