Dubawi Colt Steals The Show At Arqana

DEAUVILLE, France–Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited continued its eye-catching spending spree by securing the regally bred Dubawi (Ire) colt out of G1 Falmouth S. winner Giofra (GB) (Dansili {GB}) for a sale-topping €1.55-million at Arqana on Sunday evening.

Agent Kerri Radcliffe, standing with her husband Jeremy Noseda and the operation's retained jockey Gerald Mosse, held her nerve against some stiff competition from Shadwell's Angus Gold to ensure that Haras de la Perelle's stunning colt (lot 160) would be joining the string of the investors that have kept her busy at sales across Europe and America in the last year.

“I thought he was the nicest colt in the sale, by Dubawi out of a Group 1 winner. He's going to be trained by Andre Fabre,” she said just after her purchase had left the ring to a round of applause.

The colt is the second foal of Giofra, who is herself a daughter of the Group 3 winner Gracefully (Fr) (Orpen). Her first, a filly by Frankel (GB) named Georgine (Fr), is as-yet unraced but is in training in France with Alain de Royer Dupre.

The clearance rate through the second session was down on the previous evening's strong trade, and with 55 of the 78 yearlings offered being sold–nine fewer than in the same session last year–figures across the sectors were down on a day-by-day comparison. The average of €217,800 represented an 11.5% reduction, while the median was down 15% to €160,000 from €190,000. Total turnover for the session settled at €11,979,000, down by 25% on last year.

When taking the two select sessions together, however, the aggregate remained pretty much at the same level as that of 2016 at €29,281,000 (-3%), while the average was up by 12% at €240,008. The clearance rate took a five-point hit at 75%.

Sister Spreads Her Wings…

An exotic partnership picked up one of the most talked-about entrants at the sale, lot 101, who is a half-sister to this year's Derby winner Wings Of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}). The grey filly, from the first crop of Kingman (GB), was claimed by David Redvers and Ghislain Bozo from the restaurant behind the auctioneer for €750,000.

Her dam Ysoldina (Fr) (Kendor {Fr}) has also produced two Oasis Dream (GB) winning sisters for Alain de Royer Dupre in France, Torentosa (Fr) and Gyrella (Fr).

“She has been bought for a new syndicate by Qatar Racing and Meridian International, and Ghislain Bozo is putting together a syndicate of new Chinese clients,” said Redvers. “They bought a couple at the breeze-ups and hopefully they are going to be long-term players in the industry, both racing and breeding. You don't get an opportunity to buy a half-sister to the year's Derby winner very often. No decision has been made about trainers or what country she will go to. I imagine she will first go back to Longholes to be broken in.”

While bringing a good return for her breeders Gilles and Aliette Forien, the filly's sale also brought tears for their daughter Sybille Gibson, who runs the Haras de Montaigu draft and Marine Chatel, who has looked after the well-bred filly since birth.

“We're very happy that she's been bought by really good owners who will send her to a good trainer in Europe,” Gibson said. “She's a wonderful character and it's hard to see her go. It's especially hard for Marine–she has done everything with her since she was a foal and helped her to become the filly she is today. She doesn't want to let her go but she's very proud of her.”

Later in the session, Montaigu had another good result when Juddmonte's Lord Grimthorpe went to €320,000 to buy an Invincible Spirit (Ire) filly out of the unraced Galileo (Ire) mare Galileo Always (Ire) (lot 158). One of the main reasons for the purchase could be found in the lower half of the page: the filly's fourth dam in the extraordinary Allegretta (Ger), ancestress of Urban Sea (Miswaki) and her illustrious brood, as well as Allez Les Trois and King's Best.

“We like the sire and we've had some luck with him,” explained Lord Grimthorpe. “And this is one of the really great broodmare families that is not in the Juddmonte broodmare band.”

The operation's racing manager also professed to be thrilled with the reception given the first yearlings of Kingman (GB), who is also by Invincible Spirit. After two days of the sale, he has had seven sold for an average of €324,286.

“They've been very solid and seem to look racy,” he said.

Classy Pair For Shadwell…

Shadwell, out of luck as underbidder on the top lot, had at least already secured a popular Lope de Vega filly for €380,000 in lot 156. She was the second foal of the well-related Foreign Legionary (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), from the family of Alexander Goldrun (Ire).

“She's out of a Galileo mare and everybody liked her–she had a good mind,” said Shadwell's Angus Gold.

The agent then made a late swoop just before the session closed to pick up lot 171. The Invincible Spirit (Ire) colt is a full-brother to High Celebrity (Fr), who was third for Andre Fabre in the G1 Cheveley Park S., and was sold for €420,000.

“Sheikh Hamdan loved him–he said he was the nicest horse he saw,” reported Gold. “We've had some luck with Invincible Spirit, who is obviously a world-class sire, and he's from a good female family.”

There are no firm plans for the colt just yet. “Sheikh Hamdan will want to take them all back to England then think about where they are all going to be sent,” Gold added.

Japanese Investment Continues…

Koichiro Yamaguchi was undeterred from defeat on Saturday in his hunt for high-class stock. The Japanese owner has around 20 horses and will take lot 136 back home. The Dubawi (Ire) colt from Newsells Park Stud caught Yamaguchi's eye and he went to €400,000 to secure him. He is the first foal of Daksha (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}), a useful performer in France and Germany who is from the family of Coronation S. winner Golden Opinion (Slew O'Gold).

“I came looking for Dubawis and Frankels and I lost the Frankel-lot 66,” Yamaguchi admitted. “I like Dubawi's speed and hopefully he will be a very good horse.”

A Yes For No Nay Never…

After landing several Galileo yearlings on Saturday, the combination of Mayfair Speculators and Coolmore went in for a different stallion as Peter Doyle signed for a son of Coolmore's freshman No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) for €400,000. He was lot 126, consigned by Camas Park & Glenvale Studs, out of G3 Prix de Psyche winner Chiaba (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). The best of her foals to date has been the evergreen French-trained Primus Incitatus (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).

“We were underbidder on the [No Nay Never colt] that sold yesterday–we love the stallion and think that he's going to be really good,” said Doyle. “He's a racy type and we'll have to make our minds up where he's going to go.”

The Coolmore stallion has had four yearlings sold in the last 48 hours for an average of €268,750.

Great Start For New Syndicate…

A new French-based pinhooking syndicate enjoyed some decent results from their first batch of yearlings to sell, headed by a son of Scat Daddy (lot 153), bought from Keeneland for $150,000 and resold here through Hubert Honore's Haras d'Ommeel for €320,000. The colt's dam Excelente (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) was second in the American 1000 Guineas in her racing career while a full-brother, who was sold at Goffs for €480,000 last year, has been the subject of good reports. The mare has already produced dual winners by the same sire and also by Lemon Drop Kind. Further back the family included the GI EP Taylor S. winner Fraulein (GB) (Acatenango {Ger}) and this year's Oaks fourth Horseplay (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}).

“We bought at foal sales across Europe and America last year–Tattersalls, Goffs, Keeneland and here at Arqana,” said Camille Vercken, one of three founding members of the 35-strong syndicate along with Arnaud Picart and Pascal Adda.

“We've been incredibly lucky with the sires we selected as Scat Daddy, Iffraaj and Kodiac have all continued to do so well this year.”

Tom Goff's Blandford Bloodstock signed the ticket on the most expensive of the two sons of Scat Daddy to go through the ring and he was from a family the agent knew well.

“I absolutely love the stallion and he's been bought by an owner to go to Ed Dunlop,” said Goff. “I bought the half-sister Lemoncetta for John Gosden a few years ago, she was OK, and the 2-year-old is also in training with John, who thinks a lot of him.”

The syndicate also sold a Kodiac colt (lot 114) through Ommeel out of the Argentinian Grade 2 winner Bailonguera (Arg) (Southern Halo) for €280,000 to Peter and Ross Doyle.

Vercken added, “The aim of the syndicate is to draw in members from outside horse racing and to get them involved in the business. Arnaud has a background in finance, Pascal is an experienced syndicator. We bought five horses in total last year and we are very pleased with the first few to sell. They have all been sold by Hubert, who has also become a partner.”