Haggle The Dearest At Arqana Opener

Deauville, FRANCE–Wertheimer et Frere is, as per usual, using Arqana's December Sale to cull some of its mares, and it also took the opportunity to add to its ranks when manager Pierre-Yves Bureau went to €1.3-million for the last out G3 Prix Fille de l'Air winner Haggle (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) (lot 174) to top the opening session of the sale on Saturday. Michel Zerolo, bidding for Martin Schwartz, was the underbidder.

The lone seven-figure lot of the session helped fuel an average that was up 13.8% at €123,389. The median was up 7% to €75,000, and a total 175 mares, fillies and foals were sold from 216 offered at a clearance rate of 81% that matched last year's opening session. An increase of 49 horses offered from last year's opening session helped push the aggregate up 48% to €21,593,000.

Bred by Luca and Sara Cumani's Fittocks Stud, Haggle started her career in the Newmarket stable of Luca Cumani, from which she broke her maiden and picked up black-type with a second-place finish in the 2015 Listed Montrose Fillies' S. The Cumanis sold Haggle on to Stephen Hillen for 125,000gns at last year's Tattersalls December Mare Sale and she raced for Hillen this season, winning her second try in her new colours, the Listed Prix Maurice Zilber for trainer Henri-Francois Devin. Haggle picked up a pair of Group 3 placings in the Prix Corrida and the La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte before winning the Prix Fille de l'Air over Son Macia (Ger) (Solider Hollow {GB}), who was also offered on Saturday but was bought back for €400,000.

“She's a group winner by Pivotal, who is turning into a very good broodmare sire, so for us she was the one of the sale,” said Bureau. “I was thinking she'd be in the realm of €1-million. She's a nice mare and she's very easy to mate.”

Haggle indeed hails from a family that has been very successful in the Arqana ring. Her dam, Barter (GB) (Daylami {Ire}), is a half-sister to Souk, whose descendants include the G1 Irish Oaks winner Chicquita (Fr), the triple Oaks winner Alexandrova (Ire), the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Magical Romance (GB) and this year's G1 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling (Ire).

Carsons Restock In Deauville…

James Delahooke had purchased the top lot at this sale last year from Ecurie des Monceaux, the €1-million Parvaneh (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), and the agent went to €600,000 for another young black-type mare from the same consignment at Arqana on Saturday when signing for lot 34, the Group 2-placed Phiz (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), on behalf of Willie and Elaine Carson's Minster Stud. The 7-year-old Phiz, who was second in the G2 Park Hill S., is a half-sister to three black-type winners and three black-type producers. Her second foal, a Kingman (GB) colt, made €340,000 at this year's Arqana August yearling sale. She produced a colt foal by Siyouni (Fr) this year and was sold in foal to Le Havre (Ire). The bidding was conducted by Jamie Piggott, son of legendary jockey Lester Piggott, who stood alongside Delahooke.

“It's for Minster Stud in England and it was Lester Piggott's son who was doing the bidding,” said Delahooke. “She'll go to the Piggotts' stud in Gloucestershire in England and I'm very excited for them. I thought she was the nicest mare in the sale and I didn't think we'd be able to buy her.”

The Carsons were reinvesting after selling the sale-topping colt at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale, a Dubawi (Ire) half-brother to Classic winner Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling {Ire}) for 750,000gns.

Galileo Daughters Popular…

Galileo is enjoyed a constantly growing profile as a broodmare sire, Group 1 winners out his daughters this year including the full siblings Roly Poly (War Front) and US Navy Flag, Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}). Daughters of Galileo proved popular early in Saturday's session, with Richard Brown of Blandford Bloodstock going to €260,000 for the 4-year-old Prefer (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 39) on behalf of an undisclosed client. Prefer is a sister to five stakes winners and has a plethora of Group 1 winners from around the globe under her second dam, including sires Groom Dancer, Falco (GB) and Kinshasa No Kiseki (Aus) as well as Australian Group 1 winners Absolutely (Aus) and Abbey Marie (Aus). She was sold carrying to Zoffany (Ire) for her first covering.

Brown later in the session went to €480,000 to secure another Galileo mare, the G3 Give Thanks S. second Demurely (Ire) (lot 152), for the same client. The 8-year-old, who is carrying to Le Havre, is out of the German stakes-placed Solo de Lune (Ire) (Law Society), and is therefore a half-sister to Group 1 winners Cerulean Sky (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) and Moonstone (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}), the latter being the dam of five stakes winners, including G3 Chester Vase S. winner and G1 Investec Derby second US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Staying In The Family…

Sheikh Fahad of Qatar Racing spent 1.8-million gns on the German Group 3 winner Wekeela (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) at Tattersalls last week, and the team added another member of that family, which also includes the great sire Monsun (Ger) and this year's dual French Classic winner Brametot (Fr) (Rajsaman {Fr}), at Arqana on Saturday when spending €600,000 to secure the G1 Prix du Cadran winner Molly Malone (Fr) (Lomitas {GB}) (lot 163). Consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux, the 9-year-old mare is carrying to Golden Horn (GB). Her dam, Moonlight Melody (Ger) (Law Society {Ger}), is a half-sister to the dam of Weekela. Molly Malone's first foal, the winning Morgan Le Faye (Shamardal), is stakes-placed since the catalogue and Henri Bozo of Monceaux noted that her “beautiful” Golden Horn filly foal has been retained.

“We bought a relation of her's last week, Wekeela, in Tattersalls and we loved this mare as well,” said Sheikh Fahad's representative Peter Moloney. “Wekeela was an absolute beauty and this is not far behind her so we're really pleased to get her. She was bought for Sheikh Fahad and his brothers, Qatar Racing, so she'll go back to the UK for now.”

Monceaux also offered Desiree Clary (Ger) (Sholokhov {Ire}) (lot 200), the lone mare in the sale in foal to American Pharoah. She was bought by Chantilly Bloodstock Agency for €210,000.

A Stakes Winner For New Partnership…

Monroe Bay (Ire) (Makfi {GB}) (lot 128), a listed winner and Group 3-placed this season, was being offered to dissolve the partnership of Ecurie Jean-Louis Bouchard and Lady O'Reilly, and it was another partnership, Ecurie des Charmes and Ballylinch Stud, who teamed to buy her for €420,000. Monroe Bay won the listed Prix Finlande at Chantilly in May for trainer Pascal Bary and after beating just one home in the G1 Prix de Diane, was second in the G3 Prix Chloe in July. She is a half-sister to stakes winners Celimene (Ire) (Dr Fong) and Lunaska (Fr) (Ashkalani {Ire}) and is a sister to four stakes horses.

“She is for a new partnership between Ecurie des Charmes and Ballylinch Stud,” said Ghislain Bozo of Meridian International after he signed the ticket with John O'Connor by his side. “She has a lot of quality about her, was a very consistent performer and we like the family very much.”

Ballylinch later in the session went out on its own to add Maimara (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) (lot 202) from the Haras du Quesnay consignment for €520,000. The dual Group 3 winner is also a half to the G3 Premio Dormello winner Ombrage (Fr) (Orpen).

Americans Active At Arqana…

Peter Brant of White Birch Farm has been busy at the European yearling and breeding stock sales this fall, his haul at Tattersalls last week including the 1.5-million gns Different League (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) in partnership with MV Magnier and Justlookdontouch (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) from the Ballymacoll dispersal for 1.2-million gns, and he had Michel Zerolo of Haras des Capucines working for him at Arqana on Saturday when he went to €420,000 for Guerriere (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) (lot 141) from the Wertheimer consignment. The 3-year-old filly is still a maiden but has hit the board in all but one of nine starts, including a third in a listed race at Maisons Laffitte on Oct. 13 and a second at the same level at Fontainebleu on Nov. 16.

“She's well bred and she has plenty of racing apparently left in her,” said Zerolo. “She's been bought for a breeder and the package makes sense. She'll go to Florida to Chad Brown and eventually will become a broodmare for Peter Brant of White Birch Farm.”

Guerriere is a half-sister to G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Soustraction (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), and it is the extended family of G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Solemia (Ire) (Poliglote {GB}) and dual Group 1-winning miler The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Also headed Stateside is Lady Paname (Fr) (Soldier of Fortune {GB}) (lot 161) after being bought by Hubert Guy on behalf of an undisclosed client for €400,000. Guy could not yet nominate a trainer for the 3-year-old multiple stakes-placed winner, but said she would go to the East Coast of the U.S.

“I inquired about buying her in April after she broke her maiden and since then I've just kept an eye on her,” he said.

Lady Paname broke her maiden at first asking in April for trainer Elie Lellouche. She finished third in the G3 Prix de Royaumont over a mile and a half in her third start and was fifth, beaten four lengths, over a half-furlong longer in the G3 Prix Minerve next out. She finished second going a mile and three quarters in the Listed Prix Joubert on Sept. 5, and was most recently fourth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, going a mile and seven furlongs in the G2 Prix de Chaudenay on Sept. 30.

“I think the mile and a half was asking a bit much of her and she lost her form. She had a lot of leg and a huge stride and turn of foot, which is what works in the U.S. and I've had success buying horses like that in the past.

Fugue Sister Leads Bouquetot Draft…

Saturday's opening session at Arqana included a four-horse reduction from Sheikh Joaan Al Thani's Haras de Bouquetot, and the first of those to go through the ring was Selyl (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) (lot 100), an unraced 4-year-old half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}). In foal to Le Havre, Selyl was bought by Mandore International Agency's Nicolas de Watrigant for €350,000 on behalf of Ling Tsui, who with her family bred and raced Sea The Stars (Ire), and Selyl is bound to visit that Gilltown Stud resident.

“She is obviously a half-sister to a champion and showed promise herself in training although she was unfortunately prevented from racing by an injury,” de Watrigant said.

De Watrigant also signed for the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Shahah (GB) (Motivator {GB}) (lot 160), whose dam is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Grand Lodge, at €340,000.

Al Nofor (Ire) (Shamardal) (lot 110) a full-sister to multiple group winner French Navy (Ire) and a half to the G3 Sovereign S. winner Sea Lord (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in foal to first-season Bouquetot sire Shalaa (Ire), fetched €80,000 from Castillon Bloodstock. The fourth offering, Al Anqa (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 190), a half-sister to Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune {Ire}), was a €400,000 buyback.

Interesting Mate For Almanzor…

Almanzor (Fr), the Cartier champion 3-year-old colt of 2016, will stand his initial season alongside his sire Wootton Bassett (GB) in 2018 at Haras d'Etreham, and that team were busy on Saturday picking up some quality mares to support the three-time Group 1 winner. Their purchases included the 7-year-old mare Interesting (Ire) (Raven's Pass) (lot 105) from the Godolphin draft for €300,000, the stakes-placed maiden filly Vadsariya (Fr) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) (lot 93) from the Aga Khan for €140,000 and the €130,000 Lady Family (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}) (lot 140).

“She is for a partnership between Haras d'Etreham and other shareholders in Almanzor,” said Etreham's Nicolas de Chambure after signing for Interesting. “We have been busy buying mares to make sure he gets the best chance at stud. She is our second purchase today.”

Interesting is a Group 3-placed daughter of G3 Prix de Cabourg winner With Fascination (Dayjur). She produced her first foal, a colt by New Approach (Ire), this year and was sold in foal to Iffraaj (GB).

Almanzor's full-sister Troarn (Fr) (lot 189) also made an appearance in the sales ring on Saturday, and she is headed to Newmarket and a date with Ulysses (GB) after being bought by Cheveley Park Stud, which will stand that G1 Coral-Eclipse S. and G1 Juddmonte International S. winner in his first season at stud next year.

“It's such an amazing pedigree and a sister to such a horse,” said Tim Richardson after signing the ticket. “It's been bought by Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket and going to Ulysses. They're delighted and I'm delighted to have done that with them.”

Vazara Joins Sister…

Barronstown Stud purchased the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Vadawina (Fr) (Unfuwain) for €600,000 from the Aga Khan draft at this sale in 2013. The mare was a Group 2 producer at the time and she has been very successful for David and Diane Nagle's nursery this year. Her 2-year-old The Pentagon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) won the G3 Tyros S. and finished third in the G1 Racing Post Trophy, while her yearling filly, also by Galileo, was bought by Justin Casse for 1.55-million gns at Tattersalls October. Vadawina will be joined in the Barronstown paddocks by her 3-year-old half-sister Vazara (Fr) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) (lot 91) after Nagle secured her at Arqana on Saturday through agent Margaret O'Toole for €300,000. Vanzara, who is unraced, is a full-sister to a the 3-year-old Valcartier (Fr), who made €950,000 from John Ferguson at Arqana's August Sale in 2015. It is also the family of G1 Queen Anne S. and G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Valixir (Fr), G1 Prix de Moulin de Longchamp victor Vadamos (Fr) and GI Breeders' Cup Mile winner Val Royal (Fr).

Dabirsim Colt Heads Foals…

Dabirsim (Fr) has been the latest revelation of the French stallion ranks this year. The Haras de Grandcamp resident is Europe's leading active first-season sire by earnings, and second only to the late Society Rock (Ire). His star runner Different League (Fr) was among the top lots at Tattersalls last week when selling to White Birch Farm and MV Magnier for 1.5-million gns, and he had a foal feature early at Arqana on Saturday when lot 53, already named Sam Stone (Fr), was bought by Anthony Stroud for Godolphin for €260,000. Stroud said the half-brother to French stakes winners Stone Roses (Fr) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and Straight Right (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) would stay in France.

“He was bought to go racing,” Stroud said. “He was a very nice horse from a very good stud. He moved very well. We tried to buy one or two Dabirsims in the summer and we didn't get them, so it's nice to get one now.”

Godolphin has already enjoyed success with the family, as it is that of its dual Australian Group 1 winner Contributer (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}). Dabirsim was also responsible for fillies that made €100,000 and €95,000.

Almanzor's sire Wootton Bassett was responsible for the day's second-highest priced foal, lot 107, a filly picked up by Riviera Equine for €160,000 from the Capucines consignment.

The other foals to break six figures were a first-crop daughter of Gleneagles (Ire) (lot 108) bought by Dermot Farrington for €110,000 and a filly by Siyouni (Fr) (lot 88) which brought €105,000 from Haras du Saubouas.