Following on from Arqana's flagship August Yearling Sale in Deauville over the weekend was Tuesday's v2 sale, which featured more regional offerings. With a slightly larger catalogue, the clearance rate improved almost 9% to 82%, while the average was down just over 1% to €38,986 and the median was down 6.3% to €30,000. The aggregate was up 21% to €4,171,500 for 107 yearlings sold. The single-session sale featured four seven-figure lots, one more than last year.
Leading local sires featured at the top end of the market, with a son of Siyouni (Fr) (lot 401) from Jedburgh Stud topping trade with a bid of €110,000 from Deauville-based trainer Stephane Wattel. Wattel revealed that the half-brother to dual Group 3 winner Pearl Flute (Fr) (Piccolo {GB}) and stakes winner Secret Pursuit (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) was offered to dissolve a partnership.
“John Corbani has bought out his partner Alec Waugh,” Wattel said. “We have been very lucky with Siyouni and this fellow has always been very straightforward. He has done very well over the past few weeks and we are pretty excited about him.”
Three youngsters shared the second spot on the leaderboard with a pricetag of €100,000. The first through the ring was Capucines's son of leading first-season sire Dabirsim (Fr) (lot 371), who was knocked down to Powerstown Stud. The colt out of a half-sister to Group 3 winner Hapsburg was a €9,000 vendor buyback at Arqana's December Sale last year. Powerstown's Tom Whitehead said he is likely to visit the ring again next year as a juvenile.
“He will hopefully come back here in the spring,” said Whitehead. “Dabirsim is a most exciting sire and we've already been lucky with him so we'll just hope it continues.”
Dabirsim was also the sire of a filly (lot 418) picked up by breeze-up pinhooker Con Marnane for €95,000. Marnane has enjoyed success with Dabirsim this year as the owner of his G3 Albany S. winner Different League (Fr), and he said of his latest buy, “we just hope she is half as good as Different League. I also liked the fact that her dam is by Kodiac. She really ticked all the boxes. I will now take her home and adore her for the next six months.”
Capucines was also the seller of a daughter of Makfi (GB) (lot 432) for €100,000. The filly is a half-sister to Zonza (Fr) (Alex the Winner), who won the G3 Prix du Bois on July 1 and was fourth in last weekend's G1 Darley Prix Morny, and she was secured by Haras du Saubouas. That farm's Paul Basquin said, “She is a very racy filly who uses herself very well and obviously her dam seems to be a good breeder. Makfi is another asset. Her future is still undecided, I will take her home and make plans.”
The third horse to reach the €100,000 mark was Fairway Consignment's daughter of Myboycharlie (Ire) (lot 451). The half-sister to G3 Prix des Reservoirs winner Espirita went the way of Marc-Antoine Berghgracht's MAB Agency on behalf of Thierry Gillier, the founder of fashion brand Zadig & Voltaire and a new Thoroughbred investor who was also busy at the August sale buying fillies for his future broodmare band.
“She has everything we have been looking for and is by a sire we like,” said Berghgracht. “She hails from a fabulous family which is important for Mr. Gillier's future breeding operation.”
The filly was a €26,000 private purchase by Astute Bloodstock at last year's Arqana December sale.
“This sale was an original concept that has perfectly come to fruition,” said Arqana CEO Eric Hoyeau. “It focuses on precocious types, a specificity that has absolutely hit home with buyers and vendors alike. Some breeders have this sale in mind from an early stage and the many juvenile successes registered by the likes of Olmedo (Fr), Clem Fandango (Fr), Manaha (Fr), Fakir Bere (Fr), Mamba Noire (Fr) etc., prove that the v.2 just does what it says on the tin. It is a great thrill when such virtuous circles occur and I would like to thank all our vendors and buyers for their support.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
