Bred by Ecurie des Monceaux, the chestnut is–as has been well documented–a full-brother to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (Fr) and was hammered down to trainer Yoshito Yahagi for a sales-topping €2.1 million at last year's Arqana August Sale in Deauville. The colt has done little to suggest his connections' lofty opinions are misguided, as he was visually impressive in taking out his maiden at first asking over 1800 metres at Tokyo Nov. 4 and he made it two-from-two with a half-length success in the G3 Kyoto Nisai S. Nov. 25, successfully stretching out to Thursday's distance. Yahagi has tabbed Bauyrzhan Murzabayev to ride.

“He has a lot of potential and it's not often you get to work with a horse with a pedigree like he has, so I'm feeling the pressure,” said assistant trainer Yusaku Oka. “He's still mentally immature, but he has shown a high level of ability and with his European bloodline, I think the tough turf at Nakayama will suit him. He has a lot of power and he should be able to handle the hill in the stretch. He already experienced the trip to Kanto for his debut, so I'm not worried there. I'm hoping he'll do his best.”

2yo colt SHIN EMPEROR (Siyouni x Starlet's Sister (Galileo)) final fast ahead of Thursday's G1 2000m 2YO Hopeful Stakes

Worked the Ritto slope.

Still immature, floated around the first 3F then let down sweetly the last 1F

Brother to SOTTSASS pic.twitter.com/mjS2orfFGy

— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) December 25, 2023

Regaleira (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}), one of two fillies taking on the boys here, graduated in a July 9 newcomers' event at Hakodate and most recently resumed with a sound third-place effort behind the talented JRHA Select Yearling Sale topper Danon Ayers Rock (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) in the Listed Ivy S. at Tokyo Oct. 21. Christophe Lemaire sticks with the filly for Equinox (Jpn)'s trainer Tetsuya Kimura.

Bricks and Mortar is in a good battle for second spot on the list of leading first-crop sires in Japan by progeny earnings behind Suave Richard, and Gonbade Qabus (Jpn) stands a good chance to solidify that position Thursday. The dark bay colt opened his account at first asking in a 1600-metre newcomers' contest at headquarters June 10 and was not seen for four months thereafter, returning to cause a mild upset in the G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup over the identical course and distance Oct. 7. He must negotiate an extra two furlongs here, but on pedigree it is clearly well within his reach.

Velociraptor (Jpn) (Suave Richard {Jpn}) also brings an unblemished record into the Hopeful, having won his maiden over nine furlongs at Tokyo June 24 before adding a Sept. 23 conditions test at Hanshin over the same trip.

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Trying an 1800-metre trip for this first go, the son of Starlet's Sister (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was first to break the line and could have led had they chosen, but Takeshi Yokoyama elected to allow the colt to find his feed and settled in a handy fourth behind a steady tempo for the long run down the back straight. Patiently handled on the circle just behind the speed, Shin Emperor traveled strongly and had to be pulled off heels with the real running about to begin, but he split rivals decisively and sprinted his final 600 metres in a strong :33.8 for an easy victory as the $4 (3-1) second favourite.

“He was stronger than I imagined, and I thought he was a good horse from the start,” said Yokoyama. “He's still a kid and he's still a challenge, but he's a horse I'm looking forward to.”

Added winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi: “I'm relieved to see such a performance from a new horse with such a deep pedigree.”

While not specifying any future targets, Shin Emperor would certainly be on a trajectory towards the 2024 Japanese Classics, which begin with the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in April. There are two top-level opportunities for 2-year-old males in December in Japan, the Asahi Hai Futurity over a mile and the Hopeful S. going 2000 metres.

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After a helter-skelter August Sale that saw figures rise dramatically across the board, including the aggregate by a massive 15% to almost €40m at an average of over €236,000, the Arqana sales complex took a well-earned pause on Monday on the eve of the V2 Sale. 

Sundstrom reported many breeze-up handlers and French trainers to have landed at her Coulonces barn while Al Mohamediya Racing, Al Shaqab and trainer Richard Fahey were also spotted inspecting the talent on offer. 

For Powell, Monday provided the opportunity to reflect on one of the most successful sales in the recent history of the company, before looking forward to V2.

He said, “The August Sale definitely exceeded our expectations. We were cautious leading up to the sale because you just never know but obviously we were quietly confident that we had some nice horses and knew some of the big buyers were coming and knew that some of the principals were coming as well. 

“That's always a good sign. We would take this opportunity to thank those people for coming. It's a really good dynamic. For the past 10 years, the French breeders have invested a lot of money and are operating at a really high level because they know they have a good marketplace here in Deauville to sell their horses. Things are going well and it's fruitful for everyone.”

He added, “The sale was competitive but not too selective, which was great. When you see the raise in the median [by €55,000 to €185,000], it means that the quality of the whole group of horses has been raised, which is great.”

Arqana is reverting to the V2 style after staging a September Yearling Sale in 2022 which, by the company's own high standards, failed to hit the target in terms of attracting footfall. There will be no excuses on that front tomorrow judging by the amount of people present for the Monday evening BBQ and Powell says he is confident that the new format will work. 

He said, “We had too many horses last year overall for some reason. The September Yearling Sale is working on the racecourse but September is a very busy period on the sales circuit with Keeneland, Tattersalls Ireland etc. There are plenty of sales at that time and the calendar is full. It is difficult to get people to Deauville for August, September and October. It is very busy this morning and this format is probably the best format. We are keen to find a good balance.”

Sundstrom will be hoping to keep the momentum going from a memorable August Sale where she sold 14 horses for over €3m while Vitse's Normandie Breeding operation is keen to make hay with its typically-sharp offering.

Vitse said, “The August Sale went okay for us. Compared to the big operations, we did okay and our clients were happy and I was happy, so that's the main thing. We have a nice bunch for V2.This is more what we do; precocity and speed. That's what I like.”

He added, “Today has been very busy. We haven't stopped. We have a nice colt by Calyx (GB), who is doing pretty well, a Golden Horde (Ire, who is a nice filly, a nice Earthlight (Ire) and a Hello Youmzain (Fr) as well. All four horses are going down well.

“There was no atmosphere here last year. It didn't work as there were no English and Irish buyers here. It was difficult for them to come because there were so many other sales at the time and, when there is no atmosphere, it's not easy. We are optimistic about tomorrow. I am always optimistic.”

Sundstrom's bonanza of an August Sale was headed by a Wootton Bassett colt to Yoshito Yahagi for €1m and she lauded Arqana for attracting the big players to Deauville which allowed such a result be possible. 

She said, “It was an incredible three days. Going into the sale, I knew we had a really strong draft but I never thought they would make that much money. It's unreal. The stars aligned and everything fell into place.

“The French horse has proved itself as good as any other. Trainers can travel all over the world and we can sell the French horse to some of the best people in the world to win Group 1 races.”

She added, “We have been really busy again today and there have been a lot of French trainers and breeze-up trainers flying in today. There are a lot of foreign people here as well. 

“We actually showed here on Sunday while a lot of people were still here. We had our V2 horses here already so we said, 'come on, see if there's anything you like.' We have a fabulous Ten Sovereigns (Ire) filly who should go well tomorrow and a nice draft overall so hopefully it goes well.”

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Most recently, the Dubawi (Ire) filly Pure Dignity (GB) brought €2,500,000 from Oliver St. Lawrence in 2020, and Parliament (GB), a colt by Fastnet Rock (Aus), sold for €700,000 in 2019. Pure Dignity just won her first start for Roger Varian.

But the 2022 offering might be the most exciting yet: a full-brother to the multiple Group 1-winning Sottsass (Fr), the record-breaking World Champion, French Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, now standing stud at Coolmore in Ireland. Sottsass himself sold here in 2017 to Michel Zerolo's Oceanic Bloodstock on behalf of Peter Brant for €340,000. And the people who know Sottass well, they will tell you his full-brother is almost a dead ringer.

Michel Zerolo bought both Sottsass and Sistercharlie | Sue Finley photo

“If you compare this yearling with Sottsass, you would find them quite similar,” said Henri Bozo, who will sell Lot 154 under his Ecurie des Monceaux banner on Sunday. Sottsass's regular pilot was by the farm to see the 2021 version, said Bozo. “Cristian Demuro, the jockey, was by to see him the other morning, and he was amazed by how much they looked alike. I think he's got the same head, the same forehand, and the same self-confidence. I think it's striking to people who know Sottsass well.”

One of those people, of course, is Michel Zerolo, both a buyer at Arqana and a seller under his Haras des Capucines banner, the farm and consignment he owns with partner Eric Puerari.

Zerolo bought Starlet's Sister's first-ever progeny, Sistercharlie (Ire), after her win in the G3 Prix Penelope in France, for Brant. Zerolo said she caught his eye when she won a Class 1 race at Saint-Cloud in her prior start, when he first recommended her. “She was mighty impressive that day,” he said. “She had a fantastic turn of foot.”

Zerolo would go on to be proven correct; Sistercharlie would go on to win 10 starts over four years, including the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, to be named the Eclipse Award-winning turf female.

So when Sottsass, her half-brother by Siyouni (Fr) came up for sale in 2017, Zerolo and Brant were back. “He was an obvious one, of course,” said Zerolo.

In looking at Starlet's Sister's 2021 yearling, Zerolo said he sees the similarities as well.

“He's a nice horse,” he said. “He's probably a bigger version of Sottsass, very athletic. They're similar; they're full-brothers, of course. He has more white, and is a slightly lighter chestnut, but other than that, there are a lot of similarities.”

Bozo said that potential French buyers had been visiting the colt along with others in the consignment over the summer, but now, of course, an international marketplace has descended upon Arqana for the sale. “We've seen all the right French people and now we are looking forward to seeing all the foreigners coming here. But they will be present. They will be inside. The market is good and this sale has been extremely successful and good value.”

The Jour de Galop recently called Starlet's Sister the `unicorn of Monceaux,' and Bozo took a moment to reflect upon his good fortune in buying her. “We are very lucky and we do mean it. There was no talent in chasing her, a mare with a good pedigree, by Galileo (Ire) from a family we didn't have. We are always investing in young mares, I'm a big believer in young mares, especially when they are by the right sire lines. She was not expensive, and Hubert Guy keeps reminding me about the time he called me about her, and I must say, it has been a life-changing thing. She has been amazing.”

In the beginning, he said, he was looking to breed her to a proven stallion at an affordable price. “That's why we sent her to Myboycharlie,” he said. “He brought some strength and speed. And that was Sistercharlie. And the story keeps going. It's amazing.”

But for Bozo, who looks every bit the part of a man who could top this sale yet again, humility, gratitude and hard work seem the order of the day.

“We have to be grateful for these mares who have put Monceaux on the map and we keep trying to invest in new bloodlines to improve our work, improve our facilities,” he said. “And it's a non-ending adventure.”

And will Sunday be another chapter?

Zerolo said he felt it would. “He's got a wide appeal, it's a great cross, Siyouni over Galileo, and it has already worked. I would imagine he would appeal to a number of people. Best of luck to Henri.”

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• Saturday, Aug. 13: 2p.m. – lot 1 to 145
• Sunday, Aug. 14: 5.30p.m. – lot 146 to 230
• Monday, Aug. 15: 5.30p.m. – lot 231 to 313

Stallions represented this year include Adlerflug, Arrogate, Camelot, Churchill, Dark Angel, Dubawi, Frankel, Galileo, Galiway, Justify, Kingman, Kodiac, Lope De Vega, New Bay, Night Of Thunder, No Nay Never, Sea The Stars, Shamardal, Siyouni, War Front, Wootton Bassett and Zarak.

The catalogue, which features 17 siblings to Group 1 winners, includes:

• lot 10: a brother to Sealiway, Champion S. and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère winner, offered from Haras de Colleville
• lot 21: the second foal by Shamardal out of group winner Lady Frankel, a 3/4 brother to Lope De Vega, from Gestüt Ammerland
• lot 62: a half-sister by Siyouni to the champion Native Trail, last year's Champion 2-Year-Old and the winner of the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas this season, from Haras d'Haspel
• lot 66: a daughter of Too Darn Hot out of dual group Winner Night Music, from the family of Classic winner Night Magic, from Haras du Cadran
• lot 93: a half-sister by Decorated Knight to Nashwa, winner of the G1 Prix de Diane Longines, from the first ever consignment from Blue Diamond Stud at Deauville;
• lot 154: a brother to Sottsass (Siyouni), also a half-brother to Sistercharlie and My Sister Nat, from Ecurie des Monceaux
• lot 171: a half-brother by Intello to dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine TREVE, from Haras du Quesnay
• lot 220: a half-brother by Too Darn Hot to Classic Winner Beauty Parlour, from the close family of MIGHT AND POWER, from Baroda Stud
• lot 234: a daughter of Sea The Stars, the first foal out of Channel, the Prix de Diane Longines winner, from La Motteraye Consignment
• lot 276: a brother to G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp scorer WOODED (Wootton Bassett), from Haras d'Etreham.

For more information, visit www.arqana.com.

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The Arqana v2 Yearling Sale, which has in recent years taken place the day after the August Yearling Sale in one session, has been re-named the September Yearling Sale and will be held on Sept. 8 and 9, featuring yearlings selected for precocious conformation.

The Arqana October Yearling Sale will be held from Oct. 17 to 21, while the November Yearling Sale, held for the first time last year, will once again take place on Nov. 12 and will be the firm's final sale of the season to offer flat-bred yearlings.  The Nov. 15 Autumn Sale will feature National Hunt-bred yearlings.

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