BBA Ireland Buys Txope For €1.2 Million On Behalf Of Yulong At Arqana

Demand for horses-in-training under both codes and breeding stock was at a premium in Deauville, as the Arqana Summer Sale wrapped its two-day stand on Friday. Towering over the proceedings was the €1.2-million purchase Txope (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) (lot 421), who caught the eye of BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe acting on behalf of Yulong Investments.

The daughter of three-time French listed-placed mare Power of The Moon (Ire) (Acclamation {GB) was bred by Haras Voltaire and consigned by trainer Philippe Decouz. Formerly an Ecurie Griezmann colourbearer, the relative of dual group winner Zinziberine (Zieten) captured the G2 German 1000 Guineas earlier this year. She cost Broadhurst Agency €310,000 when selling in this ring during the 2020 September Yearling Sale.

Donohoe said, “We can't wait to see her run – it is possible that we might send her over for the Del Mar Oaks in California in August but nothing is decided yet, we can't wait to discuss options. She's a racing prospect and a breeding prospect, and she will be a lovely broodmare in Australia.”

 

Txope was not the only filly to join the Yulong Investments fold Friday, as BBA Ireland also snapped up lot 240, the juvenile winner Kesariya (Fr) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) from The Aga Khan Studs, for €150,000, as well as Follow The Rainbow (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) (lot 316) for just €56,000 from La Riviere. The former is out of the Listed Prix Hampton winner Kerasona (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who is a half-sister to G3 Prix du Bois victress Keratiya (Fr) (Iron Mask). A daughter of Arch Of Colours (GB) (Monsun {Ger}), Follow The Rainbow is from the same family as G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Signs Of Blessing (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

“We'll decide on her next steps in the coming weeks,” said Sam Fairgray of Kesariya. “She could stay to be bred in the Northern Hemisphere or come to Australia.

Havana Grey (GB) has gotten off to a bright start with his first juveniles and the Whitsbury Manor Stud resident leads all European first-season sires by winners with 20. One of those, the Group 3-placed Havana Angel (Ire) (lot 471), was offered by Amy Murphy and proved popular on Friday. Out of the winning Claramara (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}), who is a half-sister to listed winner Sweet Cecily (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the grey hammered to Narvick International Inc. for €320,000. A €10,000 Goffs November foal turned €20,000 Goffs Sportsman's Sale yearling, Havana Angel is a member of the same family as GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. and GI Toyota Blue Grass S. hero Brody's Cause (Giant's Causeway).

“She'll come back to California,” said Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick International. “I've bought her for Marsha Naify. I saw her at Chantilly and was impressed by her race. She also ran very well at Dieppe just beforehand. We think she has a lot of talent. The choice of trainer is up to her owner but there is a big chance that it will be Leonard Powell.”

In foal to Victor Ludorum (GB), Lyra Star (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 247) was the priciest broodmare on Friday, with MAB Agency signing for the 4-year-old at €135,000. Her dam, the G3 Prix de Psyche third Light The Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), is a half-sister to standout sire and Classic winner Lope de Vega (Ire) (Shamardal), as well as three other black-type winners.

 

Not to be outdone by their Flat brethren, jumps trainers were also out in force during the second session and Willie Mullins, buying with Harold Kirk and Pierre Boulard, shelled out €360,000 for the gelded Spanish Harlem (Fr) (Spanish Moon) (lot 493) from Gabriel Leenders. A winner of his only start at Auteuil, the 4-year-old's dam is a half-sister to Grade 2 chase winner Roi des Francs (Fr) (Poliglote {GB}).

The same buying trio also gave €260,000 for lot 473, the Fastnet Rock (Aus) gelding Absurde (Fr), who was multiple stakes-placed from Wertheimer & Free; and €210,000 for Nicolas Clement representative Daddy Long Legs (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) (lot 443), who was placed from his only start to date.

“We've bought him [Absurde] for clients of Willie Mullins that like dual-purpose horses that can go over jumps or over long distances on the flat, and Absurde really fits this profile,” explained Pierre Boulard.

 

Tom Malone and Paul Nichols put up €255,000 for lot 444, the Camelot (GB) gelding Afadil (Fr). Consigned by The Aga Khan Studs, the bay has a win and a placed effort from three starts. His dam is a half-sister to the stakes winner Ashiyla (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).

Mombasa (Fr) (Martaline {GB}) (lot 500) and Zertakt (Fr) (Walzertakt {Ger}) (lot 502) were both snapped up by Guy Petite for €250,000 and €195,000, respectively. Undefeated over obstacles, Mombasa was consigned by Francois Nicolle. His granddam is the listed winner Monika (Fr) (Dernier Empereur), responsible for three black-type winners, among them G1 Prix Renaud du Vivier winner Moises Has (Fr) (Martaline {GB}). Thrice a winner over fences, the Lageneste & Macaire-consigned Zertakt last won an Auteuil 3600-metre race on June 16.

At the close of trade, 212 sold from 235 offered for a gross of €7,563,300. The average rose to €35,676 (+70.4%) and the median also ticked up to €11,000 (+57%). Overall, 380 horses found new homes for a clearance rate of 86.4%. Grossing €13,091,300, the average over two days was €34,451 (+65.3%), while the median was €16,000 (+60%).

Eric Hoyeau, Chairman of Arqana and Freddy Powell, Executive Director, commented following the sale, “The figures speak for themselves, we have just experienced an outstanding sale. We are obviously grateful to our vendors without whom this would not have been possible and to our buyers who stayed to the end. The percentage of horses sold is a testament to the strong market in all segments over the two days of the sale and the international demand. We are now looking forward to August!”

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Curtain Lowers on Arqana December Sale

The frenetic pace of the breeding stock sale season finally came to a halt on Tuesday, as, after four days of selling during Arqana's December Breeding Stock Sale, the last horse passed through the ring at Deauville.

Overall, the aggregate grew by 58.5% to €42,007,700, up from €25,253,500 during the first year of the Covid pandemic and the first time the sale breached the €40-million mark. There were 689 lots sold from 907 offered (76%), and 13 horses made at least €500,000, compared to six in 2020. The average of €60,314 rose 33% from 2020, and the median decreased slightly to €15,000 (-6.3%).

Saturday's quintet of seven-figure mares were led by G1 Prix de l'Opera heroine Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), who was sold for €3,000,000 to the sale's leading buyers Peter Brant's White Birch Farm and MV Magnier. She was followed closely by the €2.5-million G1 Prix Jean Romanet victrix Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), while Gestut Ammerland bought out their partners when going to €2,050,000 for Wildfeder (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-sister to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Waldgeist (GB).

New consignor Sumbe stood firmly on top of the leading vendors' table with six sold for an aggregate of €5,352,000. Haras de Capucines was next with 22 sold for €3,373,000, while Haras de Castillon's draft brought €3,155,500 for 18 lots.

Wednesday's session sported a higher clearance rate of 80.5% for 128 of 159 offered for a total of €586,000. Both the average at €4,578 and the median of €3,500 were down when compared to the corresponding session last year, by 28.6% and 22.2%, respectively.

Four mares made €20,000 or more led by lot 977, the winning Hurrym (Fr) (Hurricane Run {Ire}). A half-sister to the black-type winner Landym (Fr) (Lando {Ger}), the La Riviere-consigned bay brought €28,000 from George Mullins and is in foal to Rio de la Plata.

Nicola Fitzgerald snapped up Anna's Star (Ire) (Hernando {Fr}) for €26,000 from Haras du Petit Tellier. Lot 987, a daughter of the G3 Deutscher Stutenpreis heroine Anno Luce (GB) (Old Vic {GB}), herself out of the German champion Anna Paola (Ger) (Prince Ippi {Ger}), is carrying to The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), whose first-crop runners this season include the listed winner Mylady (Ger).

Arqana Chairman Eric Hoyeau and Executive Director Freddy Powell said, “After a turbulent 2020, 2021 has been marked by tremendous resilience at all levels and concluded with an outstanding Vente d'Elevage that exceeded all our expectations. With five millionaire fillies in the first session and a turnover in excess of €40 million for the first time, the sale continued its upward trajectory and has now taken on a whole new dimension. All the ingredients were present and this resulted in very good prices in the ring. Four of the five fillies sold for a seven-figure price were acquired as yearlings at Deauville in August or October, and some owners did not hesitate to reinvest during the sale, such as with Tickle Me Green and Sun Bear. The quality of the catalogue attracted many buyers from the United States, Japan, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, Spain, Italy, Turkey and all over France. We would like to thank our vendors who entrusted us with the best of their breeding and racing stock as well as all our teams who worked tirelessly to make this sale a success. We wish everyone a very happy holiday season and look forward to seeing you in February.”

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COVID-19 Health Protocols Released For Arqana August

The upcoming Arqana August Yearling Sale begins on Saturday, Aug. 14, and COVID-19 health protocols were announced by the sales company on Tuesday.

To gain access to the sales grounds, all interested parties must register here. All registered individuals must also present a health pass at the entrance of Arqana's sale complex, with only the main entrance and one near the loading ramps for stud personnel open at this time. The right-handed lane at the main entrance will be reserved for people with a valid health pass. Non-European visitors will be required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. The left-hand lane at the main entrance will allow others to carry out an antigen test from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in a dedicated tent, without contact with the rest of the public.

The following documents are considered a valid health pass in France:

  • Proof that you are fully vaccinated
  • A negative PCR or antigen test taken with the last 72 hours
  • A COVID-19 recovery certificate attested by a positive PCR or antigen test result, at least 15 days and no more than 6 months old

Wristbands will then be provided, with each day a different colour. These wrist bands will allow movement around the establishment and admittance to the racecourse without having to show a health pass. In addition, mask wearing is mandatory indoors, but not outside. It will also be possible to book a PCR or antigen test on site from Thursday, Aug. 12 through Tuesday, Aug. 17. Any interested parties that are unable to travel to Deauville may bid online at www.arqanaonline.com. To register to bid online during the sale, you must register prior to the start of the sale. Please click here to register to bid.

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Breeding Right in Mehmas (Ire) Tops Arqana Online

During the Nov. 24 sale of breeding rights and stallion shares on Arqana Online, a breeding right in champion first-season sire elect Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) (lot 2) brought €195,000 from Haras du Mont-dit-Mont. Already the sire of 48 winners, 10 black-type performers and four black-type winners led by G1 Middle Park S. hero Supremacy (Ire), the young stallion will command €25,000 at Tally-Ho Stud in 2021.

A breeding right to four-time Group 1 winner Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) (lot 3), whose oldest foals are three, went for €42,000 to Select Bloodstock. Also marked as sold were a breeding right in Due Diligence (War Front) (lot 5) to Haras Mont-dit-Mont for €6,000 and Blandford Bloodstock snapped up a breeding right to Group 1 winner Havana Grey (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) (lot 4) for €19,000.

The only lot that was unsold was a 1/50th share in champion Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (lot 1)which RNA’d for €240,000.

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