German Oaks Third Virginia Joy Lights Up 2020 ARC Sale

Media Release - Saturday October 3

A total of 19 horses went under the hammer at the Arc Sale held at Saint-Cloud, with 11 lots changing hands for an average of €277,273.

With an overall turnover of €3,050,000, the median for the auction was €260,000.

VIRGINIA JOY knocked down for €975,000.

Virginia Joy

 German trained VIRGINIA JOY (lot 24) became the top price of the sale when Michel Zerolo, Nicolas de Watrigant (Mandore International Agency) and Anne-Sophie Yoh-Benet (YOHEA) went head-to-head to secure the three-year-old filly.

It was Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock that had the final say with a bid of €975,000 for the daughter of Soldier Hollow.

Sold with an entry in the EP Taylor Stakes (Gr.1) at Woodbine, the Marcel Weiss filly offered by Panorama Bloodstock for Gestüt Auenquelle most recently finished second in the T. von Zastrow Stutenpreis (Gr.2) following her victory in the Mehl-Mülhens-Trophy (Gr.3) and third in the Preis der Diana (Gr.1) this season.

COEURSAMBA set to run in the Prix Marcel Boussac in Mohamed Fahad Al Attiyah’s colours.

Coeursamba

A runner in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr.1) tomorrow and most recently third in the Prix d’Aumale and Prix Six Perfections (Gr.3), COEURSAMBA (lot 13) was also subject to a lot of interest around the ring.

It was Paul Basquin of Haras du Saubouas that had the final say on behalf of Mohamed Fahad Al Attiyah, signing the docket at €400,000 for the daughter of The Wow Signal.

 “I’ve bought her for Mohamed Fahad Al Attiyah,” commented Basquin.

“She was the one we wanted in the sale. My client has already had a good experience with Jean-Claude Rouget thanks to Mission Impassible, so he would like to work with him again. She has a number of things going for her tomorrow and should go on the soft ground being out of a mare by Anabaa and her second dam by Bering. We’re delighted!”

STEP BY STEP for Narvick International

Step by Step a son of Exceed And Excel's Sidestep

An excellent third in the Prix Chaudenay (Gr.2) at Paris Longchamp just a few hours before the sale following on from his win in the Derby du Languedoc (L.) and second in the Prix de Lutèce (Gr.3) earlier this season, STEP BY STEP (lot 25) made €320,000 to Emmanuel de Seroux (Narvick International).

Advertisement

The colt was offered from Yann Barberot’s stable. A little earlier in the evening, the agent had struck for DICK WHITTINGTON (lot 12), also trained by the Deauville handler.

Third in the Prix Turenne (L.) on his last start having finished fourth in the Prix Hocquart (Gr.2) at Deauville this summer, the three-year-old gelding by War Command was knocked down for €270,000.

Jumper HERCULE POINT for NBB Racing

Hercule Point

Third in the Prix du Bourbonnais (Gr.2 AQPS) on his debut at Fontainebleau, the Hugo Merienne trained HERCULE POINT (lot 29) was knocked down for €270,000.

Previously owned by a group of young owners, it was Nicolas Bertran de Balanda (NBB Racing) that had the final say for the son of Network out of the very current family of ECHIQUIER ROYAL, PLAYING and EASY GAME, once more a Grade 2 winner today. After signing the docket, the agent commented, “We really like him. He really impressed me on his debut where he ran really well. He’s from a great family. We’ll now give him a bit of time.”

KALIFORNIA QUEEN heading stateside

Kalifornia Queen

One of the best German fillies of her generation this year, KALIFORNIA QUEEN (lot 11) was knocked down for €260,000 to Hubert Guy.

The winner of the Gestüt Röttgen Diana-Trial (Gr.2) this season, the daughter of Lope de Vega finished sixth in the Prix de Royallieu (Gr.1) earlier in the afternoon before going through the ring.

Acting on behalf of American owner Sol Kumin (Madaket Stables), Guy said afterwards, “She’s a real racehorse that has won a Group 2 already. She ran very well today over a shorter distance and on ground that wasn’t to her liking. I’ve bought her for Sol Kumin and she’ll go to Chad Brown in New York.”

Following the sale, Freddy Powell, the Executive Director of ARQANA said, “In spite of the unfavourable economic climate, we have still seen positive signals. The demand for quality profiles remains strong, with European and particularly French black-type being valued worldwide. There have been some fine transactions that will, among other things, enable young French trainers and owners to reinvest. These are positive signs in the run-up to the October Yearling Sale.”

Arqana Release

Advertisment
More Reading...
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.