On a quiet day for the Australians, Snowden Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock combined to strike twice within six lots at the opening session of the Arqana Autumn Horses In Training Sale.
They opened with the €96,000 purchase Vintage Kod (IRE), a rising 4-year-old son of Kodiac who has been a model of consistency this season for Gianluca Bietolini. (Lot 422)
The winner of three and placed in five of his 13 starts, Vintage Kod (IRE) was second at his most recent start over a mile at Longchamp on October 23, having won over 7f at Chantilly a month earlier.
A €135,000 Arqana August yearling, Vintage Kod (IRE) is one of three winners for the Pour Moi mare Engage and will join his half-brother, the Lindsay Park-trained Angel (FR) (Fastnet Rock), in Australia.
Engage is a half-sister to multiple Listed winner Stormina (Gulch), dam of the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary and Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Silasol (Monsun).
The second buy came from the consignment of The Aga Khan.
The gavel fell at €62,000 for the rising 5-year-old Kitten’s Joy gelding Behtar (FR). (Lot 428)
A flashy chestnut with plenty of chrome, Behtar (FR) is another who has raced consistently with two wins and seven placings from 13 starts for Francis-Henri Graffard.
Stakes-placed at Deauville at two, Behtar (FR) is out of the Dansili mare Behnasa, a half-sister to Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Behkabad (FR) out of the Group II Prix Hubert de Chaudenay winner Behkara (Kris), who placed twice in the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak.
