€4,025 million Mare Lights Up Arqana Vente d’Élevage

Media Release - Sunday December 10

The final sale of the year at Deauville, the ARQANA Vente d’Élevage began this morning with the first part of the catalogue, offering an exceptional selection of mares, fillies and foals. Of the 224 lots that went under the hammer, 71% changed hands for an average of €227,248, down seven points from the excellent 2022 renewal.

The turnover for the day was recorded at €37,587,000, the second-best turnover in the history of the sale for this session.

PLACE DU CARROUSEL sold for a record €4,025 million

It was a packed sales ring that witnessed the turn of Prix de L’Opéra (Gr.1) winner PLACE DU CARROUSEL (lot 184) in the ring from Haras de Bouquetot. Bought as a yearling at the Deauville Select Yearling Sale by Nicolas de Watrigant (Mandore International Agency), the Al Shaqab Racing and Ballylinch Stud owned filly had taken the Prix Cléopatre (Gr.3) and finished runner-up in the Prix-Saint Alary (Gr.1) before triumphing in the Prix de l’Opéra Longines (Gr.1) last year, beating Group 1 winners NASHWA and ABOVE THE CURVE.

The gavel finally fell at €4,025 million following an online bid from Portofino Bloodstock, despite the determined efforts of the Coolmore team. With a current rating of 112, the daughter of Lope De Vega is out of Group 2 winner TRAFFIC JAM and hails from the family of Group 1 winners LILLIE LANGTRY, MINDING and TUESDAY.

“It’s a feeling difficult to describe,” said Haras de Bouquetot Director Benoit Jeffroy. “We’re very happy but at the same time a bit sad, as she’s an exceptional filly that has given us some amazing moments. You don’t come across a filly like her every day, and she’ll be hard to replace.”

John O’Connor, the filly’s breeder and co-owner added, “It’s very emotional as we bred her and raced her, and she has always been exceptional. I honestly think that she is the perfect filly. She has everything going for her – a great attitude, the talent, and the physique to match. I wish her new owners as much success as we have had with her.”

€2 million for Prix du Muguet (Gr.2) winner SIBILA SPAIN

The eagerly awaited Prix du Muguet (Gr.2) winner SIBILA SPAIN (lot 204), also a Listed scorer and placed in the Prix Saint-Alary and Prix de Diane (Gr.1s) as a three-year-old, was subject to a lot of interest around the ring. Trained by Christopher Head and owned by Yeguada Centurion, she was offered from Haras de l’Hotellerie carrying her first foal by Dubawi when knocked down for €2 million to Graham SmithBernal (Newsells Park Stud) and Jill Lamb.

A daughter of Frankel out of Irish Oaks (Gr.1) placed L’ANCRESSE, she is a sister to Group winner and Ascot Gold Cup (Gr.1) placed MASTER OF REALITY.

The well-bred filly hails from the family of Group 1 scorers CERULEAN SKY and MOOSTONE as well as the very talented HONOLULU, ROYAL BENCH, MAYHEM, MEMPHIS TENNESSEE and US ARMY RANGER etc.

Godolphin snaps up Listed scorer SEA THE SKY for €1,25 million

As part of the dispersal from the prestigious Gestüt Ammerland, owned by Dietrich and Annabel von Boetticher, today saw 13 lots from the German stud go under the hammer. Made up of mares and foals from their best maternal lines, it was Listed winner and Group placed SEA THE SKY (lot 171) that proved to be the most in demand when selling for €1,250,000.

Advertisement

It was Anthony Stroud, bidding on behalf of Godolphin, that had the final say for the daughter of Sea The Stars, a sister to SEA THE MOON. The well-bred filly comes from the family of Group 1 winners SCHIAPARELLI, SAMUM, SALVE REGINA, SORTILEGE and SEISMOS etc.

Classic winner CHANNEL goes to Japan

The Classic winner CHANNEL (lot 215) was another to be subject to a lot of interest from buyers. A three-time winner for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, including in the Prix de Diane (Gr.1), she was eventually knocked down to Emmanuel De Seroux (Narvick International), bidding on behalf of Northern Farm, for €1,2 million. The daughter of Nathaniel was offered in foal to Wootton Bassett by La Motteraye Consignment.

A granddaughter of Cheveley Park Stakes. (Gr.1) heroine MAGICAL, she hails from the excellent maternal line of ALEXANDROVA, at the origin of the globetrotter MAGIC WAND and the excellent performers CHICQUITA, PHILOMENE and PACIFIQUE.

“She’s a superb mare and we’re very happy,” Emmanuel de Seroux commented. “She was an obvious choice as she’s a Classic winner and ticks all the boxes.”

LADY FRANKEL makes €900,000 to Bobby Flay

Earlier in the day, the gavel fell at €900,000 for Group winner and Prix de l’Opéra (Gr.1) placed LADY FRANKEL (lot 172) that was offered in foal to New Bay by Gestüt Ammerland. Bidding on ARQANA Online, the famous American chef Bobby Flay had the final say for the half-sister to LOPE DE VEGA and Group winner BAL DE LA ROSE, that has notably produced Group 1 winner DANCETERIA.

Granddaughter of GOLDIKOVA for SUMBE 

Consigned by Wertheimer & Frère, MIRAKOVA (lot 167) was knocked down for €850,000 in favour of Tony Fry, the International Director of SUMBE. The four-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega out of Group winner TERRAKOVA is a granddaughter of the Champion GOLDIKOVA. She was offered carrying her first foal by Siyouni.

“She’ll come back to the stud,” said Tony Fry. “She might be covered by Mishriff next season but we still have a bit of time before deciding. She’s a lovely mare that comes from a stud that needs no introduction and produces very good horses. We’re very happy with our purchase.”

€800,000 for Group winner MISE EN SCENE

Very active around the ring today, Dean Hawthorne and Grant and Tom Pritchard-Gordon (Badgers Bloodstock) notably went to €800,000 for Group winner MISE EN SCENE (lot 197) from Écurie des Monceaux. The winner of the Prestige Stakes (Gr.3) at two, she finished runner-up in a Listed race as well as fourth in the Beverly D. Stakes (Gr.1) Stateside this season. The daughter of Siyouni out of a Galileo mare is from the close family of Group 1 winners SPECIOSA, ZELLIE and PRIDE.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Black Type Potential for Zoustar Colt
Tony and Calvin McEvoy have  plans to tackle Black Type races with promising Zoustar colt Prestar, who scored his second win from just five starts at Randwick on Wednesday.
Wootton Bassett Colt Sells for 2.3million at Arqana
The second session of the Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale on Sunday produced a sale ring battle between MV Magnier and Amo Racing over a colt by Woottton Bassett from High Celebrity with Coolmore winning out with a final bid of  €2.3million.
Too Darn Hot nomination realises $255,000 in August (Late) Sale
A nomination in exceptional young stallion Too Darn Hot has topped today’s Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale, selling for $255,000.
Exclusive opportunity to purchase nomination in Too Darn Hot
Exciting racing and breeding prospects – plus a nomination in Champion First and Second Season Sire Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) – headline a diverse catalogue of 302 lots for the Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale.
Last to First – He’s Seriously Hot!
Sent to the paddock after just one placing from five starts at two that included three attempts in stakes company, Siriusly Hot returned a gelding at Randwick and it certainly made a difference!
Trial Winner for Captivant
Captivant’s early promise was on full display at today’s Waipa trials when Capital Express stormed to victory in Heat 4. The Paul Pertab-trained 2YO colt impressed early, showcasing the speed and class expected of his G1 Champagne Stakes-winning sire in a performance that marked him as one to watch.
Manifique Drawcard for Gavelhouse Sale
Both the pedigree and the racetrack performances of Manifique (NZ) (Savabeel) make her a major drawcard in the latest fortnightly auction on gavelhouse.com.
Al Riffa Aiming Towards Melbourne Cup for Australian Bloodstock
The exceptional qualities of Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) are such that he can get fast juveniles and also high class older horses over a distance and we are set to see a taste of it this spring as media reports suggest Australian Bloodstock have purchased his top class 5YO stallion Al Riffa.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
Finding the Perfect Match for Your Mare
Now that the first foals of the season have hit the ground at farms across the country, breeders are finalising stallion bookings and searching for the perfect match for their mares.