Opening the yearling sales season in Europe, the August Sale began this afternoon with 133 lots going under the hammer during the first session. Of these, 72% were sold for an average price of €226,167, showing very solid results when compared with the average for the same day at the 2023 record edition (-2%), organised in a similar format. Total sales for the session amounted to €21,712,000 (-6%).
Wootton Bassett colt from Dardina - image Arqana / Zuzanna Lupa
€1.4 million for Wootton Bassett Colt
During the day, seven yearlings were sold for €600,000 or more to seven different buyers, led by a brother to Group winner GUILDSMAN (lot 105) from Haras d’Etreham. Bidding on ARQANA Online, the American John Stewart (Resolute Farm & Racing) made his first purchase in France when going to €1,4 million to secure the son of Wootton Bassett from the close family of Classic winners ALMANZOR and DARJINA.
€850,000 for a half-brother to BEAUVATIER
Eagerly awaited in the ring, a son of Night Of Thunder out of the black-type mare ENCHANTING SKIES (lot 121) was subject to a long bidding war around the ring. The well-bred colt is none other than a halfbrother to the Group winner BEAUVATIER, that also finished third in the Prix Jean Prat and Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr.1s) this summer.
It was the agent Richard Brown (Blandford Bloodstock) that had the final say at €850,000 for the colt that hails from the family of Group 1 winners EMPOLI and ELLE DANZING, from Écurie des Monceaux. “I think he was one of the best colts of the day,” said the agent. “He’s by Night Of Thunder, a stallion that I like a lot. His dam has already produced good horses - BEAUVATIER is a lovely horse and his sister also seems to have potential. There was a lot of interest in the colt, and we’re very happy to have got him. He’ll go to Malcolm Bastard in England initially, and then we’ll decide his next steps after that.”
€800,000. for Fraankel Filly
Daughter of Frankel for the Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi A little earlier in the day, a daughter of Frankel out of the black-type mare WALDJAGD (lot 28) was knocked down for €800,000. It was the Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi that signed the docket for the filly, a half-sister to Group winner WALDBIENE and Listed scorer URWALD consigned by Haras des Capucines. The well-bred granddaughter of multiple Group winner WURFTAUBE also hails from the leading family of WALDPARK, MASKED MARVEL and WALDGEIST. She will go into training with her halfbrother by Kingman, AWAKING, that was bought at the August Sale in 2022.
Daughter of Night Of Thunder makes €780,000
Very active around the ring, the English agent Richard Knight, bidding on behalf of Salhia Stud, went to €780,000 for a daughter of Night Of Thunder (lot 120). Consigned by Baroda Stud, the filly is a daughter of the black-type mare ENCAPSULATION and comes from the family of Group 1 scorers DESIGNS ON ROME and ROMANISED, as well as Group winners SIMPLE EXCHANGE, SIGHTS ON GOLD and ROCK OF ROMANCE among others.
€700,000 Siyouni Filly for Jean-Pierre Dubois
Consigned by Écurie des Monceaux, a daughter of Siyouni (lot 131) was knocked down for €700,000 to Jean-Pierre Dubois (Dream With Me Stable). Out of a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner LILLIE LANGTRY, the filly is from the excellent maternal line of MINDING, HENRY LONGFELLOW, TUESDAY and PLACE DU CARROUSEL.
€600,000 for a half-sister to Group winner RASHABAR
Among the two lots consigned by Haras de Beaufay today was a half-sister to Royal Ascot Coventry Stakes (Gr.2) scorer RASHABAR (lot 52) that is also entered on Sunday in the Prix Morny (Gr.1) at Deauville. The agent Oliver St Lawrence went to €600,000 for the filly from the family of Preis der Diana (Gr.1) winner AMARETTE, as well as Group scorers RIVER OF STARS, AMAZONA, ANCIENT SPIRIT, AEMILIANUS etc.
“She’s a stunning filly”, commented the agent. “She comes from a great family and we also really like Acclamation’s progeny. She might be a half-sister to a Group 1 winner on Sunday! She’s been bought for Fawzi Nass and will maybe stay in training in France, but nothing has been decided as yet.”
€600,000 for Wootton Bassett filly from Classic winner CHANNEL
Al Shira’aa Farms manager Kieran Lalor had the final say at €600,000 for a daughter of Wootton Bassett out of the Classic winner CHANNEL (lot 91). From the family of the excellent performers MAGICAL ROMANCE, ALEXANDROVA, PRUDENZIA, CHICQUITA, and PHILOMENE, she was consigned by La Motteraye Consignment.
“She’s a lovely filly that ticks all the right boxes,” he said after signing the docket. “She is by Wootton Bassett, which we really like, and her dam is a Classic winner by Nathaniel, a stallion that we also really appreciate. We’re very happy! She’ll first go to the stud in Ireland and we’ll decide her next step from there.”
Araqana Release
