Galileo and Frankel Dominate on Day 1 at ARQANA

The names of Mayfair Speculators, Galileo and Ecurie des Monceaux were all over the score sheet on the opening day of the ARQANA August Yearling Sale.

 A trio of youngsters by the perennial champion sire and offered by the famed Normandy nursery registered the three highest prices of the evening when selling to the South African operation.

Over the first of two evenings forming Part I of the catalogue, 67 yearlings sold – a clearance rate of 82% - for a cumulated €17,302,000 and an impressive average price of €258,239.

These figures are way clear of their 2016 counterparts, however it must be reminded that Part I of the catalogue extends alphabetically across the first two nights hence year-on-year comparisons can only safely be done at the end of day 2.

Galileo, Monceaux, Mayfair the winning trio

It was left to the very final lot through the ring (lot 88) to break the seven-figure barrier, a feat achieved by a half-brother to two Group 1 winners in ECTOT and MOST IMPROVED.

MV Magnier signed the docket on behalf of a partnership also involving Markus Jooste's Mayfair Speculators and explained:

"He is just a very nice horse and a half-brother to two Group 1 winners so we hope he can become one too. Galileo did something out of the ordinary this year [siring his 70th Gr.1 winner] and we believe that the momentum will only carry on."

A couple of hours earlier, another filly by the same sire and from the same consignment almost reached that round figure but was instead knocked down for €950,000, with Peter Doyle doing the bidding this time.

Lot 51 is out of the Listed winner PRUDENZIA, whose progeny has become a regular hot commodity at ARQANA since her first foal, a filly by Montjeu, sold for €600,000 and went on to win the Gr.1 Irish Oaks as CHICQUITA.

Three of her foals are now owned, in full or in part, by Mayfair Speculators as this filly is joining the now four-year-old CRAVEN'S LEGEND, by Invincible Spirit, as well as her year-older full sister, who cost €1.4 million in the same ring twelve months ago and is now in training with Aidan O'Brien.

"Back into the family!" exclaimed Mayfair Speculators' Derek Brugman. "We just love this female line, we have Craven's Legend who unfortunately was injured but is now back in training, and the two-year-old is a late maturing filly that Aidan is very fond of.  This one will stay in France to be trained by André Fabre."

The Doyle/Brugman tandem came back for more to secure lot 65, a half-sister to the Gr.3 perfomer NORMANDY EAGLE, from the Wertheimer family of PLUMANIA and LEFT HAND.

The final bid was €700,000. "We just love the pedigree", offered Brugman. "For us she was one of the two best fillies in the sale, the other one being the daughter of Prudenzia that we bought earlier. She is a very good mover with great substance and obviously from an excellent family. In the longer term, you can't have enough Galileo fillies to breed from! She will stay in France and go to Nicolas Clément".

Japanese buyers to the fore

Japanese investors are out in force at Deauville this week and several of them made their presence felt on the opening session, headed by Koji Maeda of North Hills Company, whose powerful stable has notably included Japanese Derby winner and Arc 4th KIZUNA.

Acting on his behalf was Dr. Fukuda, who signed at €650,000 Lot 88, c. by Galileo x Tonnara ©Zuzanna Lupa Press Release Saturday 19 August 2017 for a Dubawi filly ( lot 55), once again from Ecurie des Monceaux.

The filly's dam ROYAL HIGHNESS was the first Group 1 winner in the colours of the operation when taking the Gr.1 Beverly D. Stakes back in 2007, and she has proved just as good in the breeding barn with dual Group 2 winner FREE PORT LUX among her progeny to date.

"She is by one of the leading sires in Europe and the female family is excellent", offered Mr. Fukuda.

"She will go back to Japan to be trained. Mr. Maeda has been looking for very well-bred fillies to support his young sire Kizuna."

While North Hills has been a regular name on the ARQANA score board, that of Tetsuhide Kunimoto was appearing for the first time and the major Japanese owner made quite a splash, signing at €360,000 for a Frankel filly ( lot 54) out of the top class sprinter RESTIADARGENT, offered by Haras de Colleville, and at €340,000 for a colt from the first crop of Kingman (lot 44) out of the Gr.2 Park Hill Stakes runner-up PHIZ, another member of the Monceaux draft.

Kenji Ryotokuji, who bought at Deauville for the first time last year, was also back in action.

Frankel fever rolls on

The exploits of Frankel's offspring on the track show no signs of abating, as evidenced this week by EMINENT's brilliant display in the Gr.2 Prix de Kergorlay, and his yearlings proved once again in high demand.

Charles Gordon-Watson went to €650,000 to buy a half-sister to the Listed-winning juvenile SIVOLIERE (lot 66) offered by Haras d'Etreham.

She is out of the Stakes victrix Sefroua, herself a daughter of the great racemare Sophisticat.

The agent indicated that the filly would remain in France to be trained by André Fabre for a British client.

A half-brother to champion juvenile and exciting young sire DABIRSIM (lot 57) earlier went the way of Richard Knight for €550,000 and will carry the colours of Hussein Lootah, who already owns a smart Frankel colt in FRANKUUS.

Another relative to a multiple Group 1 winner, lot 10 was the first to reach half a million when selling for €550,000 to Shadwell's Angus Gold.

The half-brother to the top class miler QEMAH was offered by Haras du Cadran.

That price was matched later in the evening by a Declaration Of War filly (lot 67) from the draft of Haras d'Etreham.

Out of the Listed winner SHAWARA, she is a half-sister to Gr.1 Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille scorer SHARETA. Nicolas de Watrigant's Mandore Agency was the winning bidder. 

ARQUANA Release