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.
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.
