Following on from the afternoon’s racing at Deauville La Touques Racecourse, which saw the running of the prestigious Prix Aga Khan Studs Jacques Le Marois (Gr.1), buyers returned to the sales complex for the second evening session of the August Sale with Godolphin purcashing four of the top five lots.
The remarkable momentum seen since the beginning of the sale continued, with 86% of the colts and fillies offered changing hands for an average of €319,797, up 30% compared to the same day last year. With five yearlings making over €1 million in only this session, the turnover reached €20,467,000, up 34%.
Godolphin buyer of four of the five millionaire yearlings of the day
Already the purchaser of the top price on the first day, Anthony Stroud was once again very active in the ring, buying on behalf of Godolphin. He signed the docket for four out of the five yearlings that made €1 million or more, led by a son of Wootton Bassett (Lot 82) that made €2,4 million following a long bidding war.
Consigned by Haras de l’Hotellerie, the colt is a brother to multiple Group winner TOPGEAR and hails from the family of the very talented performers GUILT TRIP, SILVER GRECIAN, MAJORIEN and AMERICAIN among others.
“He’s an exceptional colt that is very well-made, light in his step and has great movement,” said Anthony Stroud. “Of course, it is a lot of money, but when you like a horse that much, you need to see it through. I have a lot of respect for Coolmore, that was also bidding. We are delighted to have bought him and he’ll go to Godolphin. I didn’t expect the bidding battle to last quite so long. With horses of this quality by a stallion such as Wootton Bassett, the enthusiasm is very strong."
€2,3 million for a son of Frankel
The ring was buzzing once more with the turn of a son of Frankel (Lot 149) to go under the hammer near the end of the session. Consigned by Baroda Stud, he was knocked down for €2,3 million in favour of Godolphin.
The colt is out of the Group winner RUMBLES OF THUNDER and hails from the family of WHITE STAR LINE, MUSIS AMICA, HARLAND and LA CRIQUE etc.
€1,7 million Frankel Filly
Earlier in the day, the same team also struck for a daughter of Frankel out of Group winner PHILOMENE (Lot 120), from Écurie des Monceaux. With a final bid of €1,7 million, he signed the docket for the blue-blooded filly, a granddaughter of PRUDENZIA, that has produced the champion DIAMOND NECKLACE as well as the excellent MAGIC WAND and CHICQUITA.
“She’s a magnificent filly with an exceptional pedigree,” said Anthony Stroud. “We raced her dam, that finished runner up in the Prix de Diane. She obviously is from the close family of DIAMOND NECKLACE, that has had a great year. We’re very happy.”
€1,6 million Wootton Basset Colt
The fourth millionaire yearling sold to Godolphin during the session was a son of Wootton Bassett (Lot 107), for which Anthony Stroud went to €1,6 million. Consigned by Écurie des Monceaux, the colt is out of the Group winner PAIX, the dam of Listed winner and Group placed PARACHUTISTE, as well as the black-type winner SKYDANCE.
He also hails from the excellent maternal line of MAGIC WAND, CHICQUITA and DIAMOND NECKLACE.
€1 million for a three-quarter brother to DIAMOND NECKLACE
Eagerly awaited in the ring, a son of Siyouni out of PRUDENZIA (Lot 128) was knocked down for €1 million to the Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi, a regular at the August Sale. The well-bred colt is none other than a three-quarter brother to the champion DIAMOND NECKLACE, who is by Siyouni's champion yoiung sire son St Mark's Basilica..
“Siyouni is a stallion that produces speedy horses and I think this colt will adapt particularly well to Japanese racing,” said Yoshito Yahagi. “We don’t have horses by Siyouni in Japan, and we really wanted to come to Deauville to get one. He’s been bought by Susumu Fujita, the owner of Shin Emperor. The catalogue had some very nice yearlings in it and I’m very happy to have got him."
Arqana Release
