By Emma Berry
DEAUVILLE, France—The later start time for the concluding session of Part 1 of Arqana's October Sale proved to be of benefit to the breeder of the first lot through the ring on Wednesday after her 2-year-old sister Nova Sol (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) delivered a black-type update with a placed finish in the G3 Prix des Reservoirs two hours before trade gut underway.
John Hammond struck early, effectively allowing lot 229 to make all when leading the second day, ensuring that the neat bay filly from the Haras de Saint Arnoult draft would end up at his Chantilly stable. The trainer bid to €140,000 for the daughter of the juvenile winner Neckara (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}), herself out of another mare with decent 2-year-old form, the G3 Preis der Winterkonigen winner Narooma (Ger) (Silver Hawk).
“She's slightly on the small side but she's the most lovely walker and in time she should get every yard of a mile and a half,” said Hammond. “She's the mare's third foal and the first two are both winners—her full-sister has just finished third in a Group 3 across the road.”
As well as Nova Sol, Gestut Auenquelle's diminutive Soldier Hollow has also worked well with the previous generation of the family. Neckara's half-sister Nymeria (Ger) is also by Germany's leading sire and was a listed winner in her home country with multiple Group placings including the German 1,000 Guineas and the G2 Badener Meile. The siblings were bred by Soldier Hollow's owner Helmut von Finck at his Gestut Park Wiedingen.
Consignor Larissa Kneip, who offered the yearling filly on behalf of her breeder Bernd Dietel, will soon take charge of a son of a Soldier Hollow at her Haras de Saint Arnoult The G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin winner Dschingis Secret (Ger), who is owned by Dietel in partnership with Horst Pudwill, retires to stud with six Group victories to his credit. The 5-year-old last year led home two classy Godolphin colts when beating Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy) to secure his top-level win and followed up by beating Cloth Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Foy. He will stand his first season at a fee of €4,000.
“Bernd Dietel is based in Switzerland but is investing heavily in French racing and breeding,” Kneip explained. “He has horses in training here and boards mares with me. He will have between 15 to 20 to support his stallion next year and the dam of this filly will also be visiting Dschingis Secret.”
Trade was notably quieter than the first day of the sale and the comparative figures reflected shortfalls on those recorded last year. The clearance rate, though down two points, remained respectable at 78.5% for 91 yearlings sold through the afternoon. This was the same number to change hands in the corresponding 2017 session, but at a reduced average of €33,198 (-7%), while the median dipped from €27,000 to €25,000. Aggregate for the day was also down by 7% at €3,021,000.
Rolling The Dice Again
Amanda Skiffington's foray to the October Sale two years ago resulted in the €130,000 purchase of Dice Roll (Fr). Trained by Fabrice Chappet, the son of Showcasing (GB) went on to win the inaugural Criterium de la Vente de Yearlings d'Octobre on Arc weekend last year before being beaten just a neck for third in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains.
Agent and trainer teamed up again—Chappet signing on behalf of the absent Skiffington—for a Camacho (GB) filly from the draft of Julie Mestrallet's Haras de l'Aumonerie. The German-bred daughter of the Kheleyf mare Song Of Time (Ire) (lot 304) was also sold for €130,000, a fairly hefty rise from when she went through the same ring last December for €12,000, bought by Nicola Kent of Ireland's Ballyhampshire Stud.
Chappet later added lot 311 to the list of purchases for the agent at €85,000. The Intello (Ger) colt is the second foal of dual winner Stumpy (GB) (Lawman {Fr}) and is a half-brother to winning hurdler Coeur Rouge (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).
Another buying outfit to regroup after a previously successful Arqana purchase was that of trainer Francis Graffard, owner Steeve Burggraf who races his horses under the name of Ecurie di Montalhuc, and agent Laurent Benoit. The trio involved in this year's G3 Prix de Psyche and G1 Prix de Diane-placed Homerique (Exchange Rate) secured another filly (lot 268), a first-crop daughter of Golden Horn (GB) sold by Haras d'Etreham for €120,000.
Benoit said, “We are trying something a bit new by putting our faith in a first-season sire. She is a beautiful filly from a top-class family and Dansili is a very good broodmare sire. She probably won't be a 2-year-old but that doesn't worry us.”
The Dansili (GB) mare in question is the 9-year-old Rose Et Noire (Ire), who is already the dam of two winners and is a half-sister to the dual Group 2 winner Free Port Lux (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The mare's dam Royal Highness was successful on both sides of the Atlantic, winning the GI Beverley D S. and the G2 Prix de Malleret. The family also includes Godolphin's treble Group 1 winner Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Siyouni (Fr), whose October Sale average is currently at €102,867 for 15 yearlings sold, provided the one other six-figure lot of the session, a colt out of a sister to Edouard de Rothschild's four-time Group 1 winner Meandre (Fr) (Slickly {Fr}) (lot 238). Paul Nataf signed the ticket at €120,000 on behalf of an undisclosed owner-breeder.
“She will stay in training in France and the plan is to breed from her eventually. The client bought four yearlings at the August Sale and we have been actively looking for a farm to buy in the area,” said the agent.
Two more full sessions of yearlings are set to be staged in Deauville with the penulatimte day's action commencing at 11am today.
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