Arqana August Yearling Sale

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a 1.2 million euro Arqana August graduate Silver Peak (Dubawi).   17.50 Kempton, Novice, £9,900, 2yo, 7fT SILVER PEAK (FR) (Dubawi {Ire}) was the second-highest-priced colt at Arqana Deauville August when selling to Godolphin for €1.25million and Charlie Appleby deems it time to unveil him at...

By Brian Sheerin and Adam Houghton DEAUVILLE, France - Talk about a fitting finale. After what could only be described as a patchy opening two days to the August Yearling Sale, a St Mark's Basilica (Fr) filly (lot 270) out of Ecurie des Monceaux's blue hen Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) topped Sunday's concluding session at €1.7 million when sold to Coolmore's MV Magnier. Prudenzia is the gift that keeps giving for Henri Bozo's powerful breeding operation in France. Who could forget her daughter Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who became...

The second seven-figure yearling tracing to Platonic (GB) (Zafonic) to sell on Sunday and the new sale topper, lot 270, a filly by St Mark's Basilica (Fr), caught the eye of MV Magnier for €1.7 million. Another consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux, the bay filly is a half-sister to Group 1 winners Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Out of listed winner Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), herself a half-sister to Group 3 winner Pacifique (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), the filly is also a half-sister to Group 3...

Ecurie des Monceaux's lot 249, a filly by Night Of Thunder (Ire), was knocked down to Al Shira'aa Racing during the third session of Arqana's August Yearling Sale in Deauville. The third seven-figure yearling of the sale at €1 million, the daughter of G3 Prix de Lutece victress Paix (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) is a granddaughter of fellow Lutece winner Pacifique (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). This is the family of stakes winner Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and her Group 1-winning daughters Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). She...

Over halfway through Friday's session of the Arqana August Yearling Sale, a son of Wootton Bassett (GB) (lot 105) was the first yearling to breach the seven-figure mark, hammering for €1.4 million to John Stewart of Resolute Bloodstock. Consigned by Haras d'Etreham, the dark bay is a full-brother to GIII Franklin-Simpson Stakes hero Guildsman (Fr). Their dam, Dardiza (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), is a half-sister to the dam of world-beater and current Etreham stallion Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).   The seven figure mark has been broken at the ⛱️#AugustSale...

A bay son of Wootton Bassett (GB) and G3 Prix Miesque heroine Magic America (High Yield) (lot 281) caught the eye of Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi to the tune of €1 million during Sunday's Arqana August Yearling Sale. Part of Anna Sundstrom's Coulonces draft, the April foal is a half-brother to Look Around (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who won the Listed Star S. and was placed twice at Group 3 level. The pair's dam, who was second in the G1 Prix Morny, has also produced the G3 Prix du Calvados second...

The third millionaire of the Arqana August Yearling Sale was lot 244, a son of French Champion Sire Siyouni (Fr) and Hourglass (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Knocked down for €2.2 million to MV Magnier and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, the May colt was consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux. His dam is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and sire Shamardal (Giant's Causeway). Under the G1 Irish Oaks-winning third dam Helen Street (GB) (Troy {GB}) is G1 Dubai World Cup and GI Stephen Foster H. hero Street Cry (Ire) (Machiavellian),...

If you are heading into the most important week for your bloodstock business, it never hurts to have a recent Group 1 winner or two to advertise your wares, and in Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Ecurie des Monceaux has just that. By Wednesday, we will know if Henri Bozo and his team have eschewed their usual Arqana hospitality offering of foie gras and oysters in favour of marmalade sandwiches but, with or without the favourite delicacy of Paddington, his is the name that...

The majority of Arqana's yearlings have now gone through the ring this season, with only the November Yearling Sale's 155 lots left to sell, and indices are positive across a range of categories for the Deauville-based sales company when taken as a whole. For the first time, more than 1,200 horses were offered, with more than 1,000 of them finding new homes for a clearances rate of 82.7%. The turnover (€80,499,000) and average (€75,871) both increased, while the median settled at €31,000. In addition, 227 (+17%) horses sold for €100,000...

A son of Dubawi (Ire) (lot 292) went to Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin for €2 million during the third and final session of the Arqana August Sale on Monday. He is the fourth seven-figure yearling of the three-day stand. Out of G3 Prix Minerve heroine Golden Valentine (Fr) (Dalakhani {Ire}), the bay colt was consigned by Ecurie des Monceaux. His second dam, G3 Prix Cleopatre victress Gold Round (Ire) (Caerleon), is responsible for no less than seven black-type horses, with four stakes winners to her credit. She is,...

Next week, the first yearlings by Darley's dual champion Too Darn Hot (GB) will be offered for sale at the Arqana August Yearling Sale. Expectations were always going to be high for Too Darn Hot--a son of sire of sires Dubawi (Ire), out of the triple Group 1-winning mare Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), from the deep family of the prodigious sire Darshaan (GB). An undefeated champion at two who repeated as champion at three, he also achieved the best foal sales average of 2021. But uniquely, it will...

DEAUVILLE, France--Gestut Ammerland, the famed German nursery of such luminaries of the turf as Lope De Vega (Ire) and Hurricane Run (Ire), stole the limelight during the concluding session of Arqana's August Sale with a New Bay (GB) granddaughter of the homebred Deutsches Derby winner and Arc-placed Borgia (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}). John and Thady Gosden had already left Deauville earlier in the day following Sunday's success of stable star Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois for the second year running. But, through Arqana's Freddy...