A small but select approach to the Osarus Breeze-Up Sale paid dividends for Philip Prevost-Baratte after his Zelzal (Fr) filly (lot 71) was knocked down for a sale-topping €60,000.
The French-based consignor was also responsible for the second-highest lot to go under the hammer on Tuesday, a Starspangledbanner (Aus) colt (lot 8), who fetched €58,000.
However, despite securing a healthy profit and heading the sale with two of his three offerings, Prevost-Baratte revealed that he was disappointed that the Zelzal filly didn't command a juicer price tag.
He explained, “It was a bit disappointing for Emmanuel Viaud [director of Osarus] because we trust him and send him better horses every year. That's why I was a little bit disappointed, because he deserves to get better horses at this sale.”
Prevost-Baratte added, “We see some more Irish guys coming over here, which is great, because this is a really nice sale in a lovely place and the track was fantastic-none of the horses came back lame or stiff after the breeze–so, for that reason, I'd like to see this sale do better.”
Prevost-Baratte admitted that he expected the Zelzal filly, a €29,000 pinhook for a syndicate of friends at Arqana last October, to fetch a higher price but described himself as happy to have topped the sale.
The session-topper is out of Falcolina (Ire) (Falco), who won seven times, while the Starspangledbanner colt is out of an unraced daughter of Tamayuz (GB), named Lady Tamayuz (Ire).
He said, “We liked the Zelzal filly very much. We picked her up at Arqana along with some friends and decided to bring her to Osarus to support Emmanuel and, while we were expecting her to make €80,000 or more, we were happy with the result.”
On the Starspangledbanner colt, Prevost-Baratte explained that the €56,000 price tag was a triumph for patience.
He explained, “The Starspangledbanner was bred by David Salabi of Thenney Stud and he wanted to sell him [as a yearling] but he was a funny colour and he wasn't that commercial. He is almost blonde, a very light chestnut, but he did such a nice breeze and looked like such an amazing horse galloping by, that made the difference. Many people were excited by him.”
Prevost-Baratte added, “We have done well. I know what horses to bring to this sale and that is quite important. We had a good result but I just feel the result could have been even better.”
A total of 67 lots went under the hammer at the Osarus La Teste Breeze-Up Sale, of which 46 were sold at an average of €16,705, down from €19,742 in 2021.
The percentage of horses sold was also down marginally year-on-year, from 70% in 2021 to 69% this year,while the total spend was just €685,500 compared to €798,500 last year.
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