Deauville Races and Sales
Queen Goldikova Has No Peer
Goldikova IRE descimates her opposition and sets a distance and time record
in the Prix Du Haras De Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois.
Photo by Racing International
Freddie Head's four-year-old filly Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA) desperately fought entering the stalls in the Group 1 Prix Du Haras De Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois, 1600m or a mile on a straight right-handed turf course.
Her lengthy 'naughtiness' as Head put it would have disqualified her in many countries and the other horses would have gone without her. Had officials tried, they would have been lynched by her loyal French fans who tittered at her tantrum and then looked as if they would weep when she would not comply.
The lady was almost not for turning, but luckily she did.
What happened after that was legend.
When she was finally given her head about about two furlongs from home, she accelerated and accelerated and... flew by the frontrunners including the brave and good Aqlaam GB (Oasis Dream), who led most of the way, to win by six lengths in record time of 1m33.50s shaving off a second from the 1981 race record by Northjet.
She won nine career starts and her sixth Group 1--her third this year.
When she races, she floats like a speeding hovercraft barely lifting her front legs off the ground in extention and curling them back under like a greyhound.
Her winning feat earned her a standing ovation and thousands of "Bravas!"
Aqlaam left the others behind by five lengths and has the makings of her successor miler when she retires. His trainer William Haggis has done a brilliant job in bringing this top-class colt back from a life-threatening injury and he will run either in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot or the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Queen Goldikova will have a little rest, then meet Balthazaar's Gift at the Prix de la Foret or Ghanaati at the Sun Chariot before destroying the US milers in the Breeders' Cup Mile in November.
Long may she reign--temperament and all!
The British were in good form in the other races of the day. The handsome colt Sri Putra GB (Oasis Dream) was a surprise winner for Michael Jarvis of the Prix Guillaume D'Ornano, Group 2, 2000m or 1m2f for 3yo males and females.
Sri Putra GB (Oasis Dream) is watered down after winning the Prix Guillaume D'Ornano for owner Sultan
Ahmed Shah. Photo by Racing International
And trainer Pat Edderly introduced a spectacular winner by 5-1/2 lengths in Hearts of Fire GB (Firebreak) in the Prix Francois Boutin, Listed, 1400m or 7f, for two-year-old males or females.
This race was Eddery's first ever in France and he was pleased that he won it.
Jockey Olivier Peslier did the honours on Goldikova and the colt Hearts of Fire. Frankie Dettori did his flying dismount on Sri Putra.
Delighted members of the Pat Eddery Racing (Detroit) syndicate join two-year-old Hearts of Fire GB in the winners' circle
after the Prix Fancois Boutin. Photo by Racing International
From 5PM on, it was more low sales prices for the Arqana Yearling Sale.
The highest priced horse was a Peintre Celebre chestnut colt out of Hayhaat purchased by Agence FIPS for 205,000 Euros.
There were several other purchases for 200,000 Euros, but many horses were not sold at the auction prices and breeders asked for offers.
There were no spectacular Arab buys and the audience never seemed as large during this auction as in the last few years. Mostly, they were lookers relaxing after polo and racing.
Let us hope the aggregate works out better than after today and there are more buyers on the final day Monday.
Below are two of the lucky colts and fillies to find good homes.
This gorgeous colt by Archange D'Or out of Tambura (Kaldoun) went for 200,000 Euros to leading regional
trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. Photo by Racing International
Agence FIPS bought this stunning chestnut filly by Dubawi out of Save Me The Waltz (Halling) for
only 110 Euros. They also bought the Lemon Drop Kid colt in a photo from the second day.
Photo by Racing International
Agence FIPS has spent more money than any other French buyer. They buy the kind of horses I like for very good prices.
One more day to go with no racing or polo to divert attention from the auction.
Final Update: 140,000 Euros was the highest price paid for an Enrique filly by Alain Derion and 105,000 Euros for a Nayef colt by MAB Agence.
The horses will be raced in France where they are eligible for the generous owner premiums.
The 2009 total aggregate is 41,456,500 Euros (2008: 40,750,000) which includes 2,087,500 Euros in private sales.
The average price was 114,778 Euros for 343 sold out of 459 or 74.7%.
In the end, it was a very successful auction despite tough economic times.
For more details, see www.arqana.com.
Paradise in Deauville
View from the Press Gallery of L'Hippodrome de Deauville-La Touques with its duel sand and turf courses
and a polo field in the centre. Photo by Racing International
The Arqana Yearling Sales are held during three major stud-sponsored race days at L'Hippodrome de Deauville-La Touques (above).
Seven races were sponsored by Shadwell France SNC on Thursday with the races named for Shadwell or their famous stallions: Sakhee, Green Desert, Haafhd and Nayef.
Friday is usually dedicated to last-minute serious horse trading before the opening night auction.
Saturday starts with nine races at L'Hippodrome with two races for Pure Bred Arabians. After the races, one meanders down the street to Arqana Deauville for serious buying or horse/people watching.
Saturday's third race gave the British a one-two-three triumph with
Piccadilly Filly IRE (Exceed And Excel AUS) winning the 1000m, 5f, Prix Equidia 10 Ans Prix de la Vallee D'Auge for two-year olds on turf.
Her Irish trainer Edward Creighton, who was Spain's champion trainer for eight years, recently returned to England and set up a syndicate called The Ultimate Racing Fraternity.
The £1,500 per year membership will eventually buy 10 horses in training. At present, there are only two. This young winner showed all the streets' smarts on the racecouse that one would expect from a Piccadilly Filly.
She will likely go on to the race for two-year-olds during the Arc de Triomphe weekend.
Second in the race was Angel's Pursuit IRE trained by Richard Hannon and Red Avalanche IRE, trained by Paul Cole, was third.
The English appear to be invincible in French sprints these days.
The feature thoroughbred race of the day was the Prix de Pomone-Haras D'Etreham for females, Group 2, for 3yo+, 2500m on turf.
Alain de Royer Dupre trained both the winner and the favourite who came second. Both fillies, Armure and Shemima, are four and by Dalakhani IRE.
The winner by a length is owned by SCEA Haras de Saint Pair and the second by Dupre's principal owner, HH Aga Khan.
Armure GB (Dahlakhani IRE) not only showed exceptional racing skill, but a real willingness to pose for
her Prix de Pamone winning photo. Photo by Racing International
Neither of the winners of those two races had been expected to win and the same is true of the third race.
Even the horse's owner was pleasantly surprised. His Juddmonte homebred
Crossharbour (Zamindar USA) had sufficiently recovered from a stress fracture after 10 months off the track to win the Prix Gontaut-Biron-Hong Kong Jockey Club, Group 3, for 4yo+, 2000m on turf.
His win was so impressive that his owner, Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, has been urged to enter him in the Arc de Triomphe.
Last year's winner, Zarkava IRE, is also by Zamindar and Prince Khalid's Arc winner Rail Link (Dansili) is related to Crossharbour through Theatrical on their dams' sides.
Juddmonte Farms which is one of Europe's most successful breeding and racing operations. Other popular sires who stand there are Dansili and Oasis Dream who are among the most sought-after sires at the Arqana Yearling Sales.
Prince Khalid Abdullah is congratulated by trainer Roger Charlton whose Blue Monday was fourth in the
race won by Crossharbour. Juddmonte director Teddy Grimthorpe is on the right. Photo by Racing International
The thoroughbred Groups were followed by two famous Group 1 races for Pure Bred Arab horses.
The first, Prix Kesberoy, was for three-year-old juveniles, colts and fillies, at 1900m on sand fibre and was won in grand style by the paddock eye catcher, Forgehill Cezanne (Domane Fr).
Forgehill Cezanne was not the favourite; it was Raqiyah GB (Amer SKA) and owned by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar.
The winner was bred by Valerie Bunting who is English and lives in the South West of France. He was trained by David de Watrigant for owner Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE.
In the final Group 1 for Pure Bred Arab horses, the Prix Shadwell Manganate, for four and five-year-old males, 1900m on sand fibre, the favourites did win.
Four horses competed from the Al Khalediah Stables almost as a team. It was only a question of which one would prevail.
In the end, it was Jalab Al Khalidiah KSA (Amer KSA) who beat its stablemate Nashwan Al Khalidiah KSA (Tiwaiq KSA) and the French favourite Adjinn D'Aroco (Tidjani Fr) owned by the sponsor Shadwell.
All in all a good day for the Arabs especially those from Saudi Arabia.
And were it not for the Arabs, one wonders what would happen to horse sales around the world.
Arqana's second day with Lots 118-230 did not reach the heights of the first day.
There were no 600,000 to 900,000 Euro buys. The highest price for a horse was 300,000 Euros for a Pivotal filly bought by John Ferguson for Sheikh Mohammed.
Ferguson also paid 260,000 Euros for an Invincible Spirit colt.
Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's racing manager Angus Gold bought two bay colts by Redoute's Choice and Oasis Dream for 280,000 Euros and a number of other less expensive horses both nights spending millions of Euros.
Anthony Stroud also paid 280,000 Euros for a Cape Cross colt for a Russian owner and will be trained by Richard Gibson in France.
There were so many Coolmore progeny from Galileo, Montjeu, Hurricane Run, Oratorio, etc., in the sales that they were going for very low prices.
Fortunately, Coolmore principals were observed buying many of them and even appeared to use agent Paul Nataf to buy a Holy Roman Emperor colt for 60,000 Euros.
That being said both Galileo and Montjeu along with Oasis Dream and Anaaba to name a few were magic names to a very choosey audience.
There were many more horses sold and then 'NOT SOLD' (with requests for further higher offers) than the previous night.
Arqana had carefully selected very good horses for the sale so consignors must have been very disappointed.
Often one underestimates the role of the auctioneer. Without the exceptional professionalism of the Arqana auctioneers, it would have been far worse for the breeders.
It is a buyers' market and there are some wonderful bargains to be had.
One bargain I have included is a dark bay colt by one of my favourite American horses Lemon Drop Kid USA out of Toupie (Intikhab) a multiple Group winner (below). He went for only 185,000 Euros to Agence FIPS. Unbelievable.
Handsome dark bay colt by Lemon Drop Kid USA out of multiple-Group winner Toupie (Intikhab), Lot 141,
sold for a bargain 185,000 Euros to Agence FIPS. Photo by Racing International
Opening Day of Arqana 09 Sales Paradise
Highest-priced yearling sold on Arqana's Day 1 is a handsome Storm Cat colt out of Elbaaha (Arazi) sold
to John Ferguson, acting for Sheikh Mohammed, for 900,000 Euros. Photo by Racing International
Those of us who regularly visit Deauville regard it as paradise on earth.
It is no surpirse that Arqana, the French thoroughbred auction house between two racecourses off the high street in town, have named their 2009 yearling sales catalog "The 09 Sales Paradise".
Last year Arqana bucked the trend of decline in yearling sales and managed an aggregate increase.
The sale which started today, August 14, lasts four days and has 502 carefully chosen yearlings for sale without reserve.
Some of the first 100+ horses were sold privately; some did not receive a fair price and remain unsold with offers considered.
Examples of the latter were a bay colt by Dansili out of Field of Hope (Selkirk) who went for 210,000 Euros and a bay filly by Pivotal out of Karmifira for 150,000 Euros. They were both stunning and beautifully bred.
Sir Robert Ogden, who purchased a bay colt by Giant's Causeway for 500,000 Euros and a bay colt by Montjeu for 600,000 Euros for Jeremy Noseda to train, said "There were just too many lovelies."
The son of the King of Saudi Arabia got many bargains under SKAS with expert French advice, but the Coolmore, Shadwell and Darley operations (in ascending order) paid the biggest bucks for the best of the lots.
Coolmore supported its sires as usual by keeping their prices up.
But the kicker of the day was when John Ferguson, representing Sheikh Mohammed, bought the most expensive colt at 900,000 Euros by a retired Coolmore sire Storm Cat (colt's photo above).
No one knows if it means the end of their feud (doubtful) or he decided to buy a Storm Cat son from a breeder other than Coolmore. The colt was consigned by Haras d'Etreham.
He is a gorgeous chestnut with two white socks, a blaze and bags of charisma.
No word yet if he will be racing in Europe or the USA for Darley, Godolphin or Sheikh Mohammed himself.
One extra reason to support the colt was that his dam Elbaaha produced the late Electrocutionist who won eight times for Godolphin of which five were Group 1s (including the Dubai World Cup) and two Group 2s. The sire of Electrocutionist was Red Ransom USA.
The colt's breeding certainly indicates potential as a top-class mid-distance horse on dirt or turf.
Ferguson splashed on a beautiful bay filly by Kingmambo out of Helena Molony who is a sister to High Chaparral and Black Bear Island. It is her first foal and she was consigned by Newsells Park Stud.
Another purchase of his was a bay colt by Smart Strike out of Rose Melody (Galileo). Clearly, Sheikh Mohammed favours USA sires as proven by his strong support of his Fasig Tipton Saratoga sales.
And the Sheikh has clever ways of buying the best of Coolmore's sires through the female line or another breeder.
Monsun also has proven to be a popular sire with Shadwell and many other buyers.
Shadwell France SNC was one of the three highest buyers and strongly supported both Darley and Shadwell sires.
One of the most beautiful fillies (below) with a besotted and tearily proud lad is by Peintre Celebre out of Marie Rheinberg who produced Le Havre winner of the Prix du Jockey Club Group 1 this year and just retired with an injury. Her second colt, Rainfall Shadow (Night Shift), is in training.
The filly was offered by Coulonces Consignment (Anna Sundstrom & Etienne Drion) and bought by American Martin Schwartz who owns Stacelita (Monson GER), a favourite for the Arc de Triomphe.
Peintre Celebre bay filly IRE out of Marie Rheinberg GER struts her stuff for besotted lad and surrounding
photographers (shadows) wearing her lucky Arqana Lot 100 'sold' tag. Photo by Racing International.
Tomorrow we shall cover racing, Arqana Day 2 and the Deauville Silver Cup polo playoff if we can fit it all in.
In between, we shall try to enjoy the relaxed glamour of another era with casinos, night clubs, wonderful food, yacht clubs, beaches and a boardwalk of the 'stars' in this easily-walked paradise. God is good.
Goldikova IRE descimates her opposition and sets a distance and time record
in the Prix Du Haras De Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois.
Photo by Racing International
Freddie Head's four-year-old filly Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA) desperately fought entering the stalls in the Group 1 Prix Du Haras De Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois, 1600m or a mile on a straight right-handed turf course.
Her lengthy 'naughtiness' as Head put it would have disqualified her in many countries and the other horses would have gone without her. Had officials tried, they would have been lynched by her loyal French fans who tittered at her tantrum and then looked as if they would weep when she would not comply.
The lady was almost not for turning, but luckily she did.
What happened after that was legend.
When she was finally given her head about about two furlongs from home, she accelerated and accelerated and... flew by the frontrunners including the brave and good Aqlaam GB (Oasis Dream), who led most of the way, to win by six lengths in record time of 1m33.50s shaving off a second from the 1981 race record by Northjet.
She won nine career starts and her sixth Group 1--her third this year.
When she races, she floats like a speeding hovercraft barely lifting her front legs off the ground in extention and curling them back under like a greyhound.
Her winning feat earned her a standing ovation and thousands of "Bravas!"
Aqlaam left the others behind by five lengths and has the makings of her successor miler when she retires. His trainer William Haggis has done a brilliant job in bringing this top-class colt back from a life-threatening injury and he will run either in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot or the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Queen Goldikova will have a little rest, then meet Balthazaar's Gift at the Prix de la Foret or Ghanaati at the Sun Chariot before destroying the US milers in the Breeders' Cup Mile in November.
Long may she reign--temperament and all!
The British were in good form in the other races of the day. The handsome colt Sri Putra GB (Oasis Dream) was a surprise winner for Michael Jarvis of the Prix Guillaume D'Ornano, Group 2, 2000m or 1m2f for 3yo males and females.
Sri Putra GB (Oasis Dream) is watered down after winning the Prix Guillaume D'Ornano for owner Sultan
Ahmed Shah. Photo by Racing International
And trainer Pat Edderly introduced a spectacular winner by 5-1/2 lengths in Hearts of Fire GB (Firebreak) in the Prix Francois Boutin, Listed, 1400m or 7f, for two-year-old males or females.
This race was Eddery's first ever in France and he was pleased that he won it.
Jockey Olivier Peslier did the honours on Goldikova and the colt Hearts of Fire. Frankie Dettori did his flying dismount on Sri Putra.
Delighted members of the Pat Eddery Racing (Detroit) syndicate join two-year-old Hearts of Fire GB in the winners' circle
after the Prix Fancois Boutin. Photo by Racing International
From 5PM on, it was more low sales prices for the Arqana Yearling Sale.
The highest priced horse was a Peintre Celebre chestnut colt out of Hayhaat purchased by Agence FIPS for 205,000 Euros.
There were several other purchases for 200,000 Euros, but many horses were not sold at the auction prices and breeders asked for offers.
There were no spectacular Arab buys and the audience never seemed as large during this auction as in the last few years. Mostly, they were lookers relaxing after polo and racing.
Let us hope the aggregate works out better than after today and there are more buyers on the final day Monday.
Below are two of the lucky colts and fillies to find good homes.
This gorgeous colt by Archange D'Or out of Tambura (Kaldoun) went for 200,000 Euros to leading regional
trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. Photo by Racing International
Agence FIPS bought this stunning chestnut filly by Dubawi out of Save Me The Waltz (Halling) for
only 110 Euros. They also bought the Lemon Drop Kid colt in a photo from the second day.
Photo by Racing International
Agence FIPS has spent more money than any other French buyer. They buy the kind of horses I like for very good prices.
One more day to go with no racing or polo to divert attention from the auction.
Final Update: 140,000 Euros was the highest price paid for an Enrique filly by Alain Derion and 105,000 Euros for a Nayef colt by MAB Agence.
The horses will be raced in France where they are eligible for the generous owner premiums.
The 2009 total aggregate is 41,456,500 Euros (2008: 40,750,000) which includes 2,087,500 Euros in private sales.
The average price was 114,778 Euros for 343 sold out of 459 or 74.7%.
In the end, it was a very successful auction despite tough economic times.
For more details, see www.arqana.com.
Paradise in Deauville
View from the Press Gallery of L'Hippodrome de Deauville-La Touques with its duel sand and turf courses
and a polo field in the centre. Photo by Racing International
The Arqana Yearling Sales are held during three major stud-sponsored race days at L'Hippodrome de Deauville-La Touques (above).
Seven races were sponsored by Shadwell France SNC on Thursday with the races named for Shadwell or their famous stallions: Sakhee, Green Desert, Haafhd and Nayef.
Friday is usually dedicated to last-minute serious horse trading before the opening night auction.
Saturday starts with nine races at L'Hippodrome with two races for Pure Bred Arabians. After the races, one meanders down the street to Arqana Deauville for serious buying or horse/people watching.
Saturday's third race gave the British a one-two-three triumph with
Piccadilly Filly IRE (Exceed And Excel AUS) winning the 1000m, 5f, Prix Equidia 10 Ans Prix de la Vallee D'Auge for two-year olds on turf.
Her Irish trainer Edward Creighton, who was Spain's champion trainer for eight years, recently returned to England and set up a syndicate called The Ultimate Racing Fraternity.
The £1,500 per year membership will eventually buy 10 horses in training. At present, there are only two. This young winner showed all the streets' smarts on the racecouse that one would expect from a Piccadilly Filly.
She will likely go on to the race for two-year-olds during the Arc de Triomphe weekend.
Second in the race was Angel's Pursuit IRE trained by Richard Hannon and Red Avalanche IRE, trained by Paul Cole, was third.
The English appear to be invincible in French sprints these days.
The feature thoroughbred race of the day was the Prix de Pomone-Haras D'Etreham for females, Group 2, for 3yo+, 2500m on turf.
Alain de Royer Dupre trained both the winner and the favourite who came second. Both fillies, Armure and Shemima, are four and by Dalakhani IRE.
The winner by a length is owned by SCEA Haras de Saint Pair and the second by Dupre's principal owner, HH Aga Khan.
Armure GB (Dahlakhani IRE) not only showed exceptional racing skill, but a real willingness to pose for
her Prix de Pamone winning photo. Photo by Racing International
Neither of the winners of those two races had been expected to win and the same is true of the third race.
Even the horse's owner was pleasantly surprised. His Juddmonte homebred
Crossharbour (Zamindar USA) had sufficiently recovered from a stress fracture after 10 months off the track to win the Prix Gontaut-Biron-Hong Kong Jockey Club, Group 3, for 4yo+, 2000m on turf.
His win was so impressive that his owner, Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, has been urged to enter him in the Arc de Triomphe.
Last year's winner, Zarkava IRE, is also by Zamindar and Prince Khalid's Arc winner Rail Link (Dansili) is related to Crossharbour through Theatrical on their dams' sides.
Juddmonte Farms which is one of Europe's most successful breeding and racing operations. Other popular sires who stand there are Dansili and Oasis Dream who are among the most sought-after sires at the Arqana Yearling Sales.
Prince Khalid Abdullah is congratulated by trainer Roger Charlton whose Blue Monday was fourth in the
race won by Crossharbour. Juddmonte director Teddy Grimthorpe is on the right. Photo by Racing International
The thoroughbred Groups were followed by two famous Group 1 races for Pure Bred Arab horses.
The first, Prix Kesberoy, was for three-year-old juveniles, colts and fillies, at 1900m on sand fibre and was won in grand style by the paddock eye catcher, Forgehill Cezanne (Domane Fr).
Forgehill Cezanne was not the favourite; it was Raqiyah GB (Amer SKA) and owned by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar.
The winner was bred by Valerie Bunting who is English and lives in the South West of France. He was trained by David de Watrigant for owner Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE.
In the final Group 1 for Pure Bred Arab horses, the Prix Shadwell Manganate, for four and five-year-old males, 1900m on sand fibre, the favourites did win.
Four horses competed from the Al Khalediah Stables almost as a team. It was only a question of which one would prevail.
In the end, it was Jalab Al Khalidiah KSA (Amer KSA) who beat its stablemate Nashwan Al Khalidiah KSA (Tiwaiq KSA) and the French favourite Adjinn D'Aroco (Tidjani Fr) owned by the sponsor Shadwell.
All in all a good day for the Arabs especially those from Saudi Arabia.
And were it not for the Arabs, one wonders what would happen to horse sales around the world.
Arqana's second day with Lots 118-230 did not reach the heights of the first day.
There were no 600,000 to 900,000 Euro buys. The highest price for a horse was 300,000 Euros for a Pivotal filly bought by John Ferguson for Sheikh Mohammed.
Ferguson also paid 260,000 Euros for an Invincible Spirit colt.
Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's racing manager Angus Gold bought two bay colts by Redoute's Choice and Oasis Dream for 280,000 Euros and a number of other less expensive horses both nights spending millions of Euros.
Anthony Stroud also paid 280,000 Euros for a Cape Cross colt for a Russian owner and will be trained by Richard Gibson in France.
There were so many Coolmore progeny from Galileo, Montjeu, Hurricane Run, Oratorio, etc., in the sales that they were going for very low prices.
Fortunately, Coolmore principals were observed buying many of them and even appeared to use agent Paul Nataf to buy a Holy Roman Emperor colt for 60,000 Euros.
That being said both Galileo and Montjeu along with Oasis Dream and Anaaba to name a few were magic names to a very choosey audience.
There were many more horses sold and then 'NOT SOLD' (with requests for further higher offers) than the previous night.
Arqana had carefully selected very good horses for the sale so consignors must have been very disappointed.
Often one underestimates the role of the auctioneer. Without the exceptional professionalism of the Arqana auctioneers, it would have been far worse for the breeders.
It is a buyers' market and there are some wonderful bargains to be had.
One bargain I have included is a dark bay colt by one of my favourite American horses Lemon Drop Kid USA out of Toupie (Intikhab) a multiple Group winner (below). He went for only 185,000 Euros to Agence FIPS. Unbelievable.
Handsome dark bay colt by Lemon Drop Kid USA out of multiple-Group winner Toupie (Intikhab), Lot 141,
sold for a bargain 185,000 Euros to Agence FIPS. Photo by Racing International
Opening Day of Arqana 09 Sales Paradise
Highest-priced yearling sold on Arqana's Day 1 is a handsome Storm Cat colt out of Elbaaha (Arazi) sold
to John Ferguson, acting for Sheikh Mohammed, for 900,000 Euros. Photo by Racing International
Those of us who regularly visit Deauville regard it as paradise on earth.
It is no surpirse that Arqana, the French thoroughbred auction house between two racecourses off the high street in town, have named their 2009 yearling sales catalog "The 09 Sales Paradise".
Last year Arqana bucked the trend of decline in yearling sales and managed an aggregate increase.
The sale which started today, August 14, lasts four days and has 502 carefully chosen yearlings for sale without reserve.
Some of the first 100+ horses were sold privately; some did not receive a fair price and remain unsold with offers considered.
Examples of the latter were a bay colt by Dansili out of Field of Hope (Selkirk) who went for 210,000 Euros and a bay filly by Pivotal out of Karmifira for 150,000 Euros. They were both stunning and beautifully bred.
Sir Robert Ogden, who purchased a bay colt by Giant's Causeway for 500,000 Euros and a bay colt by Montjeu for 600,000 Euros for Jeremy Noseda to train, said "There were just too many lovelies."
The son of the King of Saudi Arabia got many bargains under SKAS with expert French advice, but the Coolmore, Shadwell and Darley operations (in ascending order) paid the biggest bucks for the best of the lots.
Coolmore supported its sires as usual by keeping their prices up.
But the kicker of the day was when John Ferguson, representing Sheikh Mohammed, bought the most expensive colt at 900,000 Euros by a retired Coolmore sire Storm Cat (colt's photo above).
No one knows if it means the end of their feud (doubtful) or he decided to buy a Storm Cat son from a breeder other than Coolmore. The colt was consigned by Haras d'Etreham.
He is a gorgeous chestnut with two white socks, a blaze and bags of charisma.
No word yet if he will be racing in Europe or the USA for Darley, Godolphin or Sheikh Mohammed himself.
One extra reason to support the colt was that his dam Elbaaha produced the late Electrocutionist who won eight times for Godolphin of which five were Group 1s (including the Dubai World Cup) and two Group 2s. The sire of Electrocutionist was Red Ransom USA.
The colt's breeding certainly indicates potential as a top-class mid-distance horse on dirt or turf.
Ferguson splashed on a beautiful bay filly by Kingmambo out of Helena Molony who is a sister to High Chaparral and Black Bear Island. It is her first foal and she was consigned by Newsells Park Stud.
Another purchase of his was a bay colt by Smart Strike out of Rose Melody (Galileo). Clearly, Sheikh Mohammed favours USA sires as proven by his strong support of his Fasig Tipton Saratoga sales.
And the Sheikh has clever ways of buying the best of Coolmore's sires through the female line or another breeder.
Monsun also has proven to be a popular sire with Shadwell and many other buyers.
Shadwell France SNC was one of the three highest buyers and strongly supported both Darley and Shadwell sires.
One of the most beautiful fillies (below) with a besotted and tearily proud lad is by Peintre Celebre out of Marie Rheinberg who produced Le Havre winner of the Prix du Jockey Club Group 1 this year and just retired with an injury. Her second colt, Rainfall Shadow (Night Shift), is in training.
The filly was offered by Coulonces Consignment (Anna Sundstrom & Etienne Drion) and bought by American Martin Schwartz who owns Stacelita (Monson GER), a favourite for the Arc de Triomphe.
Peintre Celebre bay filly IRE out of Marie Rheinberg GER struts her stuff for besotted lad and surrounding
photographers (shadows) wearing her lucky Arqana Lot 100 'sold' tag. Photo by Racing International.
Tomorrow we shall cover racing, Arqana Day 2 and the Deauville Silver Cup polo playoff if we can fit it all in.
In between, we shall try to enjoy the relaxed glamour of another era with casinos, night clubs, wonderful food, yacht clubs, beaches and a boardwalk of the 'stars' in this easily-walked paradise. God is good.
You certainly deserve a round of applause for your post and more specifically, your blog in general. Very high quality material
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