If the opening session of Arqana’s October Yearling Sale was dominated by established names in the stallion ranks, then day two showcased some more recent additions to Europe’s yearling sale catalogues.
Leading the way was lot 248, Newsells Park Stud’s Without Parole , whose Haras de la Louviere-consigned daughter topped the day at €160,000 (US$168,632, €1=US$1.05), while fellow newcomers Romanised and Chachnak also posted notable results.
Mandore Agency’s Nicolas de Watrigant was probably unaware of who the opposition was as he continued to up the bids from outside the ring, although his determination was clear to see.
“She’s a cracking filly and was my pick of the day,” said Watrigant. “She’s very racy, vetted perfectly, and is a good individual.
“She’s going to America for Madaket Stables and I’m excited to get her for them. They have been so successful and I hope she brings them more.”
Madaket’s animating force, Sol Kumin, has enjoyed great success in bringing together a variety of investors to join him for the ride, most of whom have been rewarded with high-profile victories.
Watrigant has been the European eyes and ears for Kumin and agent Bradley Weisbord, and successful European imports include Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) heroine Uni and grade 1 winner A Raving Beauty .
Bred and raced by John and Tanya Gunther, Without Parole’s first crop have been well-received this sales season. Louviere’s filly becomes the stallion’s highest-priced yearling, eclipsing the 120,000gns paid by Alex Elliott for a colt consigned by Sherbourne Lodge at Tattersalls Book 1.
Watrigant added: “I haven’t seen that many yearlings by Without Parole but he’s by Frankel and won the St James’s Palace, so he was a very good horse. But the filly herself was the standout today.”
The Mandore principal was on sure footing in terms of a proven stallion just two lots earlier, when snapping up a daughter of Zarak from the immediate family of Prix Vermeille (G1) winner Sweet Lady presented by Haras de l’Hotellerie (lot 246).
The filly will be staying much closer to home after Watrigant signed at €120,000 on behalf of prominent French owner Jean-Claude Seroul.
Her Motivator dam, Phoebe Buffay, has already produced two winners from as many foals, with her 2-year-old son by Attendu winning on debut at Lyon La Soie earlier this month.
“We had to pay a bit more than we expected but the Zaraks are proving very successful and she was a cracking filly,” said Watrigant. “He’s been a lucky stallion for me. She has a good page but mainly we’ve bought her as a racing prospect and she was the nicest one by the sire today.”
Day one strength carries over into part two
Comparisons with 2022 are not entirely straightforward as part one of this year’s sale reverted to a single day instead of two, but the key indicators showed a slight uptick when compared with the equivalent session in 2021.
Overall, 98 of the 113 lots to pass through the ring were sold at a very healthy 86% clearance rate for an aggregate of €3,578,500.
The average price rose from €35,678 in 2021 to €36,515, although the median dipped from €28,500 to €25,500, possibly an indicator of the sense of realism such a high clearance rate implies on the part of vendors.
