Following a beautiful afternoon at the races at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse, which held the prestigious Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le[1]Buffard Jacques Le Marois (Gr.1), the second day of the August Yearling Sale began.
With the lots listed in alphabetical order, Sunday saw a smaller amount of yearlings go under the hammer than the previous day. The evening was marked by very strong demand that was also international.
Of the 80 yearlings offered, 84% changed and for an average of €233,015, generating a turnover of €15,612,000 and a total turnover for the first two days of €35,592,000.
The auditorium was buzzing for the turn of a full[1]brother to Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr.1) winner SOTTSASS (lot 154) to go through the ring. Offered from Ecurie des Monceaux, the colt was none other than a son of Siyouni out of STARLET’S SISTER, that has already produced the excellent SISTERCHARLIE and MY SISTER NAT, that have both shown themselves at the highest level on the other side of the Atlantic having excelled in France.
The hammer finally fell at €2,1 million in favour of the Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who said, “I love this colt. He has an exceptional pedigree being a brother to Sottsass and My Sister Nat, that was second behind one of my horses in the Breeders’ Cup last year. He’ll come back to Japan and I hope he will win the Japanese Derby!”
A little later in the evening, he also struck for a son of Kingman (lot 183). Consigned by Domaine de l’Étang, the half-brother to Listed winner URWALD out of Group 2 scorer WALDBIENE is out of the excellent family of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr.1) winner WALDGEIST.
Very emotional following the sale, the colt’s consignor Élise Drouet commented, “I don’t have any words for the moment, mainly tears of joy. His prep went really well. He has always been beautiful since he was born at home. We’ll follow his career closely.”
Also offered from Ecurie des Monceaux, that became leading vendors at the end of the second day, a daughter of Siyouni out of Listed winner AVIATRESS (lot 216) made €1,4 million.
The American agent Alex Solis went to €1.4 million for the well-bred filly from the family of US Grade 1 winners ZOFTIG, ZO IMPRESSIVE and ZAFTIG.
After signing the docket, he said, “We have known her since she was a foal, and the Roth family owns a part of her dam with Henri Bozo. We’ve seen her grow up and she is an exceptional filly. It’s fantastic to get her and we didn’t want to let her go.”
Nancy Roth added, “We don’t know yet whether she’ll go to the United States. We’ll leave it to Jason (Litt) and Alex (Solis), who will know what is best. We have great memories with some of our horses in France, notably the excellent GOLDEN VALENTINE that won the Prix Minerve (Gr.3) here in Deauville.”
A little earlier in the evening, the gavel fell at €750,000 for a daughter of Coolmore stallion Wootton Bassett (lot 202) from Haras de la Louvière.
The English agent Richard Knight had the final say for the filly from the family of group winner ARMANDE from the leading maternal line of URBAN SEA.
“She’s a stunning filly, that is for me the most beautiful in the sale,” said the agent. “I like Wootton Bassett, her dam won black-type and this is only her second foal. We really like her and she ticks all the boxes, so of course we are delighted! I’ve bought her for one of my clients and she is likely to stay in France.”
The agent also struck at €360,000 for a daughter of Adlerflug (lot 163), a granddaughter of group winner SEVENNA, that has notably produced group scorers SAVANNE and SEVENNA STAR.
Also offered from Haras de la Louvière, a daughter of Siyouni out of group winner AIGUE MARINE (lot 199) was sold for €600,000 to trainer Nicolas Clément.
The well-bred half-sister to Listed winner FENELON is from the close family of group winners AIGLONNE, MEKHTAAL, DEMOCRATE and NORMANDY BRIDGE.
“I’ve bought her for Doctor Tallaj,” said the Chantilly trainer. “We met last year in Saratoga. Mr. Tallage has horses with my brother Christophe, and we bought GALIFA here last December, that now runs in the colours of RT Racing, just like this filly will do.”
The buyer of a daughter of Shamardal that made the top price of €1.6 million yesterday, Anthony Stroud struck today for a daughter of the Godolphin stallion Dubawi out of Listed winner BIRCH GROVE (lot 226), from Ecurie des Monceaux.
Once again bidding on behalf of Godolphin, the agent had the final say for the granddaughter of multiple group winner DANEHURST, from the family of HUMOURESQUE, DAZZLE and HOORAY.
“She’s a lovely filly by Dubawi, and is incredibly athletic,” said Anthony Stroud.
“She’s from a great stud and we’re very happy with this purchase.”
Among the first lots to go through the ring on the second day was a son of Frankel out of Rockfel Stakes (Gr.2) winner SPAIN BURG (lot 148) that was subject to a lot of interest.
Juddmonte Farms’ manager Simon Mockridge went to €450,000 for the colt from the family of group winners BEYROUTH, COMMON GROUNDS and ANGEL IN MY HEART.
He was consigned by Haras de Saint Pair. “SPAIN BURG was a very good two-year-old,” said Simon Mockridge. “He’s a son of Frankel, a phenomenal stallion that now has seven Group 1 winners this season following the victory of INSPIRAL today, as well as another group winner with ETERNAL PEARL. He’ll go back to Ireland to Barry Mahon to be broken and then we’ll decide on his future trainer.”
