Fillies by Galileo and American Pharoah Star at Arqana Opener

Tara Madgwick - Sunday August 19
The first session of the 2018 Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale in France on Saturday produced strong results with fillies by legendary sire Galileo and Triple Crown hero American Pharoah setting the pace.

Galileo filly from Tender MornGalileo fillies are hot commodities anywhere in the world and the only two on offer in the first session commanded €810,000 and €600,000.

The dearest of the two (lot 51) from Tender Morn was a half-sister to the high class juveniles KENYA, ZANTENDA and SINGLE consigned by Haras des Capucines, with Justin Casse as the winning bidder.

"What's not to like about her?" quipped the agent.

"She is from a very good family with a lot of quality about her and a lot of substance for a Galileo. She will go to the US and be trained by my brother [Mark]."

The first of only two yearlings by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah to go through a European sales ring this season (lot 34 ) fittingly went the way of Coolmore's M.V. Magnier, who offered €750,000 to outbid Phoenix Bloodstock.

American Pharoah filly from ShawaraThe athletic bay is a half-sister to the Group I Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille heroine Shareta from stakes-winner Shawara and was consigned by Haras d'Etreham.

"She is a beautiful individual out of a Group 1 producer and Bob Baffert has always said that American Pharoah could have been just as good on the grass," expressed Magnier.

"My grandfather founded Ballydoyle on American dirt horses —that's where Galileo comes from, that's where Sadler's Wells came from. It all goes back to the American Classic horse. And we strongly believe in American Pharoah. He really could be the next big thing. Be it him, or Justify, we think that a horse of that type can once again have a transforming impact on European bloodlines. So that's what we want to do: to get the best American Pharoahs we can, put them in Ballydoyle, and try to make him a new Northern Dancer. Remember Scat Daddy was an all-American hero, too, and look what he has been able to do on turf in Europe. "

The opening session of the August Yearling Sale returned a promising set of results following a very similar trend to the 2017 renewal. With Part I only halfway down, the average price of €230,776 proved extremely close to the 2017 figure for the combined two sessions while the aggregate is just short of half last year's Part I total.

Advertisment
More Reading...
One to Watch – Canberra
At the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast US investors Richard and Tammy Rigney of Rigney Racing purchased two yearling fillies by I Am Invincible for $2million and $1.2million and got a result with one of them in Canberra on Sunday.
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
Expensive Xtravagant Wins $1million Meteorite
The highest priced yearling by Xtravagant sold in 2022, progressive sprinter Nadal (Xtravagant) produced an explosive turn of foot to come from near last to win the inaugural running of today’s $1m The Ladbrokes Meteorite at Cranbourne.
$2000 Mare Wins Winton Cup
Exciting southern mare The Grey Goose continued her faultless preparation with an impressive performance to win Sunday’s Hyde Landscaping and Wash Rite Winton Cup (1400m) at Ascot Park.
Aussie Mare Youngstar Produces Exciting Japanese G3 Winner
Australian Group I winning half-sisters Youngstar and Funstar are both at stud in Japan and the former has a very smart two year-old colt in Eri King, who made it three wins from three starts when taking out the Group III Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nissai Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sun City Filly to Target Karaka Million
The Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) has been the goal for Sierra Leone from the moment she was purchased at the Yearling Sales, and she took an important step towards the $1 million feature with a game second in Saturday’s Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m).
New French Stakes-Winner for Churchill
Currently finishing his seventh season of shuttling to Coolmore Australia, Churchill has had a productive year and sired his 16th stakes-winner of 2024 when progressive three year-old filly Some Skye landed the Listed Grand Prix de Fontainebleau (1900m) at Chantilly.
Storyville Downs the Colts in G2 WA Guineas
The WA Champion Fillies Stakes heroine Storyville earned a shot at the Group 1 Northerly Stakes after she gave the colts a start and beating in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II White Claw - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.
Better Than Ready's Port Lockroy Triumphs in G1 Railway Stakes
Interstate visitors have a poor winning record in the $1,500,000 Group 1 Swan Draught - Railway Stakes, but Port Lockroy played his part in squaring the ledger when choosing the perfect spot to end a run of bad luck in stakes races.