The
2019 ARQANA Breeze Up sale returned a set of figures very much on a par with
the remarkable 2018 renewal.
Out of the 145 horses on offer, 114 sold setting the clearance rate at 78%.The
average price remained also identical, only a fraction below €130,000 while the
overall turnover reached €14,797,000. An eloquent sign of the growing
international stature of this sale was the 8 juveniles who sold over €500,000
today in Europe, from a total of 11 at all European breeze up sales so far this
year.
American Pharoah colt for €1,100,000
The ARQANA ring went quiet when Laurent Benoit from Broadhurst Agency offered
€1.1 Million for a son of Triple Crown Winner consigned by Grove Stud, lot 21.
The pedigree of this bay colt on his maternal line features the top class
stallions: Leroidesanimaux, Cacique, Champs Elysees, and Dansili.
Laurent Benoit who acquired this colt on behalf of M.V Magnier, commented: "He was bought for Coolmore partners. We had
an order to get a very nice colt, the best colt of the sales, to go to Andre
Fabre, who came yesterday and was happy with the horse.
"He was very well prepared by Grove Stud. He will be the first American Pharoah
for Andre Fabre and he is delighted with him."
Two Lots by No Nay Never sold over €500.000
A protracted bidding battle took place for Lot 134, a daughter of No Nay Never
from the draft of Willie Browne's Mocklershill, and Kerri Radcliffe had to
shell out €575,000 to see off the opposition.
The bay, who hails from the family of Gr.1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner WUHEIDA,
turned many heads in her breeze.
"I have bought her for Peter Leidel and George Bolton, who were both into LADY
AURELIA [a daughter of No Nay Never's sire Scat Daddy], so this filly has a bit
of pressure on her shoulders," Radcliffe joked.
"She will go to a new trainer in Joseph O'Brien. We loved her breeze and she is
obviously by a very hot sire. I had seen her few times in Ireland and she has
developed exactly as I thought she would."
Having been outbid on Mocklershill's Sea The Stars filly, Jamie McCalmont and
Ralph Beckett were back at it for a daughter of No Nay Never, Lot 18, from the
family of dual Group 1 winner RECOLETOS, which they ultimately secured for
€500,000.
"She is for a new client who is new to the business and is setting up a long
term breeding operation under the name Westerberg," said McCalmont.
"Ralph will train her. We love No Nay Never. She did a great breeze and vetted
well, we were very taken by her."
The filly offered by Jim McCartan's Gaybrook Lodge Stud provided a handsome
return, having been bought for €80,000 at last year's August Yearling Sale.
Arqana Release