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The
upcoming ARQANA Yearling Sale (Aug 18 – 21) held in picturesque Deauville in France
is the first yearling sale on the European circuit for 2012.
The sale offers astute global thinking racing and breeding enthusiasts some
rare opportunities as highlighted below by ARQANA's Australian representative Damon
Gabbedy.
On offer are three fillies by the hottest sire in the Southern Hemisphere,
Fastnet Rock.
Lot 21 (pictured above), on account of Haras d'Etreham is a cracking filly by
Fastnet Rock out of the stakes winning Sadler's Wells mare Mer De Corail.
This filly is a half-sister to stakes-winner Alsace Lorraine (5 wins). Her
grand dam is the champion 2 year old French filly Miss Tahiti who won the Group
1 Prix Marcel Boussac- Criterium des Pouliches, France's most prestigious 2
year old race.
On account of Haras des Capucines is Lot 46 by Fastnet Rock out of a 2 time
French winning Sadler's Wells mare Place De L'Etoile. This athletic filly is
the first foal of the mare and is one that could get
under everyone's guard and may be able to be picked up cheaply.
On pedigree the best of the Fastnet Rock fillies is Lot 162 (pictured below),
out of another Sadler's Wells mare, Group 1 placed DanceTo The Top. This filly
has a great residual value, being a half sister to the Group winners Cheshire
(4 wins, Gr.3 Grand Prix de Vichy) and
Bankable (8 wins, Gr.2 Al Fahidi Fort).
It is interesting that all the Fastnet Rock fillies are out of mares by Sadler's
Wells. This is the reverse of the hugely successful cross of Sadler's Wells
(Galileo) with Danehill mares (ie. Frankel).
One could expect that European buyers may not comprehend how good Fastnet Rock
is and the above fillies could represent great buying.
A huge attraction to the sale is also the first offerings by the absolute
superstar Sea The Stars (pictured) .
The six time Group 1 winner of eight races has everything- looks, pedigree and
performance. He
was a star on the racetrack and as if that wasn't enough, he is a half brother
to the undisputed king of Europe, Galileo.
Sea The Stars is represented by a select offering of 7 yearlings.
Lot 34 is a filly out of the stakes winning Danehill mare Navayo Moon. It
should be noted that superstars Frankel, Golden Lilac and Maybe are all by
Galileo out of Danehill mares. As previously stated Sea The Star's is Galileo's
half-brother.
A filly with Aussie appeal is Lot 48, by Sea The Stars out of Mrs Marsh. This
filly is a half-sister to the electrifying Canford Cliffs, a 5 time Group 1
winner of 7 races who comes to Blue Gum Farm in Victoria to stand this stud
season.
A potential stallion prospect would be Lot 83, the colt out of Machiavellian
mare, Straight Lass. He is a half brother to Group 1 winning stallion Naaqoos.
My absolute favourite pedigree of all the Sea The Star's yearlings is Lot 120,
the grey colt out of Alpine Rose. This stunner is the first foal out of Alpine
Rose, who won 4 races including the Gr.1 Prix
Jean Romanet and she is by the the great Linamix.
ARQANA has devoted a whole website to the first yearlings by Sea The Stars, it
is worth a look www.seathefirststars.com
I have been travelling to France for the Yearling Sale for the past 4 years and
I believe that this is the best catalogue that has ever been assembled.
Besides the above mentioned there are yearlings by the proven sires Montjeu
(8), Galileo (10), Oasis Dream (4), Dubawi (10), and the freakish German sire
Monsun (5).
There is an especially good line up of yearlings by Shamardal who no longer
visits our shores but has left a big impact. He has 13 yearlings in the sale.
Lot 136 is a chestnut filly by Shamardal and a three quarter sister in blood to
dual Group 1 winner Lope De Vega, now standing at Patinack Farm in the Hunter
Valley.
First season sire sensation New Approach has 9 yearlings in the sale and an
interesting offering is Lot 91, a filly and the first foal out of stakes
winning Testa Rossa mare Testama. From Testa Rossa's only Northern Hemisphere
crop, Testama won 4 races including the listed Prix de Bagatelle at M-Laffitte.
The Aussie dollar has never been better against the Euro, making this a great
time to invest in some new bloodlines. With the French Owners Premium and
lucrative prizemoney, racing in France makes
a lot of sense.
Astute buyers with patience could do a lot worse than buy their Melbourne Cupand staying prospects at the ARQANA yearling sale and who knows another
Americain or Dunaden could be amongst them.
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