A total of 19 horses went under the hammer at the Arc Sale held at Saint-Cloud, with 11 lots changing hands for an average of €277,273.
With an overall turnover of €3,050,000, the median for the auction was €260,000.
VIRGINIA JOY knocked down for €975,000.
German trained VIRGINIA JOY (lot 24) became the top price of the sale when Michel Zerolo, Nicolas de Watrigant (Mandore International Agency) and Anne-Sophie Yoh-Benet (YOHEA) went head-to-head to secure the three-year-old filly.
It was Zerolo of Oceanic Bloodstock that had the final say with a bid of €975,000 for the daughter of Soldier Hollow.
Sold with an entry in the EP Taylor Stakes (Gr.1) at Woodbine, the Marcel Weiss filly offered by Panorama Bloodstock for Gestüt Auenquelle most recently finished second in the T. von Zastrow Stutenpreis (Gr.2) following her victory in the Mehl-Mülhens-Trophy (Gr.3) and third in the Preis der Diana (Gr.1) this season.
COEURSAMBA set to run in the Prix Marcel Boussac in Mohamed Fahad Al Attiyah’s colours.
A runner in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr.1) tomorrow and most recently third in the Prix d’Aumale and Prix Six Perfections (Gr.3), COEURSAMBA (lot 13) was also subject to a lot of interest around the ring.
It was Paul Basquin of Haras du Saubouas that had the final say on behalf of Mohamed Fahad Al Attiyah, signing the docket at €400,000 for the daughter of The Wow Signal.
“I’ve bought her for Mohamed Fahad Al Attiyah,” commented Basquin.
“She was the one we wanted in the sale. My client has already had a good experience with Jean-Claude Rouget thanks to Mission Impassible, so he would like to work with him again. She has a number of things going for her tomorrow and should go on the soft ground being out of a mare by Anabaa and her second dam by Bering. We’re delighted!”
STEP BY STEP for Narvick International
An excellent third in the Prix Chaudenay (Gr.2) at Paris Longchamp just a few hours before the sale following on from his win in the Derby du Languedoc (L.) and second in the Prix de Lutèce (Gr.3) earlier this season, STEP BY STEP (lot 25) made €320,000 to Emmanuel de Seroux (Narvick International).
The colt was offered from Yann Barberot’s stable. A little earlier in the evening, the agent had struck for DICK WHITTINGTON (lot 12), also trained by the Deauville handler.
Third in the Prix Turenne (L.) on his last start having finished fourth in the Prix Hocquart (Gr.2) at Deauville this summer, the three-year-old gelding by War Command was knocked down for €270,000.
Jumper HERCULE POINT for NBB Racing
Third in the Prix du Bourbonnais (Gr.2 AQPS) on his debut at Fontainebleau, the Hugo Merienne trained HERCULE POINT (lot 29) was knocked down for €270,000.
Previously owned by a group of young owners, it was Nicolas Bertran de Balanda (NBB Racing) that had the final say for the son of Network out of the very current family of ECHIQUIER ROYAL, PLAYING and EASY GAME, once more a Grade 2 winner today. After signing the docket, the agent commented, “We really like him. He really impressed me on his debut where he ran really well. He’s from a great family. We’ll now give him a bit of time.”
KALIFORNIA QUEEN heading stateside
One of the best German fillies of her generation this year, KALIFORNIA QUEEN (lot 11) was knocked down for €260,000 to Hubert Guy.
The winner of the Gestüt Röttgen Diana-Trial (Gr.2) this season, the daughter of Lope de Vega finished sixth in the Prix de Royallieu (Gr.1) earlier in the afternoon before going through the ring.
Acting on behalf of American owner Sol Kumin (Madaket Stables), Guy said afterwards, “She’s a real racehorse that has won a Group 2 already. She ran very well today over a shorter distance and on ground that wasn’t to her liking. I’ve bought her for Sol Kumin and she’ll go to Chad Brown in New York.”
Following the sale, Freddy Powell, the Executive Director of ARQANA said, “In spite of the unfavourable economic climate, we have still seen positive signals. The demand for quality profiles remains strong, with European and particularly French black-type being valued worldwide. There have been some fine transactions that will, among other things, enable young French trainers and owners to reinvest. These are positive signs in the run-up to the October Yearling Sale.”
Arqana Release
