The last major sale of the year in Deauville, the Vente d’Elevage began on Saturday with Part 1 of the catalogue highlighted by the sale of five mares that sold for upwards €1million.
Testifying to the exceptional quality of the selection of mares, fillies and foals presented to the buyers, many of the figures recorded reached unprecedented levels. Of the 211 lots that went through the ring, 73% were sold for a record average price of €209,201, generating an historic turnover of €32,217,000.
The exceptional ROUGIR makes history selling for €3million
The exceptional ROUGIR makes history Prix de l’Opéra (Gr.1) winner ROUGIR (lot 160) went through the ring for a third time at Deauville.
Sold as a foal by Haras du Haut-Gué to Guy Petit at this sale, she then went through the August Yearling Sale where Françoise Dupuis, bidding on behalf of Haras de la Gousserie, whose colours she has worn throughout her career, bought her from Haras de l’Hotellerie.
Added as a Wild Card to the catalogue, the daughter of Territories began her juvenile career with two wins and a third place in the Prix Marcel Boussac (Gr.1) before taking the Prix des Réservoirs (Gr.3) the same year. Triumphant in the Prix de l’Opéra (Gr.1) this season, the exceptional filly was subject to fierce competition around the ring.
It was Michel Zerolo (Oceanic Bloodstock), going up notably against Nicolas Bertran de Balanda (NBB Racing) and David Redvers, who had the final say at €3 million for the filly consigned by Sumbe, setting the record for the highest price ever reached in the Arqana sales ring and commented: “I’ve bought her for a partnership between White Birch Farm and Coolmore,” said Michel Zerolo.
“She’s an exceptional filly.”
Following the sale, Pauline Chehboub (Haras de la Gousserie) commented, “She’s a filly that has given us so much, and while it’s the end of a chapter for us, it continues elsewhere. We bought her as a yearling and she’s given us so much pleasure. She’s the best filly that we’ve ever had. She is just exceptional, and we saw that again this evening.”
€2,5 million for Prix Jean Romanet heroine GRAND GLORY
The fairytale story of GRAND GLORY (lot 192) and her connections also began at Deauville, this time at the October Yearling Sale. Bidding on behalf of Albert Frassetto, John d’Amato and Mike Pietrangelo, Marco Bozzi struck for the filly for just €18,000 from Haras de Bourgeauville.
Trained by Gianluca Bietolini, she won at two before taking third in the Prix de Diane (Gr.1) the following year behind the very talented CHANNEL. Placed in several Group races, she recorded her first victory at that level in the Prix de Flore (Gr.3). She then took the Grand Prix de Vichy (Gr.3) before the Prix Jean Romanet (Gr.1) at Deauville this summer.
She finished runner-up by a nose to the excellent ROUGIR in the Prix de l’Opéra (Gr.1) and most recently took fifth in the Japan Cup (Gr.1).
Consigned by Haras de Castillon, the daughter of Olympic Glory was knocked down for €2,5 million to Anne-Sophie Yoh (YOHEA).
She said, “She’s an incredible mare. I’ve bought her for one of my clients who has started to invest in racehorses. We haven’t decided on her next steps as yet, but we’re delighted!”
Sister to WALDGEIST makes €2,050,000
The ring was buzzing once more with the arrival of WILDFEDER (lot 188) in the the ring, a sister to the champion WALDGEIST offered from Gestüt Ammerland. Crispin de Moubray went to €2,050,000 for the daughter of Galileo out of Prix Pénélope (Gr.3) winner WALDLERCHE from the excellent family of Group 1 scorers MASKED MARVEL and WALDPARK.
Crispin de Moubray commented afterwards, “Our story with this family started a long time ago. We bought half of Waldlerche when she was a yearling, and she has produced an Arc winner. This was the last chance to keep a member of this incredible family, and not only that, she is a sister to Waldgeist. The story continues and we are very happy.”
PURPLEPAY goes Stateside for €2million
The winner of the Haras de Bouquetot - Critérium ARQANA and third in the Critérium International (Gr.1) this season, PURPLEPAY (lot 150), was the fourth filly or mare to make over a million euros during the session.
It was Nicolas Bertran de Balanda (NBB Racing) and David Redvers that came up against each other in the final stages for the filly, with the former gaining the upper hand at €2 million. The two-year-old daughter of Zarak, with a current rating of 108, is out of the Oldham family of Group 1 winners ECTOT and MOST IMPROVED.
Following his winning bid, Nicolas Bertran de Balanda said, “She’s a lovely filly that was very well presented and Zarak is a good stallion. We’re very happy. She has everything going for her - and it’s for that reason that we went so far. I’ve bought her for Lael Stables. She’ll go to the US where she’ll be trained by Arnaud Delacour.”
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL sold for €1,950,000 to White Birch farm
The fifth and final mare to make seven figures was SPEAK OF THE DEVIL (lot 172), another knocked down to Michel Zerolo (Oceanic Bloodstock). Offered by Sumbe, the half-sister by Wootton Bassett to triple Group 3 winner MORANDO is from the close family of Group winners MYASUN, BATWAN and LACAROLINA. A Listed winner at three and placed in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Gr.1) behind the talented DREAM AND DO, she took the Prix Isola Bella (L.) and most recently the Prix Tantième (L.) after the catalogue was published.
“She’s a fantastic filly with a very good pedigree,” said Michel Zerolo, who signed the docket at €1,950,,000 on behalf of White Birch Farm. “She’ll go to the United States to be trained by Chad Brown.”
Arqana Release
