Fillies by Galileo and American Pharoah Star at Arqana Opener

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 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.

The 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.