The Arqana 2018 Breeze Up sale held at Deauville on Saturday returned figures largely on a par with last year’s record-breaking renewal.
A slightly bigger catalogue brought an increased turnover of €14,766,000 (+14%) while the average price held steady at €130,673 (-5%).
Best saved until last: final Scat Daddy commands sale-topping €825,000
The final opportunity to acquire a son of Scat Daddy’s ultimate crop in a sales ring materialised in a relentless duel between Nicolas de Watrigant and Jamie McCalmont, who was standing alongside Coolmore’s Mathieu Legars, taking instructions over the phone.
The former owners of the late stallion had the final say with a bid of €825,000 for a colt (lot 165) offered by Willie Browne’s Mocklershill. He is from the family of US Graded winners ALLAMERICAN BERTIE, HURRICANE BERTIE as well as BEACH PATROL who ran 2nd in the Gr.1 Turf Classic after the catalogue was printed.
lot 165
A delighted McCalmont commented: “This was the very last opportunity to buy a colt such a great sire, wasn’t it? Scat Daddy was an outstanding racehorse who turned into an outstanding sire and is even turning into a sire of sires – No Nay Never had another winner this afternoon and seems to be really taking of. It is very sad that he is no longer around. This horse didn’t look like he would go as fast as he did, which I think is a good thing. He’s been bought for the Coolmore partners.”
Sea The Stars filly from family of Pakistan Star commands €400,000
McCalmont was active from the word go, although on behalf of a different client, offering €400,000 for a handsome filly by Sea The Stars (lot 5) brought to the ring by Brendan Holland’s Grove Stud.
The chesnut is out of a half-sister to Hong Kong superstar PAKISTAN STAR, who won the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes after the catalogue was printed, from the family of Deutches Derby scorer NEXT DESERT and Oaks d’Italia heroine NIGHT OF MAGIC.
lot 4
“She is for [prominent New York owner and fashion magnate] Andrew Rosen, and will go into training with Roger Charlton. Andrew has a similar filly called September Stars who won in the UK and was three from three last season in the States. This filly won’t be running in the next couple of months but she is a very nice individual with a strong page. My client also liked the fact that she is inbred to Urban Sea.”
€770,000 Frankel colt a milestone for new vendor
The sole progeny of Frankel in the catalogue (lot 144) returned a whopping €770,000 for first-time vendor Ecurie La Frênée, run by former equestrian rider Jennifer Pardanaud, who worked for pre-trainer Philip Prevost-Baratte and at Haras du Mézeray before setting up her own operation.
The imposing colt is a half-brother to Gr.1 Garden City S. scorer BACKSEAT RHYTHM. Phoenix Thoroughbred and Mark McStay of Avenue Bloodstock locked horns and it was the latter who emerged as the winning bidder with a decisive bid of €770,000.
lot 144
“Well, he is a Frankel half-brother to a Group 1 winner,” offered McStay. “He is a great-looking horse who seems to have had a very decent prep. I have bought him for a new client who wanted a special horse and he definitely fit the bill. He didn’t necessarily do a clock but he looks like a horse for the future and hopefully will make a lovely three-year-old.”
Scat Daddy to the fore again with €700,000 colt from Grove
A dark brown son of Scat Daddy (lot 140) from Brendan Holland’s Grove Stud had been the subject of a lot of talking on the sales grounds, and he lived up to expectations when selling to Phoenix Thoroughbred for €700,000. The striking colt is out of the dual Listed winner KALOURA, from the family of KALANISI and recent Gr.3 Prix Prix Penelope victrix LUMINATE.
He had left the ring unsold at Saratoga for $195,000. Will Johnson and Nicolas de Watrigant were quick to fire successive bids but they ultimately had to give way to Tom Ludt and Dermot Farrington who were acting on behalf of Phoenix Thoroughbred.
The pair had earlier spent €320,000 on a colt by the same sire (lot 10) from Jim McCartan’s Gaybrook Lodge Stud. The colt’s dam was a Stakes winner States side and is a half-sister to the Prix Morny winner ELUSIVE CITY. “He is a big nice horse, and obviously this is the last chance to buy the progeny of Scat Daddy”, explained Farrington. “We will take both colts home before deciding on a trainer.”
