A consistent miler for Andreas Wöhler, EMPIRE OF THE STAR ran 3rd in Poetic Dream's German 2,000 Guineas and was placed three more times at Listed and Gr.3 level in France this season including a 2nd to Karar in the Gr.3 Prix du Pin last time out. He will now head to Hong Kong after being knocked down for €450,000 to Louis Le Métayer, who explained:
He is for a client of Richard Gibson's in Hong Kong. Physically and mentally he has the right type for Hong Kong and we think he will do very well there after a bit of a break.
Gerard Larrieu of Chantilly Bloodstock Agency was kept busy throughout the evening, signing for 5 lots for a total of €1.435 million on behalf of Qatari owner Khalifa bin Shael Al Kuwari. His shopping list was headed by the Aga Khan Studs' DARBUZAN, a top class stayer in the making for which he offered a closing bid of €630,000. A Listed winner when the catalogue was printed, the son of Zamindar won the Gr.3 Prix de Lutèce and ran 3rd in the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay hours before the sale.
He will join REAL VALUE (lot 28) on a trip to Jassim Ghazali's Qatar stable, after the German Gr.3 winner was bought for €400,000 from the yard of Mario Hofer.
©Christophe Taniere
Louis Le Métayer of Astute Bloodstock had to stretch to €900,000 to secure German 2,000 Guineas scorer POETIC DREAM but was left raving about his latest purchase for David Hayes' stable.
I used to work for David Hayes and regularly buy horses for him, he explained. This one was very much the horse of the sale for us - he is a magnificent horse, an exceptional athlete who completed a tremendous time in the German 2,000 Guineas. We are putting together a partnership of existing clients of Astute's and David's and will aim him at next year's Cox Plate. He is lightly-raced and can stretch further, we think he has a bright future ahead of him.
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Wertheimer et Frère's consistent miler AFRICAN RIDE will head to the Dubai Carnival after selling to Stroud Coleman for €460K. The winner of the L. Prix Montenica on the all-weather this season and twice placed in Gr.3 company for Carlos Laffon Parias, he is now rated 106.
ARQANA's Freddy Powell signed the docket on behalf of Anthony Stroud, who commented over the phone:
He is for an existing client and will be trained for the Dubai Carnival. He ticks all the boxes for this type of races and is by a sire who should do well there.
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MISS MELBOURNE completed a hat-trick when winning the L. Prix Occitanie at Bordeaux, gaining a rating of 104. The sculptural daugther of Kentucky Dynamite understandably proved a coveted proposition in the sales ring but Martin Schwartz was not to be denied and offered €370,000 via agent Michel Zerolo. The former Antoine de Watrigant inmate will ship straight to America.
We feel very fortunate to get her at that level and hopefully we’ll have good fortune.
I have the best turf trainer in the United States. He won his first two Grade Is with me, with Stacelita and Zagora, and I want him to keep remembering my name. Since he won the Eclipse award last year as the top trainer in America, I have to keep sending him stock to run, otherwise he’ll forget about us.
©Robert Polin
Chad Brown's mighty team of top class turf runners will gain a significant additional inmate in Gr.1 winner SILVERWAVE after Michel Zerolo signed the docket at €500,000 for the declared Arc runner.
The five-year-old has one of the most enviable track records over middle to Classic distances, having won the Gr.1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud as well the Gr.2 Prix Foy and Grand Prix de Chantilly. He will contest tomorrow's feature race before shipping to America as Martin Schwartz explained.
I want to bring him to America and give him to Chad Brown and let him work his magic. We have a lot of mile and a quarter, mile and a half races where the talent isn’t that deep and he’s the best there is on turf in the United States so hopefully we’ll have good fortune.
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