The 2014 renewal of the v.2 yearling sale was a hard act to follow with figures nothing short of extraordinary – a clearance rate of 91% and turnover taking a 68% hike from 2013. This year saw figures return to a more conservative but still highly satisfactory level, with 87 yearlings (74%) selling for an aggregate of €3,035,000, still up 35% from 2013, and an average price of €34,101 – a 26% jump compared to the inaugural edition.
Offered by Jean-Pierre and Guillaume Garcon's Haras de l'Hotellerie, lot 498 commanded €100,000 from Ghislain Bozo's Meridian International after the agent outbid Marc-Antoine Berghgracht and Fabrice Chappet. By the red-hot Zoffany, the colt hails from the family of the Stakes-winning juveniles SILVA and Classic heroine SILVERMINE.
He is a magnificent athlete who uses himself very well, commented Bozo. I had seen him several times before the sale and he improved a lot over the past few weeks.
Lot 483 from Haras du Quesnay was knocked down to the father-and-son training association of Carlos and Yann Lerner for €82,000. The chestnut it out of the Stakes placed mare Princess Roseburg, from the family of Champion 2yo Baiser Vole.
Another colt by Kendargent, lot 479, commanded a final bid of €95,000 from Roberto Cocheteux Tierno, who currently has 11 horses in training with Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte in Mont-de-Marsan. Consigned by Irene Scheldt, the colt is the first foal out of the Stakes-placed juvenile Pestagua, a half-sister to SUNDAY NECTAR, who won at Listed level for Thomas-Demeaulte. This is the fWertheimer family of GWENSEB and IMPASSABLE.
I know the family well as I trained the dam and several other good fillies on the page, commented the trainer. This colt is on the small side but he looks an early type and comes from a very good farm in Haras du Berlais.
Lot 442, a colt by leading 2yo sire Kendargent offered by Haras d'Omméel, attracted strong interest from all around the ring, with Nicolas Clément and Jean-Claude Rouget entering the fray but it was Alain Decrion who prevailed at €150,000. The agent was acting on behalf of owner Jean-Claude Seroul, whose horses are trained near Marseille by Frederic Rossi. The colt is the first foal out of Ideechic, who was placed at Listed level as a juvenile.
I am a fan of Kendargent and this colt looked very racy, said Seroul. I was ready for anything, I didn't want to leave without him.
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Jean-Claude Rouget was keen to secure lot 412, a full sister to his promising charge Almanzor, who caught the eye when winning first time out after the catalogue was printed. Offered by Haras d'Etreham, the filly is from the second crop of Wootton Bassett and out of the unraced Maria's Mon mare Darkova, from the Aga Khan family of DARJINA and DARSI.
I train the brother and like him a lot, he is a very precocious sort, said Rouget. The filly also has a page to breed from.
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Acting on behalf of an existing client, Rupert Pritchart-Gordon went up to €65,000 to buy lot 411 consigned by Haras de Grandcamp, a filly by Myboycharlie from the close family of Millie's Choice and Millie's Quest.
She is a beautiful filly, very strong behind and with a very good balance, said Pritchart-Gordon. She will remain in France to be trained.
Consigned by Haras du Cadran, lot 389, a colt by Dark Angel out of Listed placed Atullia was bought for €70,000 by Powerstown Stud.
I like Dark Angel very much and the colt looks very precocious. He will go to Ireland and will then be consigned at the next ARQANA Breeze Up Sale in May, commented the buyer.