The second and final session of the Summer Sale posted impressive gains which resulted in new record figures across the board. The cumulated aggregate broke the €7 million barrier for the first time, at €7,128,000, up virtually 30% from 2015. The average settled at €31,401, a 22% increase on last year. For the sole day 2 dedicated to horses in training and, for the first time, breeding stock, the turnover is up 46% at €4,648,000 and the average price is €35,481, up 27%. Overall, 16 horses sold for six figure prices, twice as many as in 2015.
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Mahari, a three-year-old son of Duke Of Marmalade who ran third in the L. Prix de l'Avre this spring and was most recently 5th in the Gr.3 Prix du Lys, commanded a closing bid of €280,000 from agent Tom Malone. The Ballymore Thoroughbred colour-bearer was in the care of André Fabre and rated 94.
He looks like a chaser, said Malone. We'll chuck him away, get him gelded then start him gently over jumps in the Autumn. I have bought him for [Hertfortshire-based trainer] Kerry Lee.
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The three-year-old IBLEO turned many heads when winning comfortably at Compiegne on his second start over hurdles, and there was no shortage of wanabe buyers for the charge of local trainer Philippe Leblanc. Guy Petit finally outbid Charlie Swan at €210,000 and commented:
I've loved him since I saw him win at Compiègne so I came here to buy him and this is what I've just done! He looks like a chaser so this will surely be his sport in the future. He will race for Venetia Williams in the colours of the Belami partnership, which has been very lucky with French horses in the past.
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Carlos and Yann Lerner's charge DANCE OF LIFE, a Wild Card addition to the catalogue following his impressive victory at Saint-Cloud June 16, took bidding up to €400,000 and was knocked to Horse France's Robert Nataf. The athletic son of Mastercraftsman out of the Listed performer Above Limits boasts an exciting race record with some rock-solid form. He was placed on his first three starts this season including 2nd to the highly-regarded CRAVEN'S LEGEND in a conditions race at Deauville, with the Listed winner MONT ORMEL in third.
Robert Nataf commented on his purchase:
I was on the phone with Paul Moroney and the horse will be trained by his brother Michael at Ballymore Stables in Victoria. He has the ideal profile to succeed in Australia as a progressive three-year-old who combines speed and the ability to stay a mile and a half.
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Wadyhatta, a four-year-old daughter of Cape Cross offered by Haras du Mézeray in foal to Authorized, was the centre of a protracted bidding battle with participants from all around the ring, but it was Robert Nataf who prevailed when offering €275,000. Wadyhatta carried the colours of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum to victory on two occasions, and she is a half-sister to two Listed performers. Their dam Thamarat, herself a Listed-placed juvenile, is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winning miler TAMAYUZ. The family traces back to one of the most influential mares in the stud book in Allegretta, meaning that URBAN SEA, SEA THE STARS, GALILEO, BORN TO SEA, KING'S BEST and ANABAA BLUE all feature on the page.
You only need to look at her page to understand why I wanted her, commented Nataf. She will foal down in France before shipping to America to be covered by one of Coolmore's stallions.
One of Auteuil's best chasers VICTOIRE DES BORDE, the winner of 8 races including the Gr.2 Prix Jean Stern and 3rd in the Gr.1 Prix Ferdinand Dufaure, commanded a final bid of €130,000 from David Powell's Ecurie du Chêne. The 8-year-old hails from one of the finest jumping families, being a full sister to the Gr.1 Prix Maurice Gillois victrix UTOPIE DES BORDES and a half-sister to two Listed winners over hurdles.
Powell signed the docket on behalf of the Papot family, who have topped the NH owners' standings in France for the past 4 years and bought leading NH sire Network at last year's Arqana Breeding Stock sale.
The first day of the Summer Sale, which consisted in breeze up two-year-olds as well as two and three-year-old stores, registered significant gains in all indicators. The aggregate reached €2,530,000, up 7.7% from 2015, while the average progressed 12% at €26,421. The clearance was just short of 70% up from 58% a year ago.
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The already-named EL SALVATOR, a flashy dark bay by Network offered from Elevage Jacques Cyprès, went the way of Maisons-Laffitte based trainer Jehan Bertran de Balanda for €120,000. The two-year-old gelding is the second foal out of the Video Rock mare Quizas Jolie, who won the Grand Prix des AQPS at Longchamp, the leading flat contest for the breed, and went on to land the Listed Prix Christian de Tredern hurdle at Auteuil.
He is a beautiful individual who looks like a racehorse, said Balanda. I liked the way he moves and his sires offers some solid guarantees.
A son of the increasingly popular Saddler Maker, the sire of such talented jumpers as Apple's Jade, Bristol De Mai, and Verdure Des Obeaux, triggered a protracted battle of which Hubert Barbe emerged as the winning bidder when signing the docket at €145,000 alongside Charlie Swan.
Offered by Nicolas Remoué, the three-year-old AQPS descends from the family of Grade-winning chasers PRINCE DE BEAUCHENE, MIKO DE BEAUCHENE and RIGADIN DE BEAUCHENE.
Roll Again, a two-year-old gelding by the latest addition to Coolmore National Hunt's stallion roster Walk In The Park established the highest price of the session so far when knocked down to Willie Browne for €150,000. The splendid bay is a half-brother to the excellent jumper ARGENTIQUE, winner of the Gr.3 Prix Robert de Clermont-Tonnerre and third in the Gr.1 Prix La Haye Jousselin, all over the Auteuil fences.
This horse is a real rarity on the market, commented Willie Browne. He is expensive but this is what you have to pay for such good-looking horses. He will be re-offered next year.
Bertrand Le Métayer placed the winning bid at €145,000 for a two-year-old gelding by leading National Sire Saint Des Saints out of the Listed winner over fences EN LA CRUZ, offered by Haras du Buff. Also placed second in the Gr.2 Prix des Drags and Gr.2 Prix Congress, En La Cruz is a half-sister to another top class chaser in five-time Grade 1 winner VOY POR USTEDES.
The French agent was acting on behalf of British owner James-Douglas Gordon, who suffered a terrible blow a few weeks ago with the fatal accident of Champion hurdler and promising chaser Bonito Du Berlais.
It is unfortunately a sad story with the recent passing of Bonito du Berlais. This horse reminds me of him a lot. He has the same profile and offers similar garanties, on conformation as well as pedigree. I bought his dam on two occasions and she was a sound, tough racemare. I knew the mating with Saint Des Saints would work. We will keep the horse in France.
